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Ghost Moth by Michele Forbes (view source)
Revision as of 07:41, 2 December 2013
, 07:41, 2 December 2013no edit summary
Belfast 1949: Katherine is about to become engaged to fireman George Bedford when she meets Tom McKinley. He's bright fun and makes her feel more alive than dependable, boring George ever could. The weight of the decision Katherine eventually makes will haunt her for a lifetime. We fast forward to Belfast 1969 and as the troubles in Northern Ireland exacerbate, as do the cracks in Katherine's marriage. In fact 20 years and four children later, they've become chasms.
This is Michele Forbes' debut novel, something we quickly forget once we start reading. Not only is the idea that this is where Michele's career as a published novelist begins hard to believe, she doesn't even make it easy for herself. A woman having to choose between exciting and reliable men is a literary cliché that occasionally brings success (think [[Bridget Jones:Mad About The Boy by Helen Fielding|Bridget Jones]]) but rarely is it conveyed with as much beauty and feeling as Michele manages while instilling realism and relevance.
Katherine feels very authentic and totally sympathetic. Ok, as the novel wanders back and forth between 1949 and 1969 we may raise our eyebrows at some of the things she did in her youth, but that's youth. In 1969 she's struggling to keep her life on course, raising the family while her married life to George is blighted by thoughts of Tom. Yes, we know from page one whom she chose; the twists, turns and 100 volt shocks come from how the choice was made and its effects.