Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by janienejulia
Girl A by Abigail Dean
5.0
Girl A has become a global bestseller, and unsurprisingly so. Google lawyer Abigail Dean has managed to concoct a deeply harrowing and unforgettable tale, one that is dark, shocking, and at times disturbing. Fundamentally, Girl A is about healing, specifically Lex’s attempts to heal in the decades-long aftermath of a childhood characterised by pain, suffering, and deprivation. Through frequent flashbacks we learn about the the cruelty experienced by the Gracie children, all seven, all recognisable by the shock of their blonde hair. At 11 Moor Woods Road, now known as the notorious ‘House of Horrors’, the Gracie children were subject to the erratic and abusive behaviour of their father, a fanatic with a boundless personality that went unsubdued. Over a decade later, following the death of their mother in prison, Lex and her siblings are forced to reckon with the trauma of their shared pasts.
Yet their childhoods are only shared to some extent, as the subjectivity of memory and trauma, as well as the objective differences between their experiences, has effectively cast them different roles in the wider story. As shared, intimate, and unique as their past is, their memories of it are far from unified. Some have their own special relationships, with a unique closeness between them, that was forged in the fire of their childhood – namely Lex and her little sister Evie, and Delilah and younger brother Gabriel.
Girl A is a gripping look at collective, familial healing and how raw and complex this journey and experience can be. Lex is a fiercely convincing protagonist: she’s intriguing, with a distinctive voice and outlook on the situation. Lex is an individual, and the product of Dean’s incredible skill as an author. Dean’s writing has made for an exceptionally strong debut – making those that read Girl A excited for her next title, which she is currently working on.
You can read my full review here: https://readbyjaniene.com/2021/05/30/girl-a-book-review/
And check out my bookstagram: @readbyjaniene
Yet their childhoods are only shared to some extent, as the subjectivity of memory and trauma, as well as the objective differences between their experiences, has effectively cast them different roles in the wider story. As shared, intimate, and unique as their past is, their memories of it are far from unified. Some have their own special relationships, with a unique closeness between them, that was forged in the fire of their childhood – namely Lex and her little sister Evie, and Delilah and younger brother Gabriel.
Girl A is a gripping look at collective, familial healing and how raw and complex this journey and experience can be. Lex is a fiercely convincing protagonist: she’s intriguing, with a distinctive voice and outlook on the situation. Lex is an individual, and the product of Dean’s incredible skill as an author. Dean’s writing has made for an exceptionally strong debut – making those that read Girl A excited for her next title, which she is currently working on.
You can read my full review here: https://readbyjaniene.com/2021/05/30/girl-a-book-review/
And check out my bookstagram: @readbyjaniene