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Hidden Life by Adèle Geras ~ 2007. This edition: Orion Books, 2008. Paperback. ISBN: 978-0-7528-9394-5. 439 pages.
My rating: 3/10. I made it halfway through, right up to the you-could-see-it-coming-from-Chapter-One lesbian love scene, and I speed-scanned the rest just to make sure I wasn’t missing any unforeseen developments. I wonder if the author was paid by the word? This book just went on and on and on. Every prediction I made came out bang on, and the ending was so! gaggingly! upbeat! it! made! me! want! to! scream!
Such a disappointment. I had high hopes for Adèle, having heard good things about her YA novels, in particular Ithaka. But this one was a definite miss. I wish I had my two hours back. I’m going to cut my losses and give a very quick un-review, then into the Sally Ann box – not going to waste any space on this one.
Not completely horrible, hence the generous “3”, but the author could do so much better with every aspect of this attempt.
*****
From the back cover:
When Constance Barrington dies, she leaves behind a wealthy estate and a complex family network. But when the whole family gathers to hear her last will and testament, they are in for a terrible shock. Constance – possessed of a long memory and a spiteful disposition – altered her will shortly before her death. The new provisions are far from fair; some benefit hugely and others hardly at all. Constance’s granddaughter, Louise, is bequeathed the copyright for her late grandfather’s novels (barely remembered, long-since out of print and valuable only as a reminder of the man she loved). It is a paltry inheritance and one that comes to symbolise the inequity at the heart of the Barrington family. Soon, old family feuds and long-hidden resentments come to the surface, and with them, secrets start to emerge. But it is through Louise’s inheritance – those dusty, long-forgotten books – that the most explosive secret of all will come to light, bringing with it a very different future for her and the rest of the family.
Sounds promising, yes?
The reality: no.
The Barringtons and their friends, enemies, in-laws, ancestors and descendents are all a bunch of damp whiners. Even the infidelity and the “passionate” love scenes are yawn-making, and almost everyone is sorry in the morning. A contrived happy ending for one or two of the favoured ones; a final poke in the eye for the vindictive Constance, watching from her celestial cloud.
The in-text excerpts from the grandfather’s prison camp book, “Blind Moon”, were indescribable. This is not a compliment. Constance was right. Her husband wrote dreck.
This is a book for a waiting room, or possibly, if nothing else is about – an old People or Vanity Fair magazine would be more enticing – for the beach or poolside. Go ahead – get it wet! That’s its natural state, I’m afraid.
Many apologies to those of you who may be Geras fans. Feel free to talk me around – I don’t like to dislike books – it makes me feel all prickly and glum.
Leaves & Pages 