I went through phases while reading this novel. The first 50 pages or so seemed awfully slow in moving along, but by page 100 I thought it would be brilliant (when they discover the drawing below the wallpaper). But then, Parker seems to be more involved in Geordies passing (and fascinated by Geordies shriveled genitals) and abandons the Fanshawe family story, and abandons Gareths revolt story, and abandons Mirandas lonely musings. These never became resolved to satisfaction in my mind.Barker has gifted narration skills and she has some excellent ideas started in this novel, but thats all that I can say that is good about it. I havent read any of her other novels so I cant compare her other work to this one.
Oh, well, Im not complaining. Im just moving on. For you: read it if you want, or move on, too.
Gareth is Frans son. Miranda, a stepchild, is to visit for six weeks. Nick meets Miranda at the train. Their house says Fanshawe 1898. Miranda points out it is like Wuthering Heights.When Gareth isnt in school he plays computer games. The authorities at his school feel that he has a propensity to bully younger children. His mother Fran disagrees with the assessment. Jasper is the baby of the family. Another child is expected. Nick and Gareth, his stepson, do not get along. Miranda is visiting because her mother, Barbara, has been hospitalized for a nervous breakdown.
The family scrapes wallpaper in order to redecorate. A sort of Victorian portrait is discovered. Unfortunately the portrait of the family is anatomically correct and not in very good taste.
Nick visits his grandfather Geordie at the hospital. Nicks father had been the headmaster, and his mother the matron, of a small preparatory school. As a boy Nick had been devious and deceitful trying to curry favor with others.
Geordie is 101 years old. He has cancer. He seems to be having flashbacks of his service during World War I. The story with Geordie is that he believes that his mother said that she wished his brother had survived the war instead of him.
Nick reads that a child of the Fanshawes, the previous owners, died under mysterious circumstances. Members of the family were acquitted in a murder trial. When Nicks family goes to the beach, Gareth throws stones in the direction of the baby, Jasper, and wounds him. Miranda witnesses the incident but denies being present.
The grandfather dies. Just before this happens Nick learns more details of Geordies experience in the war. Gareth is to start a new school and is upset. One of the themes of this excellent novel is the complexity of truth.
Disappointing
Survivors guilt