Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Scissors, Paper, Stone, By Elizabeth Day

An astute novel of bedside manners

Saturday 31 March 2012 18:38 BST
Comments

After a car knocks him from his bicycle, Charles Redfern lies unconscious in hospital. His wife Anne and daughter Charlotte sit quietly by his side.

Their relationship seems strained but, once it becomes apparent that Charles will not recover, they gradually open up about the effect his bullying presence has had on their lives.

Elizabeth Day's debut has some odd stylistic tics (a tendency to compare everything to "burnt caramel") and simplistic characterisation (Charlotte's boyfriend, Gabriel, is as improbably angelic as the name suggests). But it is well paced and psychologically astute, exploring the strictures of middle-class reticence with impressive subtlety.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in