September 2009 Good Housekeeping selection.
Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2009.
Costa Book Awards 2009 Judges' comment: "An acutely-studied and skilful dissection of middle-class family life."
Such a cosy thing: comfortable middle-class family life. But in the large, well-worn domain of Allersmead – home to six, now grown and largely dispersed children, their ample and accomplished cook of a mother, distracted father and lifelong au pair – only the dog stays true under scrutiny to the image of shambling contentment.
Beyond the chequerboard hallway, sibling sniping, marital disharmony and unspoken pacts to conceal unforgiveable acts play out uncomfortably. A deeply satisfying, eloquent family-fabric novel.
A big shabby Victorian suburban house, the smell of raincoats and coq au vin in the hall, the six mugs for the children slung from the kitchen dresser hooks: for destructive Paul, difficult Gina, elegant Sandra, considerate Katie, clever Roger and flighty Clare, Allersmead was the perfect place to grow up. But was it? Now grown-up and off in different directions, one by one the children return to Allersmead, to their home-making mother and aloof writer father and a house that for years has played silent witness to the secrets of a family, and one particular secret of which no one speaks.
| Primary Genre | Family Drama |
| Recommendations: |
A big shabby Victorian suburban house, the smell of raincoats and coq au vin in the hall, the six mugs for the children slung from the kitchen dresser hooks: for destructive Paul, difficult Gina, elegant Sandra, considerate Katie, clever Roger and flighty Clare, Allersmead was the perfect place to grow up. But was it?
Family Album features in the following genres: Family Drama, eBooks of the Month, Fiction, Recommendations
Paperback, Ebook, Hardback. Not Available.
Family Album was written by Penelope Lively and published by Fig Tree an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd
