Book Review
Aug. 29th, 2008 09:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Accidental
by Ali Smith
Ali Smith has a lot of dazzling literary tricks and techniques at her disposal, and she uses them to great effect, yet without neglecting to write an engrossing story with really interesting characters. The narrative concerns the Smarts: mother Eve, son Magnus, daughter Astrid, and step-father Michael. While they are on holiday in a rented house in Norfolk, a mysterious woman named Amber turns up at their house and worms her way into their lives. Amber seduces and manipulates the Smarts, individually and collectively, shaking up their lives and breaking them out of their illusions and disconnection from each other. Even after Eve finally expels Amber from their house and lives, the Smart family is profoundly affected by their encounter with her.
The novel is told in a stream of consciousness style, with the sections taking up the thoughts each of the Smarts. This both gives the reader glimpses into the inner life of each member of the family, and allows certain events to be seen from multiple perspectives. The characters are well-drawn - they are both modern archetypes (the moody teenager, the womanizing aging professor, etc) and distinct individuals.
by Ali Smith
Ali Smith has a lot of dazzling literary tricks and techniques at her disposal, and she uses them to great effect, yet without neglecting to write an engrossing story with really interesting characters. The narrative concerns the Smarts: mother Eve, son Magnus, daughter Astrid, and step-father Michael. While they are on holiday in a rented house in Norfolk, a mysterious woman named Amber turns up at their house and worms her way into their lives. Amber seduces and manipulates the Smarts, individually and collectively, shaking up their lives and breaking them out of their illusions and disconnection from each other. Even after Eve finally expels Amber from their house and lives, the Smart family is profoundly affected by their encounter with her.
The novel is told in a stream of consciousness style, with the sections taking up the thoughts each of the Smarts. This both gives the reader glimpses into the inner life of each member of the family, and allows certain events to be seen from multiple perspectives. The characters are well-drawn - they are both modern archetypes (the moody teenager, the womanizing aging professor, etc) and distinct individuals.
