The Woman Upstairs; Thumbs Down

Claire Messud's novel, The Woman Upstairs, is about Nora (A Doll's House) Eldridge, a 3rd grade teacher who views herself as the woman upstairs; inconsequential.  Nora is single, childless & pushing 40.  She is a dedicated teacher but frustrated, wanna be artist.  Her "real" life has been on hold while caring for her mother & committing to a long-term, loveless relationship.  Don't rush to bring on the violins.  Once freed from her self-imposed bondage, she finds herself adrift; but not for long.  Her new student Reza, and his family awaken Nora's hunger for life.  Reza's father is a Harvard prof. & the mother, Sirena, an accomplished artist.  Nora soon ingratiates herself into the fabric of this family.  Nora believes "Life is a about deciding what matters.  It's about the fantasy that determines the reality."  Sirena invites Nora to share her studio space when Nora informs her that she too is an artist.  Nora constructs dioramas of historic women in their habitats.  She cheerfully submisses her artwork in the shadow of Sirena's talent while surreptitiously consuming Sirena's life.  Nora is obsessed with gaining unconditional love from the entire family and crosses multiple inappropriate boundaries. Nora's misguided infatuations undermines the novel's pursuit of artistic value and creates instead, a pathetic tale of stalking.