Matt
Atwood at the peak of her powers, some of the turns of phrase that she dashes off will take your breath away - "some days I look like a worn-out thirty-five, others like a sprightly fifty" has lived rent free in my head for a long time now. The startlingly clear lens through which she conveys the sly malevolence of young girls and how childhood traumas can ricochet through your life reflects the artistic style of the main character, and makes me wish I could get my hands on a Risley original. Loses a bit of steam as the protagonist ages and matures, but that's almost the point, isn't it? Life is long and catharsis is hard to come by, so maybe catching a plane out of town and never looking back is the best we can hope for.
Atwood at the peak of her powers, some of the turns of phrase that she dashes off will take your breath away - "some days I look like a worn-out thirty-five, others like a sprightly fifty" has lived rent free in my head for a long time now. The startlingly clear lens through which she conveys the sly malevolence of young girls and how childhood traumas can ricochet through your life reflects the artistic style of the main character, and makes me wish I could get my hands on a Risley original. Loses a bit of steam as the protagonist ages and matures, but that's almost the point, isn't it? Life is long and catharsis is hard to come by, so maybe catching a plane out of town and never looking back is the best we can hope for.