This is a book which should not be judged by it’s cover or blurb, there’s far more to this than either would suggest. If Jane Fallon or the writers of Motherland had written Big Little Lies, it would probably be something like this.
This is a story about a small community who are coming to terms with a tragedy and how it has impacted on those left behind, particularly the Whiteheads who are treated like lepers. Then a group of twelve year olds are discovered to be sending each other naked photos and blame is laid at the door of Woody Whitehead. The situation rapidly gets out of control and results in a dead body.
Meanwhile, Glass House school are putting on their own show of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (forget ‘wonderful’ at your peril!) and the length the parents are prepared to go to for their little darling to be in the spotlight provides some comic relief. This acts as a balance to the dark elements of the plot, as does the wonderfully bizarre subplot of cat abduction!
This is a sharply observed novel that is not afraid to tackle sensitive topics with a dose of black humour that’s is worth a read.
This is a story about a small community who are coming to terms with a tragedy and how it has impacted on those left behind, particularly the Whiteheads who are treated like lepers. Then a group of twelve year olds are discovered to be sending each other naked photos and blame is laid at the door of Woody Whitehead. The situation rapidly gets out of control and results in a dead body.
Meanwhile, Glass House school are putting on their own show of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (forget ‘wonderful’ at your peril!) and the length the parents are prepared to go to for their little darling to be in the spotlight provides some comic relief. This acts as a balance to the dark elements of the plot, as does the wonderfully bizarre subplot of cat abduction!
This is a sharply observed novel that is not afraid to tackle sensitive topics with a dose of black humour that’s is worth a read.