Sex,
Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J Graham. Alchemy Press, 2012, £10 paperback (also available in Kindle edition)
Reviewed
by Allen Ashley
Set mostly during September 1970, this book
will evoke bittersweet memories for anyone who remembers drinking halves of
cider or bottles of Kia-ora; painting their bedroom wall orange or purple;
listening to early T Rex and mourning the untimely death of Hendrix; describing
unpleasant situations as a “bummer” or “heavy vibes”. At the core of the story
are three friends – Carol, Syl, and Jac – all aged nineteen and on the cusp of
womanhood. It is bookshop assistant and biker girl Carol whose narrative we
mostly follow. The occasionally meandering plot reflects her damaged and
uncertain psychological state as she inches towards taking control of her own
destiny and throwing off the stifling shackles of “Family… something you got
lumbered with.” She is a sympathetic though sometimes annoyingly self-centred
heroine. The novel has some strongly written scenes, particularly the gripping
final chapter as Carol floats adrift through her abusive brother’s funeral and
wake before metaphorically swimming to safety. A thought-provoking coming of
age story; as well as a snapshot of those difficult times.
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