That eye-catching jacket, redolent of movie star glamour, might suggest a setting more alluring than Weston-super-Mare for Elizabeth Delo’s debut, Becoming Liz Taylor. No disrespect to any readers from the seaside resort but I have childhood memories of mud rather than the glorious sandy beaches of my hopeful imagination. Delo’s novel begins in Weston where Val has lived all her adult life in the same terraced house, retreating into fantasy when her tragic reality becomes too much to bear.
The loss she still dragged around from day to day fell away, and for a few short hours she was able to forget. Dressed as Elizabeth, she could almost be happy.
Married to her first love, Val’s happiness had been shattered by the cot death of her second son followed shortly afterwards by her husband’s death which left her struggling to bring up Ralph alone. Dressing up as Elizabeth Taylor makes her feel close to Len who’d loved her violet-coloured eyes. Now seventy-two, she’s long since lost contact with Ralph. One day, she spots a pram left unattended in town and convinces herself the baby inside it has been abandoned. Once home, she panics then takes off for the town she and Len spent their honeymoon. Val’s used to living a fantasy, slipping into the role of grandmother with an ease which convinces the lonely guest with whom she makes a connection at her bed and breakfast. Meanwhile, Ralph, now Rafe, is grappling with his own loneliness in Brighton, made worse by the discovery that his ex is now married. Over the next two days, frantic pleas will be broadcast for the baby’s return as Val slips in and out of reality, finally turning to the only person she has left in the world.
Everything comes from that, doesn’t it? What happened to Daddy. It’s like this fulcrum in the middle of the two separate versions of our lives. Yet no one ever talked about it.
The Elizabeth Taylor fantasy is the hook on which this sad story of aching loneliness, unspoken grief and the devastating effect of a double loss is hung. Both Rafe and Val have been left deeply damaged. Val has never spoken to Rafe about what happened when his father died or expressed her love for him leaving him convinced that he’s not good enough and that anyone he loves will leave him. Val has built a world into which she has retreated for years, attempting to escape the searing pain of her bereavement. Flashbacks to her marriage are replete with both pleasing movie references and loving descriptions of Val’s costumes, and there’s a thread of suspense running through Delo’s story but it’s the characterisation which is the novel’s strongest point. A step or two outside my usual literary territory, but a well turned out debut which I’m sure will please many readers.
Allen & Unwin: London 9781838958053 352 pages Hardback
Sounds really interesting.
It’s a very clever hook, and quite a poignant read.
This sounds an accomplished, if heart-rending read. One I’ll look out for – but not if I’m feeling low.
Definitely best read whilst happy, or at least content.
This sounds so painfully sad, and so believable. A really interesting debut.
It’s a very sad story parts of which are all too believable.
What an interesting sounding book and that cover is so eye-catching.
Isn’t it, just. The publishers did well there.
This sounds rather heart-breaking; sad how many of our troubles come about by withdrawing too much into ourselves (something I’m terribly guilty of as well) or rather just not communicating.
It’s such a sad subject. I think you’re right, particularly if you’re an introvert.
I don’t think this one is for me, I tend to avoid sad stories, but the cover is bright and attractive.
It’s very striking, isn’t it, but it is a very sad story.
Love the cover, love Elizabeth Taylor and envy the violet eyes, but I don’t think I could cope with so much grief and sadness.
Given our exchange on that subject a little while back, I don’t think this one’s for you.
I’d have picked it up for the over
The story sounds worth it. Good review
Thank you. It’s a great cover, isn’t it. I’m always pleased for an author when the publisher gets it right.
Indeed!
Great cover and sounds interesting,
It’s a smart design, isn’t it. You’d pick it up if you saw it on a bookshop table.
I really like the sound of this one, not a particular Weston fan but generally love seaside towns in literature. A poignant story, which I never really mind.
Very poignant, and handled well. My childhood memories of Weston involve a lot of mud!
I have just read it and absolutely loved it so thank you for recommending it!! I hope she writes some more books.
So glad you enjoyed it, Jenny!