annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Debut novel and encore
    • Sugar and Snails >
      • Acknowledgements
      • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
        • Birthday blog tour
        • S&S on tour 2022
      • Early endorsements
      • Events >
        • Launch photos
        • Launch party videos
      • in pictures
      • Media
      • If you've read the book
      • Polari
      • Reading group questions
      • Reviews
      • In the media
    • Underneath >
      • Endorsements and reviews
      • Launch party and events
      • Pictures
      • Questions for book groups
      • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • The accidental series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
    • Lyrics for the Loved Ones
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

Rereading Mr Loverman & The Secret Scripture

5/4/2021

6 Comments

 
These two recent rereads focus on older characters who have been diminished by their culture’s punitive attitudes to their sexuality. In the first, a contemporary Londoner has hidden his love for his closest friend on account of the Caribbean community’s homophobia. In the second, a woman has been ostracised in twentieth-century Ireland because of the misogyny and genophobia among the powerful Catholic clergy. Yet a degree of redemption is offered to the characters, albeit late in life.
Picture
Picture


Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

Seventy-four-year-old Londoner Barrington (Barry) Jedediah Walker has been one half of a couple since their school days in Antigua. But despite the strength of his love for Morris, he’s kept that relationship secret from his daughters, the Caribbean community and his long-suffering wife. Now Morris, himself long divorced, is pushing for them to live together. Barry wants this too, but is terrified of coming out.
 
Barry is a flamboyant character, a snazzy dresser who is nevertheless full of prejudice himself. His story unfolds with pathos and humour, but I think I preferred the chapters narrated more poetically in the second person (a device the author uses in her 2019 Booker-prize-winning Girl, Woman, Other) from the perspective of his wife.
 
Although light in touch, the novel makes serious points about LGBT history, not only in showcasing a gay relationship within the Caribbean community, but with some reflections (perhaps a bit preachy for a novel, but I welcomed them) on tolerance of homosexuality in pre-colonial Africa (p258):
Picture
It also breaks new ground in terms of contemporary literature: how often do we encounter a triply marginalised character – in this case, black, gay and elderly – on the page? The third of these is the reason I reread, for a post I’m writing on older characters for the IQ blog. I wanted to check whether Barry and Morris have sex: Viagra is name-checked, they definitely do.


The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

Approaching her hundredth birthday, Roseanne McNulty is transcribing the vicissitudes of her life in western Ireland. The tragedy that blighted her hitherto happy childhood, and sent her mother mad. The bigotry and sectarianism that curtailed her marriage. The ostracism. Her lost child.
 
Meanwhile, William Grene, her psychiatrist, is reviewing his own life as he approaches retirement, while trying to make sense of the patchy record of hers. In the crumbling hospital scheduled for closure, her case notes have been devoured by rodents, although fragments from her previous placement in Sligo remain. It’s not until later that he discovers how these contradict Roseanne’s own testimony, although the reader is aware from early on. Whose version will you trust, that of an elderly woman shut away for decades or a self-interested Catholic priest?
 
I know where my biases lie, but the Father Gaunt’s narrative is doubly disadvantaged by coming to us second hand. Whereas Roseanne’s memories, distorted or not, are poignantly vivid, and the injustice bites at the reader’s heart.
 
First published in 2008, Sebastian Barry’s The Secret Scripture was shortlisted for the Booker and won the Costa award that year. Rereading it, I wasn’t as disappointed in the neat-and-cosy ending as I was the first time round. Perhaps because knowing what was coming gave me space to admire the setup. And I loved Roseanne’s tragic story of the twin wounds of misogyny and religiosity, which have blighted so many lives, not only in twentieth century Ireland.
 
I also enjoyed the politics, but was less captivated by the theme of unreliable memories, and as for the psychiatric setup, well! I’m not qualified to criticise the representation of Irish mental health care, but that won’t stop me saying that I didn’t believe in Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital or in the lonely psychiatrist, Dr Grene. He seems to perceive himself as solely responsible for assessing Roseanne for community care. William, let me take that weight from your shoulders!
Picture
As you’ll learn if you read my forthcoming novel – although not in a preachy way – psychiatry would have only a minor role in such an assessment, but we meet no social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists or nurses in Sebastian Barry’s fictional asylum. The only other staff is a medical doctor and the strange man who cleans Roseanne’s room. Also, the assessment would focus not on her history and sanity, but on behavioural skills. But even if Roseanne’s account of her life is defective, she still seems too competent to have been left to fester in the hospital years after those in the UK have been set free. (Although I could all too well understand her admission years before.)
 
So I could have done without depressed and depressing Dr Grene altogether. Roseanne’s tragic tale could stand on its own. But I nevertheless enjoyed rereading, although I much preferred the author’s more recent novel Days Without End.

Picture

My response to the latest flash fiction challenge is a homage to Roseanne, albeit based on a scene involving the young social worker, Janice, in Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home. The prompt is swift passage.

The morning after

Rain lashed the windscreen as Janice scoured dismal streets for a pharmacy open a bank holiday. Were she so inclined, she’d have lashed herself. She hoped her pounding head would be the worst legacy of last night’s foolishness. She couldn’t even claim he’d spiked her drink.

Her sober profession was no protection. Nor was her degree. In twenty minutes she’d regressed twenty-odd years to the age of ignorance. Of apathy. Of female disempowerment. As a green neon cross loomed from the murk, she scolded herself for scorning her birth mother. The only difference between them was the morning-after pill.
Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
6 Comments
Norah Colvin
6/4/2021 01:20:12 pm

I remember reading Mr Loverman so enjoyed reading this review of your revisit. I was interested to see some similarities between The Secret Scripture and your soon-to-be-released book, though the dissimilarities are probably greater. You would definitely hope so. I think we can rely on you for that.
I wish Janice the swift passage she is hoping for with the morning after pill. My reflections upon your final statement are difficult to put into words as Janice would not have anything to think about had her mother used it. In fact, she wouldn't be.
I think this is a very strong piece and tells so much in so few words.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
9/4/2021 06:33:48 pm

Thanks, Norah, rereading The Secret Scripture I was surprised myself by the similarities. I'd logged it as having influenced Matilda, but it's always hard to pin down how much. My novel is strongly influenced by my work, but all too many women experienced similar tragedies.

Yes, it's an interesting philosophical question about Janice's perception of her origins. Being happily adopted, she hasn't been particularly curious about her birth parents – but that might change!

Reply
Norah Colvin
9/5/2021 12:01:39 pm

I look forward to meeting Janice in your novel and learning more about her.

Anne Goodwin
9/5/2021 03:28:21 pm

Not long now, Norah. Janice's mother is an early years teacher whom I consulted you about some time ago ;-)

Charli Mills
8/4/2021 02:32:58 am

Interesting parallels between The Secret Scripture and your forthcoming book. I dare say you have the advantage of better understanding the role of psychiatry and the closing of era asylums. It does set up for interesting intrigue, the idea of exploring what happened and who's memory to rely on.

Your story shows important social and sexual shifts between Janice's era and that of her mother.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
9/4/2021 06:38:18 pm

Yes, as I said to Norah, rereading The Secret Scripture I was surprised myself by the similarities. But of course my novel gets the context right – although I'm waiting to see what a few of my former work colleagues will think of it.
Although we've still a long way to go regarding gender inequalities, I'm amazed how much has improved in my lifetime. Good to celebrate that where I can, whether that's in fiction or real life.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    Available now
    Picture
    The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My third novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom, joshtasman, tedeytan, striatic, goforchris, torbakhopper, maggibautista, andreboeni, snigl3t, rainy city, frankieleon