I'll be the first to admit that I have a huge girlie crush on Dawn French. In my view, she can virtually do no wrong. I was wary, however, in reading this book. Sure, she can write sketch comedy, but can she write fiction?
Turns out she can, and pretty dang well, too.
While not a linear narrative, this series of "diary" entries from three members of a family are at turns hilarious, heart-wrenching, and cringe-worthy. French gets in the heads of a 50-year-old woman (not that hard), a ditzy 18-year-old girl, and a gay 16-year-old boy, and manages to make them not caricatures, but real characters that you end up feeling sympathy for, as well as a little rage at the extreme choices each makes during the course of the book.
What I found interesting was the mention of the father as a character numerous times, but that we don't get to hear his "side" of the story, save for one brief episode he has to narrate (no spoilers). While the denouement of the book was a trifle predictable, I closed the covers with a very contented sigh. Very enjoyable, Vicar.
Turns out she can, and pretty dang well, too.
While not a linear narrative, this series of "diary" entries from three members of a family are at turns hilarious, heart-wrenching, and cringe-worthy. French gets in the heads of a 50-year-old woman (not that hard), a ditzy 18-year-old girl, and a gay 16-year-old boy, and manages to make them not caricatures, but real characters that you end up feeling sympathy for, as well as a little rage at the extreme choices each makes during the course of the book.
What I found interesting was the mention of the father as a character numerous times, but that we don't get to hear his "side" of the story, save for one brief episode he has to narrate (no spoilers). While the denouement of the book was a trifle predictable, I closed the covers with a very contented sigh. Very enjoyable, Vicar.
