Fault Lines
Nancy Huston
October 2008
320 pages
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FTC Awareness Project: I bought this one. I also bought the last book I posted about, The Year of the Flood. I’m so sorry, but I forgot all about you when I wrote that post. You may think you’re unforgettable, but well, you’re not.
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First of all, I just have to mention how creepy the spine of this book is. You see those eyes on the cover? Well, one of them stares at you from the spine. I finally had to turn the book the other way…every time I looked at it, it startled me.
Fault Lines is told in four parts, each section narrated by a child. It starts with Sol, a self-proclaimed highly intelligent child (although I’m convinced he’ll grow up to be a serial killer…he has some disturbing internet habits). Sol is baffled by tense family dynamics. His father Randall has a difficult relationship with his (Randall’s) demanding mother, Sadie, yet a warm relationship with his adored grandmother, Erra. Then we go back in time to Randall’s childhood, where we learn more about the driven and difficult Sadie. From there, the story shifts to Sadie’s childhood. Sadie is being raised by her strict grandparents. She adores her beautiful, but distant, mother and is ecstatic when she is finally able to live with her. However, as she lives with her mother she gradually becomes aware of her mother’s secrets. Finally, with Erra’s story we learn the truth of her childhood. And we realize that the secret from Erra’s childhood has impacted the lives of Erra, Sadie, Randall and Sol.
While the story itself was interesting, the narrators’ voices were awfully mature at times. I could’ve done without Sol…although his narration does set up the story, since he knows something is wrong, but he doesn’t know what. I think Sadie was captured the best, with her insecurities and her struggle to be “good.” And this is ironic, because I actually liked Sadie’s adult character the least. But I certainly felt like I understood her the best after hearing everyone’s point of view.
This is an interesting way to tell a story, with interconnected narrators who are all children. However, considering the author’s style, I’m not 100% convinced it was the best way for her to go.
That is definitely a haunting cover, quite disturbing.
Trisha´s last blog ..Hey! That Song is the Story of My Life!
There don’t seem to be many authors that can get the child’s voice right; it’s a wonder they keep trying. I think they want to explore what things look like from that point of view, but, realistically, kids don’t always even understand what’s going on around them so are unlikely to be able to offer a reliable narration.
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Hitting the maturity level of a child can be really difficult. The concept sounds interesting, but I’m not sure I could stand that eyeball staring at me.
Humm. One to think about. I like the idea of the four children as narrators.
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I liked the book when I read it because it was just so different. I hated Sol! I think I liked it because it taught me about a part of the past that I didn’t really know about and it also gave a new perspective on why people turn into the adults the grow up to become. Great review!
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Well if nothing else it sounds so different than anything else I have been reading about lately. The girl on the cover looks a little haunted so I imagine her eyeball would be scary as well.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. I’ve checked it out from the library once but didn’t get a chance to read it. I’m still planning on picking it up again at some point.
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Is this a YA novel?
I want to see a picture of the spine!
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Once you pointed out those eyes, I had trouble paying attention to the rest of the review.
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I’m with Kathy – I definitely would not want to be living with the eyeball!
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Sounds really interesting… I’d like to read this. I like creepy covers though- I think they make the book interesting.. plus my students will probably get freaked out during silent reading if I read a book with a creepy eye that will stare at them when they aren’t reading like they’re supposed to! Haha
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I admit I am unlikely to read this book, at least until it changes editions, because the eye on the spine thing freaks me out.
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I haven’t read this one yet… but I know that a lot of readers (most?) have trouble with Sol. Still, I do like Huston’s writing so will probably give this a go at some point as well.