Helena Close

This novel touches on some difficult subjects - divorce, mental illness, self harm, child abuse, death and adultery. These subjects are suprisingly well handled and intergrated into the story in a thoughtful way skillfully avoiding what could have been a melodramatic, soap opera like saga. Cut of Love does include explicit language and confronting themes.The story weaves around the lives of two protaganists - adolescent Jane who's parents have bitterly separated after a long period of arguments. Jane's father is disintergrating with mental illness and her mother is illequipped to deal with her own bitterness and new found freedom, let alone the pain of her two children. Jane responds to the pressure by "cutting" while struggling to find some normalcy in the situation.Alison (Janes best friends mother) has been unable to deal with her oldest sons sudden death and has largely opted out from her marriage and family as she deals with her grief. She is obsessed with the family of the man who was involved in her son's death and unwittingly involves herself in Jane's turmoil as she searches for relief from her guilt.We learn the stories of Jane and Alison alternatively with some overlap due Jane and Leahs relationship. The pace is strong, obviously building to a conclusion with a tense and emotional ending.The novel is well grounded and the dialogue and sequence have a stunning realism. A powerful, resonating novel.… (meer)