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| Everything Under |
Everything
Under is the story of Gretel, and her mother, Sarah – how they
were separated and, sixteen years later, how they were reunited. But it is much more complicated than that.
Gretel was raised by Sarah on a houseboat on a river in
England. This is an England of the
underworld, that thrives in the shadows, where the murky river water and muddy
shoreline promote dark dreams. The
inhabitants of this England rely on each other, and take care of their own
problems, with no interference from authorities of any kind. This is an England where Sarah is allowed to
leave Gretel behind.
We are not privy to much of Gretel’s life after Sarah left
her, but as an adult, Gretel goes searching for her mother and finds a woman
ravaged by dementia. Despite their years
apart, Gretel begins to care for her mother, and Sarah in turn reveals some of
the hard truths of their difficult life.
As we move back and forth through time to Gretel’s
childhood (The River), her search for Sarah (The Hunt), and her adult life with
Sarah (The Cottage), we are introduced to Marcus, a young man who lived briefly
on the boat with Gretel and Sarah.
Marcus has a harrowing story of his own.
Meanwhile, we meet Margot, who has also been abandoned as a child and
found on a forest path by a couple who is childless but desperate to be
parents.
Mythology looms large as children are turned out to
flounder in the woods, Margot’s ill-fated future is predicted by Fiona (the
Oracle), and the myth of Oedipus rears it’s ugly head. Daisy Johnson is a master of magical realism,
as she links present-day England to the profound drama of myth. Throughout the story she weaves in the terror
of “the Bonak”, a creature from the minds of Sarah and Gretel that comes to
represent everything that we fear.
This novel is mesmerizing although at times difficult to
follow. To make things more complicated
there are also two Gretels, and two characters who change genders during the
course of the story. However, as the
plot starts to come together, you will have those “a-ha” moments, made all the
more satisfying because the story is so complex. If you like a bit of darkness in your stories,
I highly recommend Everything Under.
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ReplyDelete"Everything Under" is a captivating novel that explores themes and symbolism, with a clear introduction, plot summary, character analysis, and writing style. The story's structure and pacing are also evaluated, with a setting description and critical reception. The book also features recommendations for readers, and a personal reflection on the author's work.