There is no doubt that Alice Sebold is a brilliant writer. I just wish her subject matter wasn’t so disturbing. Don’t get me wrong, I love dark stories, but this is pitch black with no sign of a torch. If you survived Sebold’s latest book The Lovely Bones without too much therapy afterwards, then you’ll hopefully be able to survive this one. The Almost Moon follows Helen Knightly, a middle-aged mother, who murders her invalid mother with dementia. The story follows the next 24 hours where Helen confronts the events that unfold from the terrible act she has committed and reflects on the events in her life that led her to this decision. What soon unravels is how her relationships with her mother, father, her two daughters, her ex-husband, her best friend and her best friend’s son contribute to the person Helen is and how it motivated her decision to eventually kill her mother. But however grim this book sounds, Alice’s writing somehow makes the read all worthwhile. I feel the need to read Sebold’s memoir, Lucky, to ascertain whether her life experiences have fuelled her horrific stories or whether she is an incredibly creative woman with an exceptionally dark view of the world. But I need a stiff drink first!
Emily Harms is Marketing Manager of Readings