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A review by jason_pym
The Lessons by Naomi Alderman
1.0
If she'd stuck to the Mark / Jess / James relationship I think it would have been great, and I like how she writes.
But... I was enjoying this until the Italian mother came along, that was when it stopped feeling like a serious book. Then the kid falling in the river read like it was bolted on just to show another side of Mark's personality. But the bit that really got me was Mark (probably) murdering his own child, something that was covered in three paragraphs and seemed to have no repercussions at all. Very tacky, and really no need. I think she's a strong enough writer as is, no need for the gonzo stuff.
But... I was enjoying this until the Italian mother came along, that was when it stopped feeling like a serious book. Then the kid falling in the river read like it was bolted on just to show another side of Mark's personality. But the bit that really got me was Mark (probably) murdering his own child, something that was covered in three paragraphs and seemed to have no repercussions at all. Very tacky, and really no need. I think she's a strong enough writer as is, no need for the gonzo stuff.