A review by jimsreadingandstuff
The Accidental by Ali Smith

2.0

This is a strange tale about a mysterious stranger, who arrives in a house and makes herself at home with a dysfunctional family of four. The writing style was very affected and at times obtuse, making the book difficult to read. I think this is a writerly novel written to show off to her literary peers, but the stream of consciousness lost me as it does when I occasionally read Faulkner. The enigmatic Amber arrives at the Smart's holiday home and moves in, yet no one in the family is quite up to admitting they have no idea who she is or how she found them. Amber though beautiful is nasty to pretty much everyone. I think it is a novel about communication or lack thereof, it didn't communicate well with me so just two stars but others may love it.