Book Reporter A MOUTHFUL OF AIR by Amy Koppelman If A MOUTHFUL OF AIR is the type of fiction novelist Amy Koppelman can churn out on a regular basis, then she has quite an impressive literary career ahead of her. Koppelman's debut novel, set in New York City, centers on Julie Davis, a young mother dealing with the aftershock of a failed suicide attempt from postpartum depression.

From the onset of A MOUTHFUL OF AIR,  Koppelman, who is a frequent contributor to The New York Observer, quickly submerses you into the story with rapid fire pace. Julie does all she can to piece her life back together with her doting husband Ethan and her toddler Teddy. But we soon learn that Julie's depression is much more than just a case of the "baby blues." Her depression is extremely debilitating. Everyday tasks in Julie's world aren't carried out that easily. Koppelman keeps the neurosis of her character chugging along. Whether she's pushing a baby carriage through the streets of Manhattan or taking in a Knicks game with her husband and his friends, Julie always seems to be inches away from a complete nervous breakdown.

Nonetheless, Julie does all she can to carry out some semblance of a normal and loving marriage with her husband until she is faced with a momentous decision after discovering she's pregnant with her second child. While her doctors are at opposite ends of the anti-depressant spectrum, Julie must decide whether to remain on Zoloft during her pregnancy and risk abnormalities or halt her prescription and deal with the disease.

Most importantly about A MOUTHFUL OF AIR is the underlying theme that depression, no matter what shape or form, isn't something to be brushed off as merely a case of melancholy. Currently, 17 million Americans suffer from some form of depression on a yearly basis, including this reviewer who is being treated with Prozac for clinical depression.

Koppelman also does a tremendous job conveying the point that, although Julie is surrounded with some degree of affluence, none of it can pacify the mental anguish of depression. After Ethan relocates the family from Manhattan to a stately manor on Long Island, Julie attends a Tupperware party hosted by one of her neighbors. Koppelman is able to illustrate with surgeon-like precision the nuances of life in suburbia and how, at times, the country lifestyle can be extremely suffocating to deal with, especially if a person is suffering from depression.

Although the story is extremely dark at times and contains strong language, the mood of the novel is a clear insight to the depth of talent Koppelman possesses as a writer. This type of novel is what makes fiction such a joy to read, for it allows readers to experience total escapism and take a breather from dealing with their own problems.

--- Reviewed by David Exum


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