Gwendoline Riley

I loved this book. It depicts a young woman intellectual in a struggle with her mother who tries to have a conventional life, always tryting to fit in, but never quite making it. The father always had to "get one over" be exceptional, and regarded the family members who listened to his bizarre and unbelievable tales as mannequins--not supposed to answer, just to be an audience.

Later in life when the mother has divorced the father, a pattern emerges in which Bridget (the young woman) only sees the mother once a year. They always meet for a meal; the mother wonders why she's never met Bridget's boyfriend and is never invited to her house. The reader begins to understand that Bridget may be an unreliable narrator. Why does she keep her distance from her mother, her sister?

Note: the painting on the cover of this and First Love are by Jean Cooke, a British painter. The still life on this cover reminds me of Francesca Woodman's photos for some reason.… (lisätietoja)