Bitter

A compelling debut novel whose title hints at what to expect. The key protagonist, Gilda Meyer, is indeed bitter, as, aged 53, she reflects on her life. It is full of regrets, and quite a bit of Jewish guilt too, but most particularly about the relationship she has with her son, recently married and now happier than ever before. Gilda comes across as inherently dislikeable — the situation in which she finds herself is her own doing — and duplicitous too. The urge to read on, to witness the inevitable car crash, is pervasive. The truth, however, is more complicated. The reader learns about secrets withheld and the concepts of expedience and reputation. Credit to Jakobi for retaining tension to the end. I was surprised by her choice of conclusion, but it does stress the importance of a mother's relationship to her son and a desire not to repeat the mistakes of the past. 9/10.

By Francesca Jakobi