Repeat It Today With Tears – Anne Peile
Serpent’s Tail, Profile Books, 2010.
If there is one thing you cannot say about the Orange Prize long list this year, it is that it avoids experimentalism: either in style or in subject matter. There are quite a few books that deal with controversial and heavy subjects on the list. Repeat It Today With Tears is one of them. The first sentence of the book really says it all:
The first time I kissed my father on the mouth it was the Easter holiday.
And so starts Anne Peile’s impressive story about Susanna, a girl who lives with her mother and her sister and has not yet finished high school, who starts an affair with her father. Moreover, Susanna is not portrayed as a victim. She actively seeks her father out. Pursues him. And never tells him who she really is. Peile makes no excuses for what Susanna does. Oh yes, the circumstances in which she grows up aren’t perfect. Her mother and sister surely do not seem to understand her. But there is nothing inevitable about what Susanna does. She is smart, smart enough to get access to a special programme at a big university. She seems to be able to deal with the world.
And yet, at the end of the book, you realise she doesn’t really know how to cope with the world. When you stop to think about it, you feel like you should have known. Apart from the warning bells that probably start ringing for everyone once they read that first sentence. There is something about the way Susanna deals with her emotions, compartmentalising them, locking them away,
“Because I found it upsetting I put away contemplation of it in a section of my mind that I could shut off. When they discussed the operation I used only part of my conscious awareness, in the same way as you can prevent yourself from breathing in a bad smell.”
and finding a solution and goal in this ultimate act of getting to know her father. There is something very tragic about the book and the story. And at the same time, Susanna, as a character, with her view of the world, challenges our assumptions: she loved her father, is that wrong? She does not understand the love that she sees around her, in marriage, between her mother and her new boyfriend. She sees the way the mother of her friend Julian offers and uses her body to ensnare men. Anne Peile’s choice to tackle the subject matter of incest in this manner is very daring, because she challenges a lot of things along with it (without painting the situation in a way that proclaims Susanna is right. She simply asks us to question before we judge. Or at least, that is part of what I took from this book).
Repeat It Today With Tears was a disturbing read. A powerful read. It wasn’t as disturbing as I had expected, though. Because during the read, I found myself consenting to follow along on this journey [which might make it all the more disturbing - in a way]. And yet there is the inevitable distance you feel towards Susanna, because of the taboo of the subject matter. I cannot tell you exactly if you should read this book or not. It depends on how you feel about an author tackling a subject such as this. I felt uneasy, very uneasy, but I wasn’t disappointed. And yet, I cannot tell you exactly whether I liked it, thought it was okay, or how much I did or did not appreciate it. It left an impression. It made me feel confused and disoriented. And yet, I cannot promise you that by the end of the year, I will still thoroughly remember this story.
Interesting thought about how by c0ntinuing to read the book, you are consenting and almost becoming complicit in the story!
You have totally made me want to read this book, Iris. Great review, thanks
If she wanted to be noticed and push the boundaries, I guess she found the perfect subject-matter. it will indeed be interesting to see if, with all its shock power, it will still be “rememberable” in one year.
I think this book would make me really uncomfortable. But I know what you mean about maybe since you agreed to read this about her, you sort of set a distance from her anyway so you don’t end up getting too involved in the character or the story to where it bothered you, but enough to enjoy the story as it is.
Having not read this book or even a review of it, I argued on a post on Joan of Arc that what if someone decides, in the freedom to love, to love his father/mother/brother/sister? Who’s there to judge? Besides, on what grounds do people not feel comfortable? Is it because it IS not done? Why is it not done? Which item within this makes it evil? Scientists would say it does not create enough variability and that negative genes would repeat themselves. But why should someone care about the existence of the species? People today decides not to marry/have children. What about that?
I personally do not feel comfortable on a lot of issues such as these but individuals have used basic arguing to win their cases; sometimes employing science. So who could say what would be next in our quest for freedom of action?
I just finished the Cement Garden which deals with brother-sister love. I think I kind of know the feeling you are trying to describe when reading a book like this. I am not sure if I am ready for another book on the subject so soon, but I might pick it up one day.
That sounds pretty intense but great. If a book keeps you thinking long after you’ve read it, that’s a great compliment
I’ve been meaning to read this for a while now… I’m glad you mentioned that it’s a disturbing read but you didn’t feel disappointed. Thanks for the great review
You explained it very well, I think but I’m not sure if I want to read it. I’ve got another book waiting that I’m a bit unsure about, The End of Alice by A. M. Homes, about a paedophile.
Wow, this book does sound a little bit disturbing but I’m sort of intrigued after reading your review.
Wow what a different and interesting sounding book. I’m intrigued!
I have conflicted feelings about these sort of books. On one side, I think the subject matter is quite interesting and incredibly powerful in the right author’s hands but on the other, a part of me also thinks the author is after shock value. Nonetheless, this does sound like a powerful read and I do really love the title.
Pingback: Submit Data
This is the 3rd review if this book I’ve read and it appears to be a good read, despite its subject matter. Thanks for your post I will probably try this book, altho not sure how comfortable it will be.
I liked this book a LOT. It is beautifully written and although I had reservations about reading it, I am glad I did.