Raking the Ashes

by Anne Fine

Lovers, colleagues, family - Tilly has always been brilliant at pushing people in and out of her life exactly as it suits her. Then along comes Geoffrey, gentle, compassionate, generous to a fault, with his miserable little children and his manipulative ex-wife.

Tilly's own expertise in the arts of deception and avoidance should be enough to make sure she's always one step ahead of Geoffrey's disastrous, crumbling family. But time and again she finds herself staying, brought down by their cowardly backsliding and their barefaced lies.

How has she managed to stay so long in a relationship she knows perfectly well has to be doomed? More importantly, how can Tilly plan her permanent escape?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, British Literature

409 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Though readers often find themselves inadvertently laughing aloud as they read Anne Fine's novels, as she herself admits, "a lot of my work, even for fairly young readers, raises serious social issues. Growing up is a long and confusing business. I try to show that the battle through the chaos is worthwhile and can, at times, be seen as very funny." In 1994, this unique combination of humour and realism inspired the hit movie MRS. DOUBTFIRE, based on Anne's novel MADAME DOUBTFIRE and starring the late comedic genius Robin Williams.

Anne is best known in her home country, England, as a writer principally for children, but over the years she has also written eight novels for adult readers. Seven of these she describes as black - or sour - comedies, and the first, THE KILLJOY, simply as "dead black". These novels have proved great favourites with reading groups, causing readers to squirm with mingled horror and delight as she peels away the layers in all too familiar family relationships, exposing the tangled threads and conflicts beneath. (It's perhaps not surprising that Anne has openly expressed astonishment at the fact that murder in the domestic setting is not even more common.)

Anne has written more than sixty books for children and young people. Amongst numerous other awards, she is twice winner of both the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most prestigious children's book award, and the Whitbread Award. Twice chosen as Children's Author of the Year in the British Book Awards, Anne Fine was also the first novelist to be honoured as Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. In 2003, Anne became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an OBE. Her work has been translated into forty five languages.

Anne Fine lives in the north of England and has two grown up daughters.

Reviews

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Families are creepy things, and other people’s families are even creepier.’ Tilly, a bullish and selfish woman who has been used to a lifestyle of hard work and lots of transient lovers, takes up with Geoffrey, a divorcé with two kids. She finds herself frequently irritated by his failings, but somehow always unable to leave him. I was hooked by the opening chapter, in which Geoffrey’s son is getting married and Tilly feels a sort of glee at the idea that ‘we were both sidelined now’. Unfortunately, it then flashes back about twenty years to the start of the relationship and the children’s youth, which means various interminable disagreements about parenting. We do get back to the adults in due course, but by then I’d already tired of both the plot and the rather odd character of Tilly. She’s hard-headed and cold-hearted, but there’s also a childish petulance throughout her narration that put me in mind of someone much more coddled. The Killjoy was such a revelation, and I hoped Anne Fine’s other adult novels would have a similar effect on me, but her others sound like they’re all about family life – so presumably pretty similar to this one.

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[Anni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ex-Children's Laureate Anne Fine displays a split personality as a writer. Her children's books are good-naturedly humourous (as you would expect) even when the story is about broken families and relationships, such as in Madame Doubtfire. However, the mood becomes much darker in her adult fiction – where she seems to channel Patricia Highsmith – and none more so than in this novel of a doomed marriage. The narrator, Tilly, is the unappreciated and sidelined step-mother who is criticised for interfering in the upbringing of her husband's two children – but constantly called upon to act as a substitute carer whenever it suits their biological parents. This is so compellingly well-written that my sympathies kept swinging from one side to the other as the power-play progressed to an unanticipated conclusion – which shocked me as much as when I read The Talented Mr Ripley many years ago.

[Alison Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb described it as a comedy - but it's a pretty dark read. At the end of the book I could not decide whether to cheer for main character Tilly, or be outraged and judge her as a cold, calculating bitch. One thing is for sure: stepmothers can never win: dammed if they do, and dammed if they don't. It's a clever treatment of a marriage story - role reversal de luxe. Tilly, the engineer, travels through work, earns the money, does as she likes, screws around : just like millions of bad husbands. Husband Geoff, has a low-grade job,does 90% of the housework; he's weak and placatory, wants everything to be "nice", it has to be comfy. Geoff cannot handle any sort of confrontation. Throw in two (initially ) emotionally scarred kids, a manipulative ex-wife ... and there you have it for 20 years. The ending was logistically unlikely, but satisfying nonetheless! Recommended.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very aggravating. My patience ran out with the main character Tilly not acting until acting in the extreme. Her partner Geoffrey and family unbearable. Flawed people I’d had enough of them.
Irritatingly frustrating but I guess creatively written and imagined.

[Nadinedebussy]

« Dès le départ , nous en avions perçu les fissures, senti les ébranlements. Mais il avait préféré oublier que chacun des deux membres d’un couple, et non un seul, est libre de décider qu’un petit ravin familier est devenu un abîme infranchissable. Il croyait que j’allais céder à la facilité et rester avec lui. La paresse lui coulait dans les veines et l’empêchait toujours d’ouvrir les yeux sur des réalités qui auraient dû l’inciter à se secouer. Dès le début, il avait refusé de voir, entre autres, que ma vie avec lui et mon mariage avec Bill, qui avait si facilement pris fin, se ressemblaient en un point précis : ce n’étaient pas les instants passés ensembles qui avaient permis à notre couple de durer mais la fréquence de nos séparations. Nous n’avions ni ambitions ni projets communs. Nous ne partagions aucune passion. C’était un peu comme si j’étais en pension dans un charmant petit hôtel : j’y faisais bonne chère, je dormais dans une chambre confortable et, jour après jour, tout se déroulait le mieux du monde. Mais au fond, je n’avais rien à voir là-dedans. Geoff avait préféré maintenir notre relation dans ces limites, et c’est ainsi qu’elle avait perduré.

Seulement, il arrive un moment où il fut choisir. On peut se contenter d’entretenir une sorte de flou sentimental qui estompe les bords de la fissure. Ou on peut s’en aller.»

[K K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, honest and unique

I loved Raking The Ashes for the story and the complex view of its characters. People are not only good or bad. There is much more. The author has a sharp knife and keeps the readers on their toes. I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for the exploration of the human soul and its portrayal free of clichés.

[Literarischunterwegs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erzählt wird die Geschichte der sehr eigenen, selbstbewussten und sehr selbständigen Tilly. Sie ist Ingenieurin und arbeitet in einer Männerdomäne – auf den Ölplattformen dieser Welt. Trotz bestehender Beziehungen sucht sie sich regelmäßig ihre Auszeiten und Affären. Eines Tages lernt sie zufällig Geoffrey kennen. Dieser Mann scheint alles zu haben, was ihren Traummann ausmacht, wären da nicht seine geschiedene Frau, deren gemeinsamen Kinder (Minna und Harry) und jede Menge Heimlichkeiten. Da sie es nicht scheut auch nur der geringsten Auseinandersetzung aus dem Wege zu gehen und jeder Wahrheit auf den Grund zu gehen, sind die Probleme in dieser Beziehung vorprogrammiert.

Nach den ersten 30 Seiten dachte ich noch: schön, endlich wieder ein leichtes Sommerbuch für den Garten. Aber mit zunehmender Seitenzahl, nahmen aber die komplizierten Gepflogenheiten der Beziehungen innerhalb dieses Buches zu. Jeder scheint sein eigenes Ding durchzuziehen und es nicht für nötig zu halten, die anderen darüber zu informieren. Solch eine Ansammlung von egozentrischen und kommunikationsgestörten Personen auf einem Fleck, das kann nicht gut gehen. Und auf Dauer kracht es auch regelmäßig zwischen Tilly und Geoff. Tilly, die von Anne Fine sehr differenziert und mit ihren ständigen inneren Kämpfen sehr authentisch gezeichnet wird, geht einem als Leser zwar hier und da mächtig auf die Nerven, aber im Laufe der Entwicklung kann man ihr Verhalten durchaus verstehen. Je mehr sie in die Familie von Geoff eindringt und je deutlicher ihr bewusst wird, dass sie nur eine Außenstehende und für die unangenehmen Dinge des Alltags zuständig zu sein scheinende Besucherin ist, desto mehr flüchtet sie sich in ihre Arbeit und in zahlreiche Affären. Irgendwann, nachdem sie realisiert hat, dass Geoff ihr die wichtigen Dinge seines Lebens vorenthält und sie nie in persönliche Entscheidungen einbeziehen wird, trifft die für sich die Entscheidung zum endgültigen Ausbruch aus dieser Beziehung. Rational und gut geplant geht sie diesen Schritt an. Allerdings tauchen immer wieder unvorhergesehene Ereignisse auf, die es ihr schließlich unmöglich machen, genau zu diesem Zeitpunkt zu gehen. Schließlich schiebt sie ihren Weggang immer mehr auf. Sie setzt mit Geoff sogar eine Art Vertrag auf, dessen Inhalt besagt, dass er nie wieder Heimlichkeiten oder eigenständige Entscheidungen treffen darf, die beider Leben betreffen. Dieser Vertrag ist Geoffs letzte Chance, seine Beziehung zu retten.
Es scheint alles gut zu laufen und Tilly hat den Vertrag schon fast vergessen, als es bei der Hochzeit von Harry zur Entlarvung einer weiteren Heimlichkeit von Geoff kommt. In ihrer Tasche stößt sie zeitgleich auf den Vertrag und nun gibt es kein Zurück. Minutiös und mit ebenso vielen Heimlichkeiten plant sie nun den endgültigen Schluss. Und am Ende zahlt sie Geoff schließlich alles zurück: 20 Jahre ihrer gemeinsamen Zeit verrechnet sie mit 20 Jahre seiner Lebenszeit.

Psychologisch nicht schlecht gemacht, auch wenn das Buch sehr überladen ist mit Problemfällen, Problemmenschen und problematischen Situationen. Alle Personen sind trotz der Fülle ihrer Erscheinung klar von einander abgegrenzt und psychologisch vielschichtig gezeichnet. Die kommunikativen Schwierigkeiten, die ich als Hauptursache all dieser Probleme sehe, lassen deutlich werden, dass wohl solch eine geballte Stimmung aufgebaut werden muss. Denn nur dann kann sich all das aufgestaute Potenzial auch adäquat entfalten. Und es entfaltet sich sehr viel.
Ich bin mir sicher, dass sich der eine oder andere Leser hier sehr gut wiederfinden kann und sicherlich auch dazu angeregt wird, mal über sich und seine eigenen kommunikativen Fähigkeiten nachzudenken. Ob jeder jedoch diesen konsequenten letzten Schritt von Tilly gehen muss, um sich aus all dem zu befreien, das lasse ich mal dahingestellt.

[Catherine Stevenson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t even want to give this book one star! I continued to read it thinking that Tilly might just redeem herself in the final chapters. Up until then she had merely shown herself to be a devious, untrustworthy and cold hearted person but she was finally revealed to be a complete psychopath. I can’t understand the even slightly admiring comments from other readers. Tilly is not an example of a strong, independent woman. She’s a thoroughly unpleasant weirdo.

[Larisa Ciubotaru · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

[S Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, and I was surprised as to how frustrated I became, off and on, with the main character. Interesting, amusing and moving. I didn't see that ending!

[Tiah]

I didn't like any of the characters, yet I polished it off in one night. The female narrator holds you at bay, while giving the impression of being honest of the events even if she has a bias. She is written to have traits more often associated with a man. Something about the tone had me thinking of 'We Need To Talk About Kevin.' Not that the stories have anything to do with each other. Perhaps it had something to do with the spectacularly dysfunction relationship between the partners.

[Florence Penrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever, entertaining read. Tilly is independent but shackled with a step family that she alternately nurtures and deserts, and (this) reader is with her all the way. The writer deftly allows you to see that Tilly is also flawed. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, unless to say that it was totally unbelievable, but also dramatically satisfying.

[Maria]

An intriuging read full of simmering resentment and anger. Although the main character tilly is not likeable she certainly isn't a women's women, I still could empathise with her and feel her absolute rage and frustration.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard Anne Fine. Engaging, slightly stereotyped characters in dysfuncational family setups. Good read. Lots of comic moments. Ending not very credible but even without the final denouement, the heroine was clearly a bit flawed

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Good for anyone who's a step-parent and anyone in a mix-and-match family.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

clever Anne Fine, acutely observed with some laugh out loud passages - usually dialogue. The ending is a bit "oh, my God - would anybody do that?" ...who knows....a bit of revenge feels good!

[Anja · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't be bothered to finish this one. A perfectly okay read, just failed to capture me.