Tuesday, November 9, 2010

December by Elizabeth H. Winthrop

 

Medium

 

December is Elizabeth H. Winthrop’s second novel but this is the first novel by her that I have read. I cannot actually recall how the title made it on to my Wish List but it did and I subsequently obtained this copy via Bookmooch a few months ago.  Surprisingly little happens in this novel and although well written there is not much to say about it. Although I did not find it boring I did find it at times a little slow because of the amount of trivial detail that is included about the everyday activities of the family, not sure if this much detail was necessary, but it did show how much Isabella’s silence effected family life.

How would any parent feel if their child had not spoken to them for 286 days? Isabella Carter is eleven years old and has not spoken to her parents or uttered a word to anyone in fact for so many months that specialists are at their wits end with her not being able to diagnose anything specific. Her school has been providing work for her to do at home, but are no longer prepared to have her on the list of pupils unless she returns speaking within the next few weeks. 

Ruth and Wilson Carters marriage is beginning to show the signs of strain as they struggle to discover where they have gone wrong with parenting, if this is even their fault. The three protagonists narrate the story which means we really get to feel the tension this situation is causing for all three of them. The parents are experiencing vast mood swings from anger with themselves, anger with their daughter, to being scared of what exactly the future holds for them all.  Isabella starts her silence because she feels she has no control over her life in any other way. She is struggling with the confusing world of an adolescent, so not speaking seems to her a way of gaining some control. The problem is that the longer her silence goes on, the less in control she actually feels. The control changes to an inner fear that she might not actually be able to speak if she tried to. Without writing a spoiler it takes someone outside the family plus a desperate need to communicate to make Isabella realise that the silence does not have to control her for ever, but how will she respond to this insight. To find out you will have to read the book.

 

Elizabeth Winthrop © Julia Bishop

Elizabeth Winthrop © Julia Bishop

To find out more about this young author visit her Official Website

11 comments:

  1. i guess the writer must have first hand knowledge of this subject. Have you read Eat Pray yet? I've started reading Gilbert's follow up "Committed" Can't say I'm hooked on it but I pick it up now and again and read a few pages.

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  2. I think i would enjoy this book.. the slow pace might be a dampner ,but the story seems unique..

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  3. Superali - I did wonder that myself? Eat, Pray has just arrived this morning from an Italian Bookcrosser for me. Looking forward to reading it but I have a couple of review books that I must read first so it will be a few weeks before I do. Never mind as long as I read before seeing the film.

    Bedazzled - It is worth reading if a copy comes your way as it is a unique story line, as far as I know anyway.

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  4. I've read this book!

    The only thing that put me off is that the author is TOO pretty!!

    We read it in the book group that I belong to. It stirred up some great conversations about parenting.

    Sarahx

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  5. Oh Sarah, yes young and pretty! A good choice for a book group I bet those conversations were interesting. What conclusions if any did you come to in the group about the novel and parenting?

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  6. Hi again,

    Some of us felt that the parents let the daughter get away with too much and turned the whole 'not speaking' thing into a bigger drama than it might have been.

    Di you think that at all?

    I'm your new follower, by the way!

    Sarahx

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  7. Sarah - Thanks for becoming a follower it is appreciated and great to be able to discuss a book we have both read. I have to admit as a parent it was very easy to think that Ruth and Wilson had aggravated the situation somewhat by their behaviour towards Isabella! On the other hand it is always easy to criticise others from an outsiders viewpoint isn't it. None of us know how we would react if put in this situation ourselves!

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  8. Souunds like an interesting book - I love the premise; intriguing. Thanks for the review!

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  9. Worth picking up if you get the chance and the time to read it Talli.

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  10. I love the cover, but it doesn't really sound like one I'd enjoy. Sounds like I might get fed up with the whole lot of them.

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  11. carolsnotebook - I must admit that at one time I did feel as if I wanted to shake them all!

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