She considered storming into every bookstore, buying every copy, destroying them somehow – a huge bonfire lit on a cold December night – but that would be mad, of course
Mrs March is somewhat alarmed when her favourite baker tells her how much the main character of George’s bestselling new novel resembles her. She’s acutely self-conscious, convinced of slights and snide remarks at every turn. She’s not read the book but further investigation leads her to understand that Johanna is a plain, fat whore who no one wants to bed. Despite her fury, Mrs March dutifully arranges the celebration party for George’s success, passing almost unnoticed among her husband’s friends and colleagues, in a welter of embarrassment at the whispers about her she’s sure she overhears. Snooping in George’s study, she spots a newspaper cutting about a young girl who is missing in the small town he and his editor use as their hunting base, a coincidence that seems all to incriminating to Mrs March who jumps to a horrifying conclusion when the girl’s body is found. Beset at every turn by the judgement and gossip of others, or so she thinks, Mrs March begins to unravel in spectacular fashion until the day before George’s birthday party sees a confession.
She undressed, dodging her reflection in the mirror the way one avoids a neighbour in the supermarketÂ
Feito tells her darkly funny story from Mrs March’s perspective, weaving details of her character’s past through the narrative as she becomes increasingly fraught. She’s the child of rich neglectful parents who failed to see the damage done to her, or to care. Her paranoid social awkwardness is excruciating, her ineptitude at even the smallest task painful: without her husband she’s no idea how to be. All this is delivered with a good deal of sly wit but as her imaginings become increasingly febrile and her grip on reality slips further, the tone becomes more sombre. The novel’s press release boldly compares Feito’s writing to Shirley Jackson’s. I’ve not read enough of that to judge but it did remind me of Jill Dawson’s excellent The Crime Writer about Patricia Highsmith, in its depiction of a mind increasingly in disarray. It’s not often I take part in a blogtour but so eager am I to help get the word out about this witty gripping debut that I’ve jumped on board. Below is a list of other enthusiastic bloggers taking part and eager to convince you if I haven’t managed the job.
4th Estate: London 9780008421717 288 pages Hardback (Read via NetGalley)
I bought myself this one as soon as you highlighted it in your previous post. Very much my kind of book, I’m so glad it lived up to the cover’s promise.
It was that cover that sold it to me, Annabel. I do hope you love it as much as I did.
I bought it this week based on your preview – glad to hear that I have a treat in store!
Delighted to hear that, Cathy, and you certainly do! This one will be on my books of the year list for sure.
It is indeed a splendid cover and it sounds like the content does it justice.
It does and, following on from our discussion about designers over on your blog, I wish I could tell you their name. Unfortunately, I read it on NetGalley so not much chance of finding out what it is.
A really striking cover, book designers are so clever. Mrs March sounds like a really intriguing character.
They certainly were with this one. It captures the book perfectly.
The cover is stunning! I remember it from your preview post. Great to hear the contents live up to it.
I’m rarely quite as taken with a cover as I was by this one. The cockroach is a master touch!
That cover is rather disturbing isn’t it. The book sounds a treat. Dare I add it to my list of books to get???
I’d say yes, Karen, but it’s hard for me to be unbiased about this one.
ha ha! you have managed it, it sounds fascinating and I loved the cover straight away but now you’ve pointed out the cockroach. . .
Excellent! Job done, then, and if you read it you’ll see what a clever touch that cockroach is.
I can’t wait to read this book! I’ve requested it from my public library, but I’ll probably have to wait a couple of months for my request to filter to the top. Thanks for whetting my appetite!
You’re welcome! It’ll be well worth the wait.
Have I EVER seen you participate in a blog tour?! 🙂 I missed your review when you first published it, but luckily Cathy linked to it later on. I’ve reserved this from the library. The comparison to The Crime Writer is a definite draw!
Ha! Just the one – Robert Menasse’s The Capital an EU satire. I hope you love this one as much as I did.
That’s such a simple and apt observation, the avoidance of a reflection and a neighbour: love it!
Isn’t it great? A good example of Feito’s perceptive observation.
I think a friend is going to pick this as our next book group read, so it’ll be interesting to see how we get on. You’ve made it sound very intriguing, and The Shirley Jackson comparisons are interesting too. Elisabeth Moss has optioned the film rights for this – an interesting move, especially given her recent role as Shirley Jackson in Josephine Decker’s film ‘Shirley’!
Lots to talk about with this one, Jacqui, and it’s entertaining, too, in a dark way. I read about Moss’ interest. It would make an excellent movie in the right hands.