A review by juliwi
Cracks by Sheila Kohler
4.0
There seems to be an unspoken rule amongst readers that you should always try to read a book before you see the film, to the point where you miss out on seeing a film in the cinema because you haven't finished the book yet. But what happens when you see a great film and then realise it was based on a book? Quite often what happens is magic! Something you enjoyed has more to give because a book always has more. That's what happened with me and Cracks.
On her website Sheila Kohler writes that after her sister's violent death in Apartheid South-Africa, she wanted to explore 'the reasons for violence within intimate relationships, in particular, the abuse of power and privilege' through writing. In Cracks she does exactly that, showing the reader how power dynamics establish themselves, how they change, get manipulated, and never truly die. Teenage girls provide endlessly interesting material to authors because we are so involved with each other and ourselves. There is a fascination which we as a society have with the strange mix between power and vulnerability, sexuality and innocence, and desire to be loved and anger at everything which signifies teenage girls in fiction. To what extent it is representative of actual teenage girls is different question but also a wrong one because it feels true. The cloying closeness of teenagers finds its best expression in boarding school narratives, where teenagers are removed from society and only have themselves.
If you liked the film I can't necessarily say you will like the novel, but Kohler's Cracks is an absolutely stunning novel! It is enticing and fascinating, both abhorrent and beautiful. I'd recommend it to fans of Psychological Thrillers and Mystery.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/review-cracks-by-sheila-kohler.html
On her website Sheila Kohler writes that after her sister's violent death in Apartheid South-Africa, she wanted to explore 'the reasons for violence within intimate relationships, in particular, the abuse of power and privilege' through writing. In Cracks she does exactly that, showing the reader how power dynamics establish themselves, how they change, get manipulated, and never truly die. Teenage girls provide endlessly interesting material to authors because we are so involved with each other and ourselves. There is a fascination which we as a society have with the strange mix between power and vulnerability, sexuality and innocence, and desire to be loved and anger at everything which signifies teenage girls in fiction. To what extent it is representative of actual teenage girls is different question but also a wrong one because it feels true. The cloying closeness of teenagers finds its best expression in boarding school narratives, where teenagers are removed from society and only have themselves.
If you liked the film I can't necessarily say you will like the novel, but Kohler's Cracks is an absolutely stunning novel! It is enticing and fascinating, both abhorrent and beautiful. I'd recommend it to fans of Psychological Thrillers and Mystery.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/review-cracks-by-sheila-kohler.html