- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Black Swan (14 Sep 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0552777110
- ISBN-13: 978-0552777117
- Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.9 x 19.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,832,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
A dark, witty exposé of family life.
Product Description
The Palmer sisters are close. They see each other often, for shopping trips and casual suppers. They care for one another's children and houses and pets through holidays and emergencies. They lend each other books and spare heaters and clothes for special occasions. Their phones ring in a ceaseless round of chat about in-laws and job plans and anxieties and triumphs. They all agree that loyalty to one another always outweighs loyalty to boyfriends and lovers and husbands. And there are never any secrets. Not until now.
Stella tells Bridie a rumour she's heard about Liddy's new boyfriend and, in no time at all, the sisters' relationships begin to unravel. Should Liddy be told? Bridie is certain and persuades her sisters to join her in this decision. But when Liddy reacts badly, the other two backslide and Bridie becomes the outcast, bereft of the support system upon which she has based her whole life and all her values. With surgical precision and a wry intelligence Anne Fine exposes the claustrophobic and potentially duplicitous nature of close family relationships. Secrets beget secrets, after all, and the final revelations are more than anyone has bargained for.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For someone who read Anne Fine's children's books when I was younger, this book wasn't what I expected at all. It didn't just seem like a book wirtten for a different audience- it also seemed like a book written by a different person. The style of writing is so mature and enticing that it's hard not to like.
The portrayal of the relationship between sisters is spot on, while the characters, although not entirely likeable, are extremely believable. Anne Fine writes about betrayal within families, and the way in which Bridie is shunned out by her three sisters is so realistic that it's frightening.
My only criticims would be that it didn't go any further- there were the makings of a brilliant book and the events which occurred in it just seemed to be a bit too understated and cautious. Perhaps that was Anne Fine's intention; I just felt it didn't give enough.
That said, it ended brilliantly, avoiding the predictable outcome and another boring 'happy ever after'.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Telling Liddy by Anne Fine
Although I bought this book over ten years ago I decided to give it a fresh review as I have recently happily re read it after a year or two. This is a book I have gone back to many times since the late nineties and i recommended it over and over.
A tale of four sisters, Bridie, Heather, Stella and Liddy, `Telling Liddy' has a delicious shaudenfraude inducing quality. I am one of three daughters myself and so I immediately felt at home with the family dynamics.
Anne Fine is so quick and practised at building a scenario for the reader to get to grips with, making you ponder on how you would have dealt with such a tricky situation.
Bridie, the Social Worker sister, appears to be the first amongst equals, she seems to be the one that keeps this lively family of the sisters, partners, and their children together. Her own down trodden husband Dennis and their two young adult sons are however going their own ways. They are all being rather pushed aside as this formidable group of women get through their day to day lives in constant contact, helping each other and looking after the apparently weaker sister Liddy.
Heather is a successful accountant, single, with a different attitude to men than her sisters, she takes what she needs and moves on. Stella is an uber housewife with a quiet perhaps boring husband and a seemingly small mind. Liddy more flighty and with a complicated past is the child of the set, she inspires the others to take care of her. She has a new partner and a wedding is in the air, much to be happy about.
Then a spanner is thrown into the works when Stella tells Bridie a secret bit of information passed on to her by an old family friend...
From then on things really change. Decisions have to be made and the fall out is devastating.
I really enjoyed the way in which Bridie's work mates try to help and eventually do her a real service, the brave way in which she copes with what is happening to her. The effects on her marriage and her career are riveting. The story ends in a Fay Weldon-ish sort of way that leaves you thinking for ages afterwards.
A reading experience that I can only say that I found to be fascinating and truly involving, if you like reading about people and their families - try this I think you will be truly rewarded.
Although I bought this book over ten years ago I decided to give it a fresh review as I have recently happily re read it after a year or two. This is a book I have gone back to many times since the late nineties and i recommended it over and over.
A tale of four sisters, Bridie, Heather, Stella and Liddy, `Telling Liddy' has a delicious shaudenfraude inducing quality. I am one of three daughters myself and so I immediately felt at home with the family dynamics.
Anne Fine is so quick and practised at building a scenario for the reader to get to grips with, making you ponder on how you would have dealt with such a tricky situation.
Bridie, the Social Worker sister, appears to be the first amongst equals, she seems to be the one that keeps this lively family of the sisters, partners, and their children together. Her own down trodden husband Dennis and their two young adult sons are however going their own ways. They are all being rather pushed aside as this formidable group of women get through their day to day lives in constant contact, helping each other and looking after the apparently weaker sister Liddy.
Heather is a successful accountant, single, with a different attitude to men than her sisters, she takes what she needs and moves on. Stella is an uber housewife with a quiet perhaps boring husband and a seemingly small mind. Liddy more flighty and with a complicated past is the child of the set, she inspires the others to take care of her. She has a new partner and a wedding is in the air, much to be happy about.
Then a spanner is thrown into the works when Stella tells Bridie a secret bit of information passed on to her by an old family friend...
From then on things really change. Decisions have to be made and the fall out is devastating.
I really enjoyed the way in which Bridie's work mates try to help and eventually do her a real service, the brave way in which she copes with what is happening to her. The effects on her marriage and her career are riveting. The story ends in a Fay Weldon-ish sort of way that leaves you thinking for ages afterwards.
A reading experience that I can only say that I found to be fascinating and truly involving, if you like reading about people and their families - try this I think you will be truly rewarded.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is one of the most pertinent observations of "close" sibling relationships that i have ever read. The characters are 3 dimensional and in turn make you feel affectionate , exasperated , exhilarated and downright angry at their pointed human foibles. Bridie is an unusual heroine but easily identified with , whilst her sisters are also recognisable from everyday life . A thought provoking and most enjoyable read .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Telling Liddy
It was difficult to put this down. Intrigue and secrecy so true of many family relationships. So easy to empathise with the situations they all found themselves in. Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2003
Thought-provoking
I enjoyed this book, although I couldn't understand the concept of being so close to your siblings that you almost live their lives for them! Read more
Published on 27 April 2002
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