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A review by sunnid
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
2.0
Nope, this didn't do it for me. I wanted to smack them all! First, I think the premise is a little out there and the author really had to stretch it to make it unfold. I can't imagine the parents walking away and never looking back -- the property, financial and tax complications alone seem like it would require it at least a letter.
I also had trouble imagining the town ascribing an almost adult maliciousness to a child's simply being upset and running away from home. That many would think she got what she deserved seemed bizarre...even given it was a different time and place. The emotions all seemed flat.
As for the author's writing, I know his prose is given high praise, but I found myself tripping over certain sentences where instead of saying something straightforward, he weaves an almost a double negative, like "if this had not been done, then this would not have been undone"...where I paused and had to work my way backwards and figure out what did occur. It felt like contrived denseness instead of great prose.
Oh, and did I mention, it is depressing? Think Russian novel.
I also had trouble imagining the town ascribing an almost adult maliciousness to a child's simply being upset and running away from home. That many would think she got what she deserved seemed bizarre...even given it was a different time and place. The emotions all seemed flat.
As for the author's writing, I know his prose is given high praise, but I found myself tripping over certain sentences where instead of saying something straightforward, he weaves an almost a double negative, like "if this had not been done, then this would not have been undone"...where I paused and had to work my way backwards and figure out what did occur. It felt like contrived denseness instead of great prose.
Oh, and did I mention, it is depressing? Think Russian novel.