I bought this earlier in the year (is it obvious I'm trying to make my way through a stack of books that have been sitting in my bedroom for months) and picked it up at the end of November. I felt like it was a bit of a slog through, but I'm not sure I can articulate why exactly. Almost nothing actually happens in the book, which I usually like, but I didn't feel like it worked brilliantly.
The heroine of the book is Sunday. She is around forty years old and she's definitely autistic. She lives a very ordered life in the house left to her by her parents, with her sixteen year old daughter Dolly. She works in a nursery tending plants for her ex in laws. She has a colleague, David, who is Deaf, and who she is close to (although I wish it had been explained how she learnt sign language). Her ex, who she calls King, is somewhat around; he and Dolly are close but the family seem to think they can buy Dolly's affections. They do keep Sunday in a job, but they're not close. The in laws are very seen to be seen kind of people. Sunday's autism comes out in things like what she eats - mostly white, bland food, especially when she is feeling stressed - and drinks (only fizzy things like tonic water and champagne). The word autism is never mentioned though, which I found kind of annoying.
Sunday's sister died when the girls were teenagers, and her parents died not long afterwards, having blamed Sunday for her sister Dolores' death. This is how come she owns what is clearly an expensive house somewhere in the Lake District, because her job doesn't pay her much.
The house next door to Sunday's belongs to someone called Tom, who is rich and for whom it is a holiday home. Vita and Rollo have had to move out of their London home and are renting the house from Tom. Vita comes over to meet Sunday and soon wangles her way in to Sunday's and Dolly's lives. She is outgoing and vivacious, and rich as fuck. Rollo works in 'town' - in London - but comes home every Friday. Dolly and Sunday go over for dinner one Friday night and then do that for the next few. Vita doesn't have children and has had some difficulties in the past, and she quickly becomes fond of Dolly. In a very sinister way.
It's stated from the beginning that Sunday no longer speaks to Vita and Rollo, but it's not obvious what happened. Oh and the book is set in the very late eighties, which I also found a little bit of a strange choice and am not sure why it was made.
I did like the story but I'm not sure it was done brilliantly. Living in Sunday's mind was good - especially with how she masked her autism and how she didn't - but I'm not sure it entirely paid off. I wouldn't rush to read something by the same author, but I am giving this four out of five.
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