A tour de force of literary craft and emotional resonance, Like Normal People charts a family constellation that revolves around an off-kilter centre: Lena. Although Lena is forty-five, she remains locked in childhood, with a mental age of twelve. Moving deftly between past and present, the novel follows Lena's day-long escape from her residential home with her troubled eleven-year-old niece, Shelley. While this odd couple take refuge on a southern California beach and have their own adventures and profound experiences, ...
Read More
A tour de force of literary craft and emotional resonance, Like Normal People charts a family constellation that revolves around an off-kilter centre: Lena. Although Lena is forty-five, she remains locked in childhood, with a mental age of twelve. Moving deftly between past and present, the novel follows Lena's day-long escape from her residential home with her troubled eleven-year-old niece, Shelley. While this odd couple take refuge on a southern California beach and have their own adventures and profound experiences, Lena's mother, in desperate search of the young runaways, finds herself reliving her own life's dreams and disappointments. Karen Bender brilliantly enters into the consciousness of three women at different stages of life, each on a private search for love and acceptance. Like Normal People is a tender, often hilarious and thoroughly unforgettable family drama. `Sweet, tender and funny' Elle `A mother-daughter story receives tender, fresh expression . . . Bender's talent for rich characterisation is luminous . . . a simple tale powered by understanding and honesty' Time Out `An exquisite debut' The Times `To this vivid portrayal of family dynamics Bender brings a persuasive understanding of the human condition' Guardian
Read Less
