Rating: 4/5
Review:
Engaging, gripping and thoughtful
I thought this was a very good book - thoughtful, readable and with some important things to say.
Narrated in the first person by the young Calamity Leek, we learn of the world inhabited by her and her "sisters" and the strange myths and ideologies which they believe and by which they live. To say more would be too much of a spoiler, but there are echoes of Emma Donoghue's Room and Anne Holm's I Am David. Paula Lichtarowicz uses this device to throw a sideways and often revealing light on some of our attitudes in society, especially those of men toward women, and of women toward men and toward each other. It sounds terribly worthy and turgid, but is nothing of the kind because the storytelling is so good.
What makes this special is Calamity's voice, which is charming, believable and very engaging. Lichtarowicz has the insight and courage to make Calamity the compliant believer in the strange and increasingly disturbing myths which they are peddled, rather than the usual feisty heroine who refuses oppression, which gives the narrative real power rather than just making it a run-of-the-mill adventure story. The story itself is excellently paced and structured, so that the truth of what is happening emerges slowly and compellingly. I found myself completely gripped for long periods.
I have to say that, in the cold light of day, the set-up and the psychology and back-stories of Mother and Aunty are thoroughly implausible, and if this were written as a thriller to which this was the solution it would be laughable. However, that's not the point of the book and it is redeemed by the terrific storytelling and the delightful, believable - and sometimes naively horrifying - narrative voice.
This wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much and it has some real substance. Recommended as an engrossing, enjoyable and thoughtful read.
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