I was delighted when Molly Fox’s Birthday appeared on the 2009 Orange Prize longlist. The book had been languishing in the TBR for some months – ever since last year’s Edinburgh Book Festival in fact. My TBR is now so huge that books have somehow to get themselves noticed all over again before I start reading them. Anyway so Molly pushed her way to the top…. and I read the book last week. Imagine my delight when the book appeared on the Orange Prize shortlist earlier today.
Firstly, a few words about that event at the Edinburgh Book Festival. Obviously Madden was promoting the recently released Molly Fox, just as Lloyd Jones was promoting his new UK release, the name of which escapes me because it hasn’t escaped the shadow of Mister Pip. Neither did the event. The audience mostly attending to question Jones about Mister Pip and to get their 1st editions signed. (That would be me, then …) And I think to a certain extent Madden was feeling somewhat subdued by it all. But then again, it could be her natural modesty that held her back when she was talking about her own book. For when she started commenting about Mister Pip, extolling its plotting, the author’s control and its brilliance, her eyes lit up and she became positively exuberant. Reverting back to her own novel and once again she became quiet and thoughtful, almost shy …
very much like Molly Fox, the exuberant brilliant actress but painfully shy individual, who really only has a walk-on flashback role in the novel which bears her name. A novel set on the birthday she does not celebrate. A novel told by an unnamed narrator whose main themes are identity, friendship, knowledge of another person.
friendship is only that, friendship. There are areas of reserve and distance, knowledge and experience that cannot be shared or entered into.”
The unnamed narrator, a successful playwright, is staying in Molly’s house in Ireland, trying to overcome writer’s block. Molly is not there. She is working in New York. It is her birthday – June 21 – the summer solstice, the day of most light. How fitting that the reflections of the narrator turn to Molly in an attempt to understand her friend, to lay bare her friend’s soul. By extension the same analysis is applied to her university friend, Andrew. The irony is that in doing so she reveals more of herself than she realises.
All three subjects are successful in their chosen careers, less so in their love lives. Shadows are cast also by their families. The narrator is embarrassed by her priestly brother but she is nowhere near as uncomfortable with her family background as Andrew and Molly: Andrew, with a brother murdered because of his paramilitary connections, suppressing memories, needing to reinvent himself; Molly, coping with a depressive sibling and the aftermath of that final celebrated birthday. The absences of the families, however, exerting powerful influences that the characters may deny.
Sometimes the most important and powerful element is an absence, a lack, a burnished space in your mind that glows and aches as you try to fill it.
Like Madden, the prose is quiet and thoughtful. Psychological layers are peeled back gently but the analysis is incisive and astute nonetheless. The pages are populated with many literary and symbolic references. However, there’s not much exuberance in these pages – in fact, the bottle of champagne that is consumed is done so under duress.
He hauled it dripping from the chrome bucket; it was like an ice baby being born.
Let’s hope that for today Madden’s bottle has more bubbles in it than that. In fact, just in case, she’s still being modest, let’s add some more fizz. The novel is undoubtedly a slow burner, and I suspect, one that will get even better on second or even third readings. This should stand it in good stead, assuming the judges reread the shortlist prior to awarding the Orange Prize. It is certainly good enough to win. I’m rooting for it.
I really, really want to read the shortlist but dont know if I can fit it into my reading time at the moment (or hardback budget) though I would love to try! I think I shall hold out on the Man Booker Longlist, though I always fancy the Orange Longlist more… odd. This book has missed my radar sadly but now thanks to you and the Orange is definately in my sights!
I’m planning to read all the books on the Orange shortlist before June 3rd. I’m really pleased that you enjoyed this one. Have you read all of the others on the list?
I haven’t read any of the others yet. I do have Burnt Shadows in the TBR and I hope to read it before the deadline.
I’ve just had a good mosey around the Orange site and I’ve decided to join you Jackie in an assault on the complete shortlist. Managed to reserve 3 titles at the library. Just need to track me down a copy of “The Invention of Everything Else” now …..
That’s great news! I look forward to comparing notes with you!
Lizzy, I’ll join you on reading the Orange shortlist. I have read “Home” and “The Invention of Everything Else” and I would recommend both. I’ve booked the shortlist readings at Southbank the night before the award, so that’s added incentive to read them all.
Unfortunately my library does not have the other four yet. I might have to buy them!
I think the Orange Prize has a stronger shortlist this year. I’m half way through Molly Fox’s Birthday and it is an absolute delight to read after some recent disappointments.
I did enjoy Burnt Shadows but felt it was slightly let down by a rushed ending. I’ll also squeeze in Samantha Harvey’s The Wilderness before the winner is announced.
Are you still rooting for this one to win? I know we have very different reading tastes and I can see why you love Home, but this one just came across as a nice gentle read, not a book with award winning potential. I know I’m missing something, but what is it that makes this book so good?
I agree, it’s a gentle read but the psychological perception is sharp. I found the issues of identity fascinating and the gradual unpeeling of the narrator’s secrets – secrets which she had hid from herself and which became obvious only as she related the story of her friendships.
I am still rooting for it to win …. along with another 2 of the 5 that I have read. Novel 6 is also knocking my socks off – I’m going to be hard pushed to determine which novel wins Lizzy’s orange but hopefully I’ll be able to do that before the judges announce the real winner. I don’t envy them – what a shortlist!