Author: Alison Espach
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Book - Library
Synopsis: Emily Vadal’s watches and observes the adults around her, making witty and frequently biting comments. Her parent’s divorce, her father’s affair with the neighbour and her own on again off again affair with a teacher affect her outlook and approach to life.
What I thought: I first came across this book via a review by Claire over at The Captive Reader. I had trouble writing the synopsis for this book. I think that was what it was about. I also think I liked it, although I’m not 100% sure on that either! There was large sections where I was quite engrossed in what I was reading, and other parts where I thought maybe I’d picked up a different book altogether. The book jumps large amounts of time, like the whole of Emily’s schooling after high school. Her choice of interior decorating as a career didn’t feel right to me, it’s just not what I pictured her doing. But then again, maybe that was the point. The books many changes of direction were jarring and unsettling, which is how Emily’s life was. She never seemed fully comfortable or engaged with what was going on around her. In the end, I’m still not sure if I like it or not, although it was definitely an interesting read!
Recommended for: I’m not sure!
Challenges: 100+ Challenge, TwentyEleven Challenge.
