When you know someone before you read their book there is always a sense of intrigue. Is it going to reflect the personality of the person you think you know? Is it going to match your expectations?
I know Tim Atkinson via his blog, Bringing up Charlie, which I had started reading before I knew that we lived fairly close to each other and had mutual friends. I eventually met him when we unexpectedly occupied adjoining mobile homes on a campsite in France. When we greeted each other I was in pyjamas, holding a mug of tea, with my hair sticking up: he was in his shorts holding hands with Charlie. Despite the awkward start, Tim proved to be just as I expected: an intelligent, warm, genial man.
I bought Tim’s book a few weeks ago, at the same time as purchasing Tiny Acorns from Dotterel Press. Although I had not contributed to the anthology, I had helped to proofread it and felt I had part-ownership of the venture, albeit a very small one.
On the surface, Writing Therapy wouldn’t be the type of novel I would be particularly drawn to as I have become lazy with my reading choices of late, preferring to pick a book from the bestseller lists so that I have the nod of the masses to narrow my search. This book looked as if it might be hard work. On the back cover it states:
“Can you ‘write’ yourself well? And if you don’t like the story life has written for you, can you really change it? Is it possible to re-write the past?”
It didn’t sound as if it would be an easy read or a particularly happy one. However it did sound intriguing and, for heaven’s sake, surely I can knuckle down and tackle something out of the ordinary: give my brain cells a bit of a work out?
The book is about Frances Nolan, a young girl receiving treatment for mental illness, who takes up writing therapy, alongside more traditional psychiatric methods, as a way of finding a solution to her problems. The narrator is Frances, so immediately the style of writing was different to what I was expecting. It wasn’t Tim telling the story using his language, it was an adolescent girl, making tentative steps into the world of writing using her own words.
Once I had accepted the voice of the book, the challenge was then to believe in Frances. This is where the role I usually have as a reader was turned on its head. Frances is writing part biography and part fiction, exploring her past and present in order to face her future. I found this challenged my perception of ‘believing’ a narrator. What was real? What was fantasy? Was her real name Frances or was she really Sophie?
The characters around her, brilliantly described, helped me to place Frances/Sophie in her environment and I found I was rooting for the heroes of the piece, particularly Will, whose caring, foward-looking approach helped our girl find her way out of the darkness.
This is an arresting novel, constantly challenging yet, in its own way, simply written in a young girl’s frightened, traumatised voice. Underlying the story, it also examines the process of writing itself; how to put ideas onto the page and into some kind of structure. The plot develops as the author discovers how to put her thoughts into words.
A very clever concept and an enjoyable read with some mind-gymnastics thrown in for good measure. It may leave you with some questions unanswered but it won’t leave you.
An interesting review, Trish. Sounds an intriguing story.
Funny how it took camping in France to bump into your near neighbour!
Sarah – We had both been offered a Eurocamp break to review and independently chose the same resort and the same week. I think I recognised Charlie first!
It sounds absolutely intriguing – and right up my street. I've always been fascinated by the role of the unreliable narrator – like the one in Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal for example or Atonement. You see everything through their prism.
I knew I should have ordered a copy when I bought Tiny Acorns.
And Tim – you are the most genial man.
Great review Trish.
Deer Baby – Notes on a Scandal and Atonement are two of my very favourite books! The 'unreliable narrator' – I like that phrase!
A nice review – and I'm glad you didn't spoil the ending (does she ultimately get a better word processor?).