Wednesday 13 January 2021

The Cactus by Sarah Haywood


 

I recommend The Cactus to you.  It is a debut novel. The main character is Susan, a 45 year old who might be described as a judgmental control freak.  She often tells people what they should be doing and has no small talk.

 

The entire book is centred on her and her feelings and thoughts.  As an example she thinks 'Dealing with members of the opposite sex isn't that dissimilar from training a dog; you need to be firm and persistent.'

 

As her pregnancy advances and her dispute with her brother over her mother's will is ongoing, you start to understand why she is the way she is.  She has reacted to her childhood challenges in one way and her brother, Edward, reacted in a completely different way.

 

The plot is interesting.  You won't like Susan but that is the point – to get to understand her.  She is a cactus as well as having a collection of them also.

 

3 comments:

  1. Interesting sounding read!!

    Your quote about Susan, 'Dealing with members of the opposite sex isn't that dissimilar from training a dog; you need to be firm and persistent.' had me cracking up!!

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  2. I just read Confessions of a Curious Bookseller and though she was not likeable, she was very similar in a very black and white way of looking at life - alienated all, and was so isolated. There maybe more than we think of them around!

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  3. Sounds interesting. Yes, my first thought was "I don't think I would like this lady" but it probably is interesting because I wouldn't like her.

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