132,942
edits
Changes
From TheBookbag
Jump to navigationJump to searchWhatever You Love by Louise Doughty (view source)
Revision as of 07:37, 1 September 2023
, 07:37, 1 September 2023no edit summary
Two police officers knock on Laura's door. They break the news to her that her 9 year old daughter Betty has been run over and killed. Betty's friend Willow is in hospital. Immediately, I was drawn into this story of a mother's worst nightmare coming true.
I hesitate to read stories about bad things happening to children, especially now I have my own, but I have enjoyed several of Louise Doughty's five previous novels, and I decided to take the risk of reading something that might upset me. I did find it upsetting, unsettling, thought -provoking and utterly compelling, as Laura contemplates taking a terrible revenge:
''I am calm as I make this promise: I am going to find out what you love, then whatever it is, I am going to track it down and I am going to take it away from you''.
Thank you to Faber & Faber for sending a copy of Whatever You Love to The Bookbag.
I cannot think of anything similar to recommend but another novel about motherhood and about a relationship, told from the viewpoint of a woman remembering her past, is [[Repeat After Me by Rachel DeWoskin]]. For more from Doughty, try [[A Bird in Winter by Louise Doughty|A Bird in Winter]].
{{amazontext|amazon=0571254756}}
