The brilliant Catherine Chidgey has gone over all gothic again in her recurring theme of slightly futuristic, weird British seaside amusement parks. I’m not sure she’s doing the places any favours, and for that I salute her. Horrible institutions, tacky and sad, harking back to a bygone age where people were fed pathetic entertainment and nasty hot dogs without irony. The theme of this one is “A Simpler Time” which sounds a bit Trumpian. Make these miserable little seaside towns great again. I’m a bit concerned that Chidgey’s recent books, from Axeman, Pet, Book of Guilt and now The Starving Bride, all focus on the manipulation of vulnerable people. Please, Catherine, enough psychological darkness. Would you please write us a beautiful, classical LOVE STORY? You know – a passionate couple, torn asunder by forces outside their control but (will they? won’t they?) do eventually get their happy ever after. Surprise us. It’d be brilliant.
Continue reading “The Starving Bride – book review”The Starving Bride – book review
The Starving Bride, by Catherine Chidgey
