Thunderhead

by Miranda Darling

A black comedy, set in suburbia, about one woman’s struggle to be free.

When Winona Dalloway begins her day — in the peaceful early hours before her children, that ‘tiny tornado of little hands and feet’, wake up — she doesn’t know that by the end of it, everything in her world will have changed.

On the outside, Winona is a seemingly unremarkable young unobtrusive, quietly going about her tasks. But within is a vivid, chaotic self, teeming with voices — a mind both wild and precise.

And meanwhile, a storm is brewing …

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Retellings, Audiobook, Novella, Feminism

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 3, 2024

About the author

Miranda Darling began her career as a fashion model in Paris and London, then went on to read English and Modern Languages at Oxford University. She travelled widely to countries such as Russia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Namibia and Indonesia before returning to Australia to complete a Masters in Strategic Studies and Defence. She analysed new security threats for a think tank, where she published widely in newspapers and journals. She retains an interest in international intrigue and now writes full-time.

Reviews

[Jillian B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, this book tells the story of a housewife preparing for a dinner party. But as much as I love Woolf’s work, this one goes to weirder, darker places and is all the better for it.

Winona Dalloway is a high-level government consultant turned stay-at-home mom, and she is convinced that she is slowly losing her mind. While her days were once spent having intellectual discussions and jet-setting around the world, she now chases after her two young children, runs errands and tries to avoid her husband’s mercurial moods. We get to spend a day inside her head as she carries out her routine tasks…and approaches a breaking point.

This book took my breath away. It was absolutely phenomenal. It explores themes of division of household labour and the loss of identity many women experience when they become mothers in a fresh and insightful way. The prose is stunning and Winona is a rich, complex character.

You need to read this!

[Anna Baillie-Karas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small gem, described as a black comedy and it is that, but it packs a real punch. Short enough to read in one sitting, the tension builds relentlessly and the impact is forceful by the end. One of those books that you have to think about for a while before picking up the next one. Winona is a smart, wounded narrator & there is much unspoken between the lines. The homage to Mrs Dalliway is masterfully done. Strong, poetic writing. 5 stars.

[Anya Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway, this novel is a stream of consciousness following a housewife on the brink. We follow her throughout one day as tension builds, and her chaotic thoughts, splintered with moments of deep clarity, work through the horror of her caged domestic reality. The writing is beautiful and strange at times, and the narrative style means you become fully immersed in a character. Her mental state is reflected in the hectic writing and the stream of consciousness was a highly effective way to tell this tightly plotted story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Bronte Teale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find both the blurb and the reviews here quite bizarre. I can’t see how this is a black comedy and I take issue with people describing this as being about mental illness or an “unhinged mother”. Maybe just demonstrates that this book is needed. It is very clearly about intimate partner and family violence, with the attempts to portray the woman as unhinged being a form of control and gaslighting. I actually think this does a good job of evoking the fear and paranoia felt by the protagonist and think it’s successful in creating intensity with events all unfolding over one day. I do wish the blurb was more accurate though - I was expecting more of the annihilation of the self via motherhood/domesticity such as in Nightbitch (a fave) or Rachel Cusk’s work (which the book is also compared with), but instead got domestic violence which is an extremely worthy topic but one that I personally aim to avoid reading about.

[Ruben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella is set entirely in the head of a woman struggling with all the demands that come with being a wife and mother of young children.

I read this at the wrong time, in September, just when I myself need to get used to a stressful new morning routine, and the reading didn't have its usual relaxing effect.

Another reason I had a hard time with getting invested is that I read and listened to this too haphazardly - it's probably more impactful when reading it in one sitting - it's short enough to do that. Especially in the last part the tension builds.

I might do a re-read during the holiday season.

[Renée Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A way more paranoid and chaotic Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk. A woman/mother/wife/writer wants to escape her life and its overwhelming burdens.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowowowow. I’ve just finished this minutes ago and my heart is racing. A harrowing, bleak, beautifully written tale of domestic violence and its far reaching effects on the psyche of its victims. Narrated in a stream of consciousness style by our narrator, Winona, the reader joins in on a day in the life that begins with a sunrise that foreshadows the literal and figurative storm that will break at night’s end. The summary describes this as a black comedy and while that may be true for the first half, all comedy slowly drains, like blood from a face, as what we witness turns into nothing but horror.

Thunderhead is short and really should be read in one sitting to allow for the claustrophobia and growing tension to be maximally felt (I disobeyed this and have regrets). Darling’s writing is stunning, the descriptions and metaphors she employs sting with pinpoint accuracy as they make the reader aware of the mental gymnastics and delusions one can fall victim to when trying to convince themselves that everything is Okay and Fine and Just How a Person Should Be.

As Winona battles the urge to Float, to escape within her mind to a place that is Not Reality, the interior voices in her head battle it out. The small voice inside rings alarm bells, reminds her of the life she led Before, while another voice tethers her, anchoring her to her physical existence and instructs in the ways she must proceed so that she and her boys will be safe.

It’s true that there have been a plethora of books published lately that fit within the sub genre of “domestic horror” and aim to expose the hidden underbelly of marriage, motherhood, suburban life, etc. Despite this overload, Thunderhead is a standout book with an interiority and intensity that gave me a visceral reaction as I hung on every last word.

[Elizabeth Tuttle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written Mrs. Dalloway retelling, Thunderhead presents neurotic, stifled housewife vibes similar to recent women's lit like My Husband and/or Comfort Me With Apples.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting moments, but overall this made me feel more annoyed than amused.

[rachsbookss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a unique and interesting read. I personally really enjoyed the perspective Darling employed to tell her narrative, as her main character takes on a very psychological mindset while going about everyday life. This juxtaposition between the extremely mundane and the extremely analytical was really interesting to me.

Spanning themes of motherhood, mental health, and patriarchal norms, Darling has created a compelling commentary. I will say that had this book been any longer I think it’s very possible that I would have tired of her constant rhetorical questioning and analysis, however, I feel it was a good length to explore this writing style without it becoming tedious for the reader.

Simultaneously engaging and infuriating, Darling’s story was engaging and unlike any writing style I’ve read before. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone interested in psychology and/or urban fiction. 3.5/5

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this book and I couldn’t focus. Maybe I needed a hard copy? But, as with Virginia Wolfe, even though I understood what the author was trying to achieve, maybe this genre is just not for me.

[deniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

shauna shipman meets barbie’s death thoughts

but in a victim complex with no character development

[Nele Husen · Rating 3 out of 5]

ich bin verwirrt.

but beautiful written.

[Daphne Margeridis · Rating 5 out of 5]

​A beautifully deceptive novel. The prose itself is a masterclass of modernism, a clear and loving homage to Virginia Woolf and the stream-of-consciousness brilliance of Mrs. Dalloway. Yet, this literary elegance is the vessel for a brutally honest story: the relentless erosion of a woman's soul. This mighty novel meticulously maps her loss of autonomy and internal descent under the weight of a coercive marriage, powerfully illustrating how the most outwardly composed woman can be silently pulled into a terrifying, invisible spiral.

[Jemima Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

A woman, across one day of her life, shares her experience as a housewife and a mother in suburban Sydney. Her husband is a working man and treats her in a way that is somewhat ambiguous. As the reader, we are confined to the mind of the woman, as she goes about her day, preparing for a dinner party. We watch her go to the supermarket, and prepare the house, while simultaneously being driven quite insane by her living situation. She had a very good career which she had to sacrifice when she became a mother. She longs for things that her husband laughs at, and dismisses.

This is such an interesting book - difficult to explain but something you need to experience for yourself to fully grasp. It's not a man-hating, feminist declaration. It's these complex feelings that this woman has when she feels very loyal to her husband (and to some degree loves him), and she also absolutely adores her children, but she is convinced that something is wrong with her. The things she has been told about herself by other people, make her think that her unhappiness, or her dissatisfaction with her life, is because of something being mentally not-quite-right with her.

This very much captures that Sydney, suburb kind of vibe... I pictured the supermarket while I was reading it. However, this book was a little too directionless for my liking - which feels weird to say because I think that was partly the point of it. It was written in a stream of consciousness style, without chapters. If you want something that's a little bit different - it might switch up your reading taste - and a really good look into the female experience, then I recommend this book.

[Lauren Pollock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and thoughtful novel with a really clever premise, but I found it a difficult one to connect with. What should have been a quick, short read ended up taking me much longer, as I often lost track of where I was, even after just turning the page. It felt like the kind of story best read in one sitting, but even then when I read larger chunks I still struggled to fully follow along.

By the time I finally felt invested in the story, it was over, it had taken the entire book to pull me in. Part of that, for me, was the style, being so deeply inside the narrator’s head left me feeling disoriented. Personally, I prefer books where I feel more like a witness than caught inside that internal chaos.

I also found the use of different fonts and formatting a little distracting and hard to follow, there seemed to be a lot going on for a single narrator. That said, I really loved the beginning, where the narrator talks about writing a book and wish there had been more of that thread woven throughout.

One thing I can’t fault is the design, the cover art is divine, and the inside cloud illustrations are just exquisite in the hard cover copy.

Not quite my kind of book, but I can appreciate Darling’s talent and originality, and I can see this really connecting with other readers.

[Gabriela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Urban fiction, unhinged mother, mental health and patriarchal norm themes... This was right up my alley, so I'm sad to say this was a disappointing read for me. I just felt like it really didn't go anywhere.

The author does a good job with the stream-of-consciousness and I can see what she was trying to do with this book. However, after having already read Nightbitch, The Yellow Wall-Paper I just felt underwhelmed by the repetitiveness and lack of plot.

[rachel, x · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.00 ★

➸ Trigger warnings for domestic violence (theme, on-page), pregnancy mentioned.

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph

[Gill Hutchison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The supposed comedy in this book completely passed me by. Instead I found it utterly depressing. Skimmed the last 20 pages.

[Emily Jamieson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a special place in hell for shitty husbands x

[olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly was so addicting !

it followed the story of a house wife and her thoughts. additionally her struggles with life and her marriage. i really loved how thought provoking this was! i also see so many similarities between “thunderhead” to albert camus “the stranger”. although, set in a female perspective rather than male, as well as being a more modern tale.

such an amazing read, no doubt!

[MarinaNiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is why “discovering” new books and forgetting about trends is always so good for my love for literature. I bought this book by accident (I know, I know), I misread the reccommendation at the bookstore and ended up with a completely different thing (went home doing a jolly walk, convinced I had purchased a silly 30s crisis rom-com. But nope). “Thunderhead” is a force of nature, a beautiful poetry on what a human brain actually encapsulates. We all contain multitudes, Winona is fantastic, and I’m so glad I make this kind of mistakes.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explores the erasure of self that can happen with motherhood and a shitty marriage. And that ending? So good!

3.5 stars

[belisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

güzeldi
narsist bir adamın elinde bir kadına neler olabileceğini görmek açısından özellikle...

[Demi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Described as a black comedy this book is so much more.

Winona Dalloway is a professional woman turned stay at home mum caring for two young children and a moody controlling husband. Like Woolf’s Dalloway, to whom this book pays homage, Winona is preparing for a dinner party. The stream of consciousness narrative style places the reader in the head of the protagonist as the tension builds, and her thoughts become more chaotic. An amazing consideration of a woman coping with domesticity, a difficult relationship, various expectations and more.

A brief novel that truly packs a punch. I devoured it in one sitting.

[WndyJW · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an homage to Virginia Woolf this was written in a stream of consciousness, however, this Mrs. Dalloway is Winona, not Clarissa, and Winona Dalloway’s busy day is measured by the phone calendar shared with her husband, referred to only as He or Him, who inputs all that she must get done and when.

Like Clarissa, Winona wakes to a feeling of anxiety and foreboding and as we follow her throughout her day we begin to see that all is not right for Winona and why that is becomes more clear.

For fear of spoilers I won’t say more, other than I loved Winona and I loved this book. Recommended.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An engaging novella about a housewife’s struggle to be free. The story is narrated by Winona, in a first person stream of consciousness. It covers the day in the life of Winona who is thirty three, who works from home, is married and has two children. Winona is seemingly an unobtrusive, quietly going about her tasks woman, however within is a vivid, chaotic self. She is her husband’s third wife. She soon realizes she must play the part of a submissive housewife, but she is consumed with resentment and misgivings.

I enjoyed seeing the world from Winona’s perspective.

This book was first published in 2024.

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book (Audiobook). An interesting insight into how a man can totally overwhelm a relationship and suffocate the person within it so that they have no sense of self. Well written and almost poetic in the expression of the mind of the wife dealing with her lack of ability to express herself due to the overwhelming psychological pressure of peers, societies expectations and her husband.
A very insightful book which would be useful in schools for discussion about psychological domestic violence in the home. It’s very sad to see the past version of the wife was in her own personality and right compared to the person she became married.

[Christopher Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this spellbinding stream of consciousness in two sittings. It is a simmering dread of darkly comic banalities that artfully boil over into domestic terror. This gradual morphing of tone is woven through loops of internal voices, mental checklists, and calendar alerts. The style grips tighter than the plot, but for a novel of this brief length: hypnotic and transfixing.