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readingisadoingword 's review for:
The Accidental
by Ali Smith
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My discovery, at the end of last year and throughout this year, of Ali Smith's Seasonal Quartet and then How to Be Both firmly cemented her as one of my favourite authors and one to whom I would award auto-buy status.
The Accidental is one of her earlier novels and it does have a more fledgling feel to it than the later ones I've read. I still enjoyed it but it didn't quite impact on me on the same way as How to Be Both or the Quartet although there are many similarities in style and theme - identity, word-play, art/film/music, personal history, power dynamics, autonomy, surveillance etc......all are themes which are further developed in her later works.
As the title suggests The Accidental centres around the disruptive influence of Amber, a free spirited and non-conforming personality, who insinuates herself into the Norfolk holiday of the Smart (but are they???) family. Parents Eve and Michael and children Magnus and Astrid are each confronted with their personal demons and issues through Amber's disruptive influence. Family secrets are exposed and relationships re-evaluated, but is Amber all she seems?
I enjoyed the portrayal of imperfect family dynamics and the general acceptance of flawed humanity. The ideas of language and names were cleverly interwoven (as I've come to expect from Ali Smith's writing).
I enjoyed this book and am glad to have read it but it didn't quite thrill me as much as her later stuff. I'd still recommend as a clever and tricksy wee read though.
The Accidental is one of her earlier novels and it does have a more fledgling feel to it than the later ones I've read. I still enjoyed it but it didn't quite impact on me on the same way as How to Be Both or the Quartet although there are many similarities in style and theme - identity, word-play, art/film/music, personal history, power dynamics, autonomy, surveillance etc......all are themes which are further developed in her later works.
As the title suggests The Accidental centres around the disruptive influence of Amber, a free spirited and non-conforming personality, who insinuates herself into the Norfolk holiday of the Smart (but are they???) family. Parents Eve and Michael and children Magnus and Astrid are each confronted with their personal demons and issues through Amber's disruptive influence. Family secrets are exposed and relationships re-evaluated, but is Amber all she seems?
I enjoyed the portrayal of imperfect family dynamics and the general acceptance of flawed humanity. The ideas of language and names were cleverly interwoven (as I've come to expect from Ali Smith's writing).
I enjoyed this book and am glad to have read it but it didn't quite thrill me as much as her later stuff. I'd still recommend as a clever and tricksy wee read though.