Told from the alternating perspectives of Kevin, Millie and Aideen, this story explored the gradually ‘spiralling-out-of-control’ dynamics of the Gogarty family, where even minor problems tended to be blown out of all proportion and the characters’ behaviour and interactions often took on a farce-like quality. Sometimes their behaviour was so over-wrought that, rather than finding it humorous, I found it irritating and I’m sure this was one of the reasons that there were times when I found it hard to remain engaged with the unfolding story. However, I think that a couple of other factors also played their part. I found most of the characters far too stereotypical, to the extent that they became so caricature-like that I found I was losing sight of the real-life human beings whose stories I was following. Also, the pacing of the storytelling felt very uneven, with the first three-quarters feeling rather slow, whilst the final quarter proceeded at what felt like breakneck speed. I thought this was a shame because I think it contained some of the funniest and most moving scenes – even if they were often quite ludicrously over-the-top!
I realise that everything I’ve written so far makes it sound as though I didn’t find anything to enjoy in Rebecca Hardiman’s debut novel and that’s not the case. What I appreciated most was that running through this light-hearted story are some serious, poignant and thought-provoking themes, including coping with bereavement after the death of a long-term partner, the loneliness of aging, fear of dementia and the loss of independence, the stresses faced by the ‘sandwich-generation’, mid-life crises, infidelity, the angst of the teenage years, sibling rivalry and, ultimately, the strength of loving family bonds. I also enjoyed the relationship which was forged between Millie and Aideen, based on their shared anger and resentment about being ‘sent away’ – Millie threatened with being sent to a care home, and Aideen banished to boarding school. The direction their ultimate rebellion took might have stretched my credulity but not my ability to empathise with the sentiments which influenced their decision – much better to be willing to take risks in life than to give in to apathy!
Although I found the humour which ran through the narrative gently amusing rather than the ‘laugh-out-loud’ variety I’d been expecting, and hoping for, I appreciated the way in which the author’s prose contained some razor-sharp observations, frequently creating scenes which were instantly very ‘visual’. I can easily imagine this story being successfully adapted for either the small or the large screen.
I realise that everything I’ve written so far makes it sound as though I didn’t find anything to enjoy in Rebecca Hardiman’s debut novel and that’s not the case. What I appreciated most was that running through this light-hearted story are some serious, poignant and thought-provoking themes, including coping with bereavement after the death of a long-term partner, the loneliness of aging, fear of dementia and the loss of independence, the stresses faced by the ‘sandwich-generation’, mid-life crises, infidelity, the angst of the teenage years, sibling rivalry and, ultimately, the strength of loving family bonds. I also enjoyed the relationship which was forged between Millie and Aideen, based on their shared anger and resentment about being ‘sent away’ – Millie threatened with being sent to a care home, and Aideen banished to boarding school. The direction their ultimate rebellion took might have stretched my credulity but not my ability to empathise with the sentiments which influenced their decision – much better to be willing to take risks in life than to give in to apathy!
Although I found the humour which ran through the narrative gently amusing rather than the ‘laugh-out-loud’ variety I’d been expecting, and hoping for, I appreciated the way in which the author’s prose contained some razor-sharp observations, frequently creating scenes which were instantly very ‘visual’. I can easily imagine this story being successfully adapted for either the small or the large screen.