...if you are in the mood for a real bummer. Because that is what you are going to get. I have half a mind to give this novel two stars, but Liz Nugent REALLY knows how to write, and I cannot condone giving a writer this good fewer than three stars. "Little Cruelties" follows the Drumm family through several generations of unhappiness, focusing on three brothers: Will, Brian, and Luke. Told in alternating sections by the brothers, the novel details their lives, and the relationships they have with their family and others.
If this novel were slightly more weighty, I'd give serious consideration to the darker undertones of religious symbolism and meaning. As it stands, however, I believe those themes were given short thrift in this unrelenting barrage of poisonous characters. I don't believe there were too many moments of grace in this book full of barbarous acts of cruelty. I'm unsure the book IS aptly named, since so many of the acts committed in this novel aren't necessarily small, and as we become acquainted with each of the brothers, something benign to one is monstrous to another, for reasons clear to the reader.
*Minor spoilers--VERY MINOR*
Are violence, evil, and unhappiness inherited? Liz Nugent seems to think so, and "Little Cruelties" displays this viewpoint. Mothers abandon their responsibilities to their children, and husbands casually neglect their wives (and their vows). Children seem to learn only the worst impulses from the Drumm family, and we see a grim future moving forward. I had a real problem with the ending of this novel. There's no hint of redemption; I wondered why I had spent so much time with this family when all I got out of it was a narrative from men defined by pettiness, jealousies, and furies both big and small. This is a celebration of cruelty and ego, capitalism and fame. Perhaps the novel is timely (these are distinctive and timely topics); however, this isn't an exploration of culture and narcissism--this is a family narrative about dysfunction and meanness.
I'm not sure I can wholeheartedly recommend this novel. The writing is superb. However, after spending several hours reading it, I felt like I needed to take a shower. I felt dragged down. I felt mired in unrelenting misery. Hey, I was ALREADY living in a pandemic world BEFORE I STARTED READING. So don't read this novel if you want light escapist fare. However, I can't deny the superior and deft touch of the novelist. I hope she finds something fun to write about next time--however, having read her other novels, I can't rely too much on that wish.
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Almost exactly two years ago, I read and quite enjoyed Nugent's earlier novel, Lying In Wait. Needless to say, I have since been keeping an eye out for her books, so I was really excited to dip right into this one! The book centers around the Drumm family - moving across decades in the lives of three brothers, William, Brian and Luke - all close in age and with odd relationships with not only one another, but with fame, competition and women -their mother in particular. It opens at the funeral of one of the brothers - the identity of which serves as a sort of mystery that helps propel the rest of the story as each brother reveals their damaged minds and often terrible behaviors. Because of the shifting perspectives and timelines, it's easy to sort of feel as fractured about continuing as the cracks within the family are revealed with each one darker and deeper than the next.While the ending is certainly unexpected, it takes a while to get there and frankly spends too much time reveling in the reprehensible behavior of the brothers (particularly two). And though one brother is more sympathetic than the rest, his own afflictions and addictions make him hard to identify with. Really, it's impossible to really root for any of these characters. And while they may not be particularly sympathetic in their various vile ways, they do certainly feel well-developed. The overlap of some of the moments bring told from each brother's perspective slows down the pacing - though it definitely adds to their development. This is certainly a character-driven novel, but I guess I just wanted to see things get better rather than worse and worse. And while some aspects don't seem particularly realistic, it does have an unsettling air to it throughout the whole book. It's not my favorite of her books, but I am still looking forward to seeing what she will write next!
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