If you spend any time in the literary corners of Twitter you will have heard of Gabriel Tallent’s debut already. Lots of readers fervently singing its praises at every turn. I knew from the blurb that it would be a tough read but had no conception of just how gut-wrenchingly nerve-wracking. I nearly gave it up but Tallent’s writing is so compelling that I couldn’t leave it alone. It’s the story of fourteen-year-old Turtle who lives with her survivalist father in Northern California.
Turtle’s mother died when she was a toddler. She downs a couple of raw eggs every morning, tosses her father a beer and discourages him from walking her to the school bus. Martin is careful to abide by enough of society’s rules to avoid social services removing Turtle from him. She’s well-versed in survival skills, has her own gun – regularly stripped down and cleaned ready to fire – but she has no school friends and refuses to work at her studies. Her grandfather, Daniel, lives close by and tries to keep an eye on her, upbraiding Martin for the way he’s bringing the girl up, only to be met with abuse from the son who loathes him. Martin has systematically broken Turtle down and reformed her. She watches him carefully, wary of provoking him. She hates herself and everyone else, her head full of anger. Two events change the course of this twisted relationship: Daniel’s death which precipitates Martin’s abandonment of Turtle for several months, and her acquaintance with two boys, one of whom falls in love with her and takes her home. For a few short months, Turtle comes close to a normal family life. When Martin returns, bringing a ten-year-old girl with him, Turtle understands that she will soon be faced with a momentous choice.
Tallent tells Turtle’s story from her own perspective, wisely choosing a third person narrative rather than the first person the intensity of which would have been too much to bear. Martin’s psychopathic behaviour and stream of misogynistic abuse alternating with excessive professions of love have made Turtle mistrustful and vigilant yet incapable of withholding love from the only person apart from her grandfather who has shown her affection, no matter how perverse. Martin is a chillingly monstrous character yet carefully crafted to avoid the cartoon villain. Turtle is expertly drawn: a silent observer at school, constantly trying to decipher the codes of social behaviour. Tallent stretches his story taut with a series of graphic scenes which had me shrinking away yet unable to stop reading. When Turtle contemplates killing Martin, you can only cheer her on. Amongst the drama of the novel’s storyline are some beautiful descriptions of the natural world but it’s Turtle that keeps your attention. This is real heart in mouth stuff, unsparing of its readers. It ends with a much-needed possibility of hope.
This is the kind of book I want to read but maybe not just now… Not usually one for misery memoirs, but I’ve heard Turtle is quite a formidable creation and very multi-dimensional and flawed, by no means simply a victim.
No, she’s far from that. It’s an astonishing achievement for a debut author. Well worth waiting until you feel ready to read it.
I didn’t make it past the first chapter of this novel, and I’m not usually a squeamish reader. I did admire the writing and the characterization of Martin, but I hit the first of “those” scenes and just couldn’t keep going.
They’re very much ‘look away now’ moments aren’t they but I found Turtle so compelling I had to find out what happened to her. If there’s a film adaptation, I won’t be seeing it.
I just bought the book, looking forward to reading it, sort of….
‘Enjoy’ isn’t quite the word for this one but I hope it impresses you as much as it did me.
I’ve added it to my tbr list. I need to be in the right frame of mind for a book as dark as this but I’d like to give it a go.
Yes, it’s not one for when you’re feeling a little jaded with the world, Helen
My antidote is to follow a dark read up with something a lot gentler. I’m just about to finish The Lesser Bohemians and deliberately chose The Keeper of Lost Things to lighten my reading mood – I hope! 🙂
That sounds like an excellent strategy. I’m now reading Jill Ciment’s Heroic Measures which now I’m pretty sure Dorothy the sausage-dog isn’t going to die I can describe as light!
Great review! I loved this novel. The writing was brilliant and the character of Turtle just amazing!
Thank you! She could easily have been painted as a victim but Tallent neatly avoids that. She’ll be with me for a while.
I’ve seen this around, but didn’t know what it was about. You’ve definitely piqued my interest! Right now I’m wondering who that 10-year-old girl is…
Hmm… I’m keeping shtum. I hope you read it, Naomi. I’d be interested to hear what you think of it.
I’m pleased you’ve reviewed this, Susan. I have a copy it have been dithering over whether or not to read it.
There’s been oodles of hype about it on Twitter which made me wary but it’s an extraordinary debut. I know you won’t be reviewing it, Naomi, but I’d be interested to hear what you think if you do read it.
Great review, Susan. I’m not sure if I’d want to read this book or not, sometimes the spectacle of abuse is overused (as spectacle) though it sounds like, perhaps, that’s not the case here. Still, it sounds like a disturbing read.
Thanks, Belinda. It’s visceral that’s for sure but I wouldn’t say it was prurient. I know what you mean about abuse being an all too common trope in fiction. My heart often sinks when it appears on the horizon.
This sounds excellent but I think I’ll have to be strategic about when I read it – one for when I’m feeling robust!
I’d say that was a thoroughly appropriate word.