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A review by bookmaddie
The Sitter by Angela O'Keeffe
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Gorgeous and heart-rending.
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“It’s not as if always is never true. It’s that it wears thin. It’s that it can’t cover every situation, every deed. It’s that always is seldom always.”
This is one of the books I got on my recent trip to Aotearoa New Zealand and I’m so glad I picked it up!
This slim novel follows a writer and her muse, Marie-Hortense Fiquet, the wife of Cézanne, who appears to her as a ghostly presence. The novel is told from Hortense’s perspective as she watches over the writer during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was a tad hesitant to read a pandemic novel, but this story blends history and memories into the narrative, helping it rise above the fear of the early days of the pandemic. However, COVID-19 does play a very large role in the present-day narrative, so beware if that could be triggering for you.
I really loved the historical parts that explored Hortense’s memories of her life and her husband. O’Keefe brought her to life beautifully, and gave her the agency and space for understanding that she lacked during her life. The writer’s own story—told through a short story she writes while ill—was equally beautiful and paralleled Hortense’s story in interesting ways. Plot aside, this novel sings with a quiet elegance, yet feels warm and comforting, even when the story takes a darker turn. You can feel Hortense’s love for the writer, who has given her a second chance in many ways.
This is a story of healing and connection, honesty and recollection. O’Keefe’s writing charmed me and I’m eager for more!
-
“It’s not as if always is never true. It’s that it wears thin. It’s that it can’t cover every situation, every deed. It’s that always is seldom always.”
This is one of the books I got on my recent trip to Aotearoa New Zealand and I’m so glad I picked it up!
This slim novel follows a writer and her muse, Marie-Hortense Fiquet, the wife of Cézanne, who appears to her as a ghostly presence. The novel is told from Hortense’s perspective as she watches over the writer during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was a tad hesitant to read a pandemic novel, but this story blends history and memories into the narrative, helping it rise above the fear of the early days of the pandemic. However, COVID-19 does play a very large role in the present-day narrative, so beware if that could be triggering for you.
I really loved the historical parts that explored Hortense’s memories of her life and her husband. O’Keefe brought her to life beautifully, and gave her the agency and space for understanding that she lacked during her life. The writer’s own story—told through a short story she writes while ill—was equally beautiful and paralleled Hortense’s story in interesting ways. Plot aside, this novel sings with a quiet elegance, yet feels warm and comforting, even when the story takes a darker turn. You can feel Hortense’s love for the writer, who has given her a second chance in many ways.
This is a story of healing and connection, honesty and recollection. O’Keefe’s writing charmed me and I’m eager for more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death