Maybe I'll Call Anna

Spencer's discerning first novel draws the reader into a whirlpool of mad romantic obsession that spans 20 years. Aspiring artist David Livingston, moonlighting as a hospital orderly, is immediately captivated by self-destructive Anna Shockley, whom he encounters in the emergency room where she has been taken after a typical 1960s drug overdose. He takes up residence in Anna's boarding house as a frustrated observer of her violent relationship with a drug-dealing boyfriend, and eventually becomes her lover. But Anna's grasp of reality is consistently shaky, and she sees psychiatrist Richard Parrish while David does a very brief stint in the Army. Her fatal femininity affects Parrish much as it did David, creating a triangular relationship whose drama comes to a head in 1986. The author's vigorous use of language and strong characterizations contribute to an intriguing story. (Apr.)