Out of all the (few) books I got around to reading in the past couple of weeks, this one was by far the most enjoyable. Rattled is a humorous look at modern suburbia told through a third-person/omniscient perspective. The main plot revolves around Heather Peters, a white, blonde mid-thirties yuppie woman who is literally the physical embodiment of everything having to do with manicured lawns, manicured fingernails, white-collar jobs and PTA meetings. Heather, her husband and rambunctious son move into the newly-built Galapagos Estates, a suburban nightmare sitting atop what happens to be the natural habitat of an endangered species of rattlesnake. Also living in this area of New Jersey is Agnes, an older Bohemian woman who spends her time advocating for the protection of animals, and Harlan White, an elderly handyman who is annoyed by the presence of the Peters' and by Galapagos Estates entirely. But when Harlan is forced by Heather to kill a rattlesnake on her patio, the resulting investigation morphs into a media circus and turns Heather into a celebrity overnight...and later the subject of severe scrutiny. However, as Galapagos Estates is put under the public eye, not one person---Heather, Harlan, or Agnes---is prepared to go down without a fight.
The most admirable facet of this book is how it focuses on the lifestyle of Heather Peters and at the same time pokes fun at her, while explaining the mindset of her opponents, Harlan and Agnes. I enjoyed how the author sympathized with the casual, independent underdogs from a town being overrun by maniacal yuppies who want everything organic, pristine, and clean-cut. (Warwick, I'm looking at you.) You can honestly feel the frustration that Harlan and Agnes express towards their invaders, and may find yourself laughing when Agnes fills in as a babysitter for Connor, Heather's fourth-grader son. All in all, both sides of the issue are exquisitely and equally represented, making for a truly interesting read.
Overall rating: 10/10
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