I am delighted to take part in the blog tour to celebrate the publication of Anne Goodwin's Becoming Someone. Today is the final day of the tour. It is a collection of short stories which revolve around the themes of identity, gender, sense of self. Here's a little more to
whet your appetite...
What shapes the way we see ourselves?
An administrator is forced into early retirement; a busy
doctor needs a break. A girl discovers her sexuality; an older man explores a
new direction for his. An estate agent seeks adventure beyond marriage; a
photojournalist retreats from an overwhelming world. A woman reduces her carbon
footprint; a woman embarks on a transatlantic affair. A widow refuses to let
her past trauma become public property; another marks her husband’s passing in
style.
Thought-provoking, playful and poignant, these 42 short
stories address identity from different angles, examining the characters’ sense
of self at various points in their lives. What does it mean to be a partner,
parent, child, sibling, friend? How important is work, culture, race, religion,
nationality, class? Does our body, sexuality, gender or age determine who we
are?
Is identity a given or can we choose the someone we become?
My Thoughts
This collection of short stories highlights so many roles that people play over their lifetime. In many of the stories, there is a feeling of looking back at how time has moved on and how one's sense of self can alter over the years. I found this to be a strong theme in the arresting A Smell of Paint where a daughter returns to her childhood home. It makes you think so much about what has happened in that family and how they have all seen themselves. Unable to forgive a father who left, she has reproached him over the years with paintings of the wife he rejected. Then the paintings changed to food and you feel that painting rather than eating is all she will do. Told from the perspective of the mother, you see the brother and sister as he brings her home. You can't help but feel the pain which this family has lived through.
It is hard to pick out one story over the other. In a way, I feel that a collection of stories has to be seen as an entity, like a tapestry of emotions. One which absolutely shocked me though was How's Your Sister? It takes a little while to comprehend just why the narrator is so adamant against seeing her sister but when you realise what has happened, it brings you up short. You picture both the parents struggling to put a brave face on and can feel the anger which the narrator has bubbling under the surface. Of course, you never get to meet the sister and can only guess at how she has seen herself over the years.
In brief, this is a varied collection which shows you different aspects of identity and what gives an individual a sense of self. You can dip into it or pick a story to read and can be sure that there will be a thought-provoking look at what it is to 'be'.
In short: Powerful writing which examines what makes a person.
About the Author
Anne Goodwin’s debut novel, Sugar and Snails was shortlisted
for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize. Her second novel, Underneath, was
published in 2017. Alongside her identity as a writer, she’ll admit to being a
sociable introvert; recovering psychologist; voracious reader; slug slayer;
struggling soprano; and tramper of moors.
Thanks to Anne and Inspired Quill for a copy of the book and a place on the tour!
Do check out these brilliant bloggers!
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