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A review by bluepigeon
Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante
4.0
I am a big fan of the series (and Mirren). I was happily surprised to find more depth in the first book about Marlow and Oatley's stories, which are not that well developed in the TV series. La Plante does not write literary fiction; her style is strictly plot driven, and she violates many writing cliches (like "show, don't tell") which works in her favor in terms of turning up the heat and twisting everyone to breaking point over and over again. Tennison does not come across as a likable character in the show, but in the book I thought she was even worse. The sexism is a lot more harped on in the book, too, which probably says more about the ability of the actors to bring subtlety to the screen. Although the men are heavily criticized for being chauvinistic pigs, I suspect that most of the sexist sentiments they voice or think are not that off, considering the time and profession. One hopes that things have genuinely improved for women and men and other genders and gender expressions, though I worry that most of the "improvement" is based on people learning what not to say in company, but to just think it (hidden sexism, etc.)
I did often think if I would be friends with Tennison, or date her, or want to be her parent or sister, and I must say that most of the time the answer was "no!" So what are we saying here? That until the environment in such "male" jobs change to support women and their unique set of strengths and problems to help them succeed, it is only a certain type of woman who can handle it? Yes, I guess that's it. I've seen this in academia (similar issues, boy's club plus some ungodly hours that make it difficult for women to work and keep house, if those are the expectations...)
Reading this now, it seems oddly dated, but yet, I know for a fact a lot of the underlying issues have only slightly improved. Hurray to those husbands, wives, girlfriends, and boyfriends who enable their Tennisons (to exercise their workaholic muscles so they can catch criminals) by cooking, cleaning, looking after the children! I suppose that's the other point here: one gets a sense that it would be impossible to have work-life balance in a job like Tennison's, regardless of your gender. So we are to conclude that police work, like other essential professions (teaching, for one), is really a 24-7 job which requires endless shifts and a personality prone to fixation. Makes sense, but it is so sad. I suppose I am glad there are people out these who are willing to do it. I am also glad that serial murder is not a common practice (we only love to make films and TV shows, and write books about them since they can be so fascinating...)
Recommended for the fans of the TV series, false nails, and whiskey.
I did often think if I would be friends with Tennison, or date her, or want to be her parent or sister, and I must say that most of the time the answer was "no!" So what are we saying here? That until the environment in such "male" jobs change to support women and their unique set of strengths and problems to help them succeed, it is only a certain type of woman who can handle it? Yes, I guess that's it. I've seen this in academia (similar issues, boy's club plus some ungodly hours that make it difficult for women to work and keep house, if those are the expectations...)
Reading this now, it seems oddly dated, but yet, I know for a fact a lot of the underlying issues have only slightly improved. Hurray to those husbands, wives, girlfriends, and boyfriends who enable their Tennisons (to exercise their workaholic muscles so they can catch criminals) by cooking, cleaning, looking after the children! I suppose that's the other point here: one gets a sense that it would be impossible to have work-life balance in a job like Tennison's, regardless of your gender. So we are to conclude that police work, like other essential professions (teaching, for one), is really a 24-7 job which requires endless shifts and a personality prone to fixation. Makes sense, but it is so sad. I suppose I am glad there are people out these who are willing to do it. I am also glad that serial murder is not a common practice (we only love to make films and TV shows, and write books about them since they can be so fascinating...)
Recommended for the fans of the TV series, false nails, and whiskey.