First-time novelist Jamison portrays three generations of “wounded women” in an exquisite blues of a novel. The youngest, pretty Stella, is living the hip, single New York life, but she takes the train to Connecticut at night to care for Lucy, her grandmother, from whom age is stealing strength and clarity. When Stella learns a family secret, that she has a long-estranged aunt, she finds Tilly in a trailer park in Nevada and becomes entangled in her toxic sorrows.
That is Booklist describing Leslie Jamison’s debut novel, The Gin Closet. I usually dislike first person novels that switch points of view, but Jamison pulls it off. I’m still agape this novel was written by a 26-year old.
One Response
Chris: Interesting statement that you “usually dislike first person novels that switch points of view.” I’ve heard of people having preferences by genre, or by length of novel, or by topic area or theme or style, but I’ve never before heard of a preference based on a novel being first person or based on the number of points of view. You have very refined tastes!