Annabel Pitcher is a relative newcomer onto the scene of modern fiction, but if My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece is anything to go by, she's definitely an author to watch in the months ahead. The novel centres on young James, a child whose sister was killed in (fictional) terrorist bombings on September 9th. As the book's title implies, Rose's ashes now lie in an urn on the mantelpiece in the family's lounge, and of course this struggle to accept her passing forms the crux of the novel, admist several gripping plot threads involving racial stereotypes, religious traditions and ultimately letting go of the past. Anyone who might think this to be a downbeat read would be surprisingly wrong, though- Pitcher manages to maintain a uniquely positive tone throughout the novel's entirety, and while of course there are naturally moments of intense poignancy (handled beautifully too, sure to bring a tear to the eyes come the heartwarming climax), overall there's actually a lot of ironic comedy and social satire to indulge in, making for an unpredictable and often thought-provoking read. Above all, Pitcher handles her characterisations perfectly, from the traumatised parents of Rose, Jas and Jamie to the overly religious teachers at their new school, and particularly when we have direct moments with James either alone or with Sunya, things are pitched (no pun intended) perfectly, never descending too far into the realm of tear-jerking or hilarious to become unrealistic. Indeed, if Annabel Pitcher moves on from teenage fiction to adult fiction- if there is a distinction to be made there, which I would wager could go up to debate nowadays- then it will be her characterisations that will be remembered for their total faithfulness to the real-life people and situations we see happening around us every day. My sole gripes with the novel? There are one or two moments where the various plotlines are dealt with strangely, and the open-ended denounement does leave something to be desired. Nevertheless, My Sister In The Mantlepiece sets an exciting precedent for all of this rising author's future work, and I for one cannot wait to see what's coming next.
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Sunday 29 January 2012
My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece Review (4.5/5)
Annabel Pitcher is a relative newcomer onto the scene of modern fiction, but if My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece is anything to go by, she's definitely an author to watch in the months ahead. The novel centres on young James, a child whose sister was killed in (fictional) terrorist bombings on September 9th. As the book's title implies, Rose's ashes now lie in an urn on the mantelpiece in the family's lounge, and of course this struggle to accept her passing forms the crux of the novel, admist several gripping plot threads involving racial stereotypes, religious traditions and ultimately letting go of the past. Anyone who might think this to be a downbeat read would be surprisingly wrong, though- Pitcher manages to maintain a uniquely positive tone throughout the novel's entirety, and while of course there are naturally moments of intense poignancy (handled beautifully too, sure to bring a tear to the eyes come the heartwarming climax), overall there's actually a lot of ironic comedy and social satire to indulge in, making for an unpredictable and often thought-provoking read. Above all, Pitcher handles her characterisations perfectly, from the traumatised parents of Rose, Jas and Jamie to the overly religious teachers at their new school, and particularly when we have direct moments with James either alone or with Sunya, things are pitched (no pun intended) perfectly, never descending too far into the realm of tear-jerking or hilarious to become unrealistic. Indeed, if Annabel Pitcher moves on from teenage fiction to adult fiction- if there is a distinction to be made there, which I would wager could go up to debate nowadays- then it will be her characterisations that will be remembered for their total faithfulness to the real-life people and situations we see happening around us every day. My sole gripes with the novel? There are one or two moments where the various plotlines are dealt with strangely, and the open-ended denounement does leave something to be desired. Nevertheless, My Sister In The Mantlepiece sets an exciting precedent for all of this rising author's future work, and I for one cannot wait to see what's coming next.
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