Michele Roberts
She Finds Herself
Writing a work of fiction in the form of an autobiography or a memoir means that the author can stretch the shape in original ways. So Sagesse LaBasse, the narrator protagonist of Claire Messud’s highly accomplished second novel, not only informs us of her perceptions, inner life and surroundings, but also fills us in, very much like the traditional omniscient narrator, on the past history of her family as well. Purporting to have gained her knowledge from tales repeated by her parents and grandparents, Sagesse (remember Françoise Sagan’s Bonjour Tristesse? – here’s a descendant) pieces together several faintly shaming and shabby episodes from the 1950s onwards. In the process, she discovers her true ancestry, grows up and comes of age.
Sign Up to our newsletter
Receive free articles, highlights from the archive, news, details of prizes, and much more.@Lit_Review
Follow Literary Review on Twitter
'To me, Elmore Leonard is as comforting in extremity as Pym, and as safe, in the last resort, as Wodehouse. The guys with the best lines are going to come out the other side; the dumb fucks are going to get it in the head or chest.'
https://literaryreview.co.uk/a-spoonful-of-elmore
'As we read, we know that in a short time the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and colour television will sweep that age over the balustrade and into the sea, but for now everyone is happy.'
Simon Baker is charmed by Graham Swift's new novel, 'Here We Are'.
http://ow.ly/uDL050ylh80
'As science moves forward ... are we entering an era where sex is for leisure and IVF is for creating the perfect child?'
@MGilmore121 takes a look at the future of IVF in her review of @RobertKlitzman's 'Designing Babies'.
http://ow.ly/xuJY50ybNJa