Customer Reviews

Homework: A Novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...HOMEWORK is, after all, Margot Livesey's first novel. Those of us who have had the pleasure of reading her others have come to expect high quality from her - her talent for suspense shines so very brightly in CRIMINALS and THE MISSING WORLD, and her character development and storytelling, so evident in her masterpiece (my opinion) EVA MOVES THE FURNITURE, are stunning. HOMEWORK has its own bright moments - even for such a dark story. The tension that is present in the family's situation - a separated father with a bright daughter who resents the presence of a new woman in his life - is brilliantly portrayed and built upon. The psychological aspects of the story are seemingly well-researched and illuminated - and the frustration on the part of Celia (the `intruder' in her potential stepdaughter's life) - is palpable and fraught with tension, as well as the very real sense of terror that she experiences when she realizes how deeply the young girl's feelings run. When `things begin to happen' around the house, she becomes more and more aware of the lengths to which the girl will go to make her look bad, to make her feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. She sees Celia's presence in her father's life as a drain on the love that she wants for herself - and she will evidently go to extravagant lengths to drive Celia out of the house.

Livesey's prose is jewel-like in its precision - the tension in this story builds imperceptibly, almost excruciatingly so. Comparisons have been drawn in several places to Hitchcock's films - and that's not completely inappropriate here, although I think it's much more developed in THE MISSING WORLD and CRIMINALS. The story might not end in a manner to suit every reader - but wouldn't that be boring, if every book we read wound up exactly as we expected/wanted...? Margot Livesey is a fine writer - and this novel is gripping and entertaining.

Having read Criminals, The Missing World and Eva Moves the Furniture, I have finally gotten my hands on Margot Livesey's first novel. Homework is a haunting and complex novel about a clever and manipulative little girl who does everything in her power to tear her father and his girlfriend apart. What first appears as a jealous daughter's quest to get rid of her stepmother transpires into a psychological and disarming tale of the girl's malicious and conniving attempts to obtain sole possession of her father. Again, Livesey has proven that she is one of the cleverest authors of this time. The disturbing and haunting images that she concocts through her writing stimulate the reader's mind long after having finished the novel. I recommend all of Livesey's books most highly.

The psychological thriller is not known for its nuance, but Livesey has written a smart novel that is as low-key as it is intriguing. Perhaps because the tone and the heroine are so understated, so genteel, the unlikely source of the horrors is all the more frightening. I can only say that reading the first Livesey novel has sent me back online to buy the subsequent three. I can't wait.

This novel unfolds its characters and the plot artfully. Celia's own childhood and adult experiences frame the action of the novel. The reader's emotions for Stephen's young daughter will waver between compassion and terror as the truth comes into focus. It is interesting to see the range of reactions different characters have to the situations, based on previous experience with Celia. What is true, what is misdunderstanding, coincidence or deceit? How strongly people can be attached to the vision they hold is one of the more terrifying elements of the book. A suspenseful, intriguing story.

Homework is an interesting novel thanks to Livesey's skills as a writer. She gets deeply into her narrator, but her narrator is not, intrinsically, a particularly interesting person. The novel had less resonance for me than it might have, because I had difficulty believing the 10 year old character could be so coldly calculating, so in control of her emotions in playing the loving step daughter while plotting to get rid of the interloper. The narrator's friends are quick to see thru her fickle first boyfriend, but cannot accept that her step daughter could be such a major problem; I wish this point had been made without making the step daughter as fiendish as she is.

I don't understand how anyone could find this story boring. While not action-packed, this book provides a rich, realistic portrait of a child who has learned how to manipulate adults to get her way. The adults, while seemingly in control of the situation, are blinded to reality by their own preconceptions and their expectation that a child could not act with such calculating malice. And while Jenny is cruel and calculating beyond what one would expect from a child, her ways of lashing out ring true as things a child would choose to do. Although there is no definitive vindication at the end, it's clear that Jenny's actions will come to light. It took me a good hour after finishing this book to detach from the strong emotions it brought forth. I was furious with Jenny and horrified at her final act against Celia. A book that makes one live within its world is a success.

I've been trying to get a copy of this book for a while, having read all of Livesey's other books (favorite one is Eva Moves the Furniture). Finally got it from my book swap and read it yesterday. What a disturbing little book! I purposely did not read any of the reviews here before reading it so I could come to it fresh. I found it extremely well-crafted, which is usual with Livesey. The story seems innocuous enough when it starts - protagonist Celia is somewhat gunshy about relationships until she meets Stephen; their romance takes off but is thwarted by his insecure, jealous young daughter Jenny, who eventually comes to live with them when her oddball mother Helen takes off for Paris for a new job. At first Celia is reluctant to think Jenny capable of deliberately ruining their life together so she can have her father for herself, but as the story goes on it becomes clear that Jenny may have more deep-seated problems than anyone might suspect.

I found this story really creepy and disturbing, very Hitchockian, and it also reminded me of Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby in that the story is so superbly unfolded that we're not completely sure if what we think is happening IS happening until the end.

One of the things I like best about Livesey's work is that none of her books are like the others; I never really know what to expect from one of her novels until I read it. I disagree with one reviewer here who felt this book was predictable. I did not find it that way at all and in fact I went back and forth about whether Jenny was just acting out her insecurities or might really be evil, and if Celia might be visiting her own past problems onto Jenny's behavior.

Livesey is a great storyteller AND an elegant stylist, which is a huge gift to her readers. Check out all her books - if you're disappointed, I'll be surprised.

Although [Amazon.com's] recommendations are usually right on target, I was very disappointed in this book. I forced myself to read it right through...I kept hoping it would get better...but it never did. I have no idea why I was recommended this book and I definitely do not recommend it to anyone!

I eagerly picked up this book after reading another by Livesey and must say I am disappointed. While her writing is still as superb as ever, the way this story unfolded left me a bit bored.

This story is about a woman who is lucky to meet the man of her dreams, but is unlucky in that his daughter is an angelic menace. Celia is certain that Jenny (the daughter) hates her and wants to get rid of her, but she can't seem to convince anyone else of that fact.

The difficult part I had with this book is that it doesn't come across as a psychological thriller. Perhaps that is because of my background - I have been neither a stepdaughter nor potential stepmother. Perhaps it is because when I think psychological thriller I think on the level of Stephen King or Dean Koontz. The other problem I had with this story is the ending - I would have felt more satisfaction/resolution after reading this story had there been an additional chapter, where Celia more directly receives vindication, either from her boyfriend or her friends.

It was also difficult to really support Celia and get to the point where you really are rooting for her. Yes, she's had a rough life and many disappointments in love. All the same, a heroine more apt to stand up for herself or one who at least had one friend that supported her 'wacky' notions would have been more welcomed.