Customer Reviews

A Kind of Intimacy

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Annie Fairhurst, the narrator of this clever, black-humored character study, hooks the reader from the opening scene, which opens with Annie sending a van containing all her possessions to a new address, after which she strips off all her clothes and viciously attacks the "bloody sofa" which she has left behind. It is the sofa on which her husband proposed to her more than a decade ago. When she arrives at her new house, she envisions herself as Jackie Kennedy, "getting out of an aeroplane. She's tiptoeing down the steps her hair like sculpted soap, waving gently..." Clearly this main character, who has problems with anger and with her perception of herself, has a lot to learn, but the reader quickly discovers that she plans to work on her issues--with advice from virtually every self-help book ever written.

Author Jenn Ashworth takes the concept of irony to new heights in this psychological novel which rivals Patrick McCabe's The Butcher Boy in its intensity, and it is in her irony that this novel achieves something that McCabe's novel does not--it is pathetically funny at the same time that it is terrifyingly slow in its revelations of Annie's past life. In the first six pages, Neil, Annie's new next door neighbor, asks her if "the family," especially her little girl, have arrived yet. Annie asserts that he must be confused. Every remark and every action from this point on capitalizes on the reader's understanding of real life as the author shows it being played out in conversations among the neighbors and other residents of the community, while Annie twists and manipulates what she sees and hears so that her reality will be what she wants it to be. Her obsession with the unfortunate Neil, who is happily living with Lucy, a young woman whom Annie abhors, leads her into many unneighborly acts, and she eventually comes to the attention of the association's Neighborhood Watch.

All the conversations between Annie and everyone else are classics of dramatic irony. The reader recognizes bits of the truth while the real story of Annie and her past are withheld for most of the book, thereby sustaining suspense while drawing the reader into Annie's twisted world. The cumulative picture of Annie's mind as the plot develops further becomes positively terrifying--and pathetic. When the author finally begins to reveal details of Annie's past, the reader still cannot help wondering how the author will ever reconcile the information gleaned from several seemingly conflicting scenes. The conclusion is sly-brilliant, even-with the full impact coming very gradually.

Ashworth's eye for the character-revealing detail is unerring, as is her control of Annie's "voice." A couple of obvious examples of foreshadowing are a bit clumsy, but overall, the author's control of her details and her pacing are meticulous. Ashworth manages to depict a main character with a perverted sense of self and gross ignorance of the social conventions, at the same time satirizing the very suburban society which Annie wishes to be part of--a major achievement pulled off with panache and darkly humorous flair. Mary Whipple

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it through in one day as I could not put it down. I particularly enjoyed the way that the author slowly gave the reader insight into the main character's psyche through deftly placed flashbacks. This writing method/device enables the reader to go along for the ride while the main character's actions descend into utter craziness. Told in a different way, this story could have simply been deeply sad, but in this author's skillful hands, the story is at once incredibly humorous and seriously disturbing. In short, this book is not to be missed!

This is a darkly humorous, disturbing, and utterly unique novel that I couldn't put down. Ashworth's droll description of everyday suburban life becomes increasingly sinister and shocking once Annie puts down roots in the neighborhood. Annie's narration is simultaneously hilarious and unsettling; her ability to distort reality is awe-inspiring and makes for more than just an entertaining read. Can't wait for her next novel!

I loved this book from beginning to end. The character study is just so brilliantly done. I've recommended it to all my friends I know appreciate a good novel. Don't pass this up!

Not to imply it is anything like BJD at all, but I would have to describe it as "British singleton's new life makeover memoir". If, say, Norman Bate's mum was writing it...

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, very well written and superbly paced. Just enough flashbacks to fully flesh out Annie Fairhurst. I hesitate to give it 5 stars because there were things I would have liked to have read, but it is not my story and on finishing I felt completely satisfied with the choices made to tell this story. The characters come to life and those that aren't fully realised, including Neil, are that way for an excellent narrative reason. Loved the descriptions of Annie's suppressed, fury-induced wig-outs.

Have recommended this to everyone I know, and looking forward to more from this author.

Annie Fairhurst, 27 and newly single has just relocated to a British suburb with her cat, Mr. Tips. Annie is an obese and socially awkward young woman, who actually seems content with her size and who she is. It is important to her to make a good impression with the new people she meets, so she has immersed herself in personal development books about socializing and making conversation. She's vague about her past, and when she does talk about it, you are never quite sure if she is telling the truth.

In her efforts to make friends and get to know her neighbors she decides to throw a housewarming party. She sends out 30 invitations, prepares a hedgehog centerpiece with pickled onions for eyes, and raisins for the irises, sets out her cow shaped milk pitcher, among other treats, and is ready for the party to begin. She thought the centerpiece would make for some good conversation. Although the party is a disaster in the eyes of those she was trying to impress, she thinks it went well. She even believes the friendliness of her next door neighbor Neil, is really a romantic crush on her. The fact that Neil has a cute, 19 year old live-in girlfriend named Lucy, is not even a factor in Annie's eyes, because she knows if Lucy were gone, they would be together.

"Sometimes I liked to imagine that Neil's bed was pushed up against the wall like mine, so near that I could hear his breathing. There was nothing inappropriate with my imaginings, far from it. Just the thought of hearing someone nearby helped me to sleep."

" The newspaper he gave her felt like a lover's token, a little indication of his concern for me. "

An unreliable narrator, as the story progresses, the reader gets some insight into Annie's past: her very sad childhood, her problematic marriage, and the risky behavior she has engaged in, all in attempts to find love, acceptance and companionship. It's clear she is delusional and pretty much the "sociopath next door". Each new chapter shows you just how twisted and laughable her logic is. Just when you think she's gotten herself into the worst mess possible, something new happens, and it isn't long before her past catches up to her.

Annie is a whacky gal, who I found endearing in a bizarre sort of way. At times I pitied her, and her desperate attempts for love and acceptance. The story is dark and addictive. An unforgettable birds-eye view of the dark side of a fractured mind. I LOVED this book, and it is without a doubt, my favorite book read in 2011.

(If you are serious about wanting to read this book, DO NOT read the Publisher's Weekly review of it -- it contains MAJOR SPOILERS).

This book is so enthralling - I was actually up all night. Unique, suspenseful, surprising. It is such a treat to come across a book like this unexpectedly. This is the story of Anne, a sociopathic young woman who moves next door to a young couple. She quickly becomes obsessed with the man next door, Neal. The book is told from Annie's point of view, and it manages to be funny and horrifying at the same time. I don't want to spoil anything for a potential reader, so I will leave it at that. Highly recommended!

This book was shocking! The fact that the narrator is completely off her rocker adds a very interesting aspect to how the reader perceives what happens through out this book. It will almost make you feel a little crazy for empathizing with her. I think it is a great read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys ups and downs and extremely unexpected twists.

An unreliable nsrrator particularly to herself, Annie Fairhurst moves to a quiet suburb leaving mahem in her wake. The extent of her pathology reveals itself slowly as she becomes obsessed with her neighbor, completely ignoring the fact that he is in a loving relationship with his livein girlfriend. How the story spools out is truly masterful, hard to believe this is a debut novel. Half Fay Weldon, half Ruth Rendell.

In the vein of Ruth Rendell and Patricia Highsmith, "A Kind of Intimacy" grabs hold of the reader from the start and doesn't let up to the very end. Impressive, considering that the narrative is basically the thoughts and ramblings of a delusional overweight girl whose paranoid thoughts eventually reach drastic proportions. Annie Fairhurst moves into a new apartment and meets her next door neighbor Alan, whom she immediately believes has a romantic interest in her despite the fact that he lives with a sexy young nineteen year old. Annie is continually reading self-help books and sets out to get to know her neighbors (in a cringing housewarming party scene that sets the reader on edge). She develops a friendship with an older woman who is in charge of the neighborhood watch and sets about to intimidate Alan's young girlfriend. In the meantime, bits of information trickle in concerning Annie's former husband and child and her shady past. The author manages to evoke both sympathy and derision for Annie, an admirable feat. A path turner and a masterpiece of psychological fiction.