What do you think?
Rate this book
Ms Cellophane
"Life was standing still, waiting for Liz to fall into its trap."
Elizabeth Smith, recently made redundant, thinks that her life is deadly dull. She feels like cellophane – like people look right through her, like she's not even there. A simple redecoration job involving a mirror turns her life upside down.
Through ominous horror and an unexpected romance Liz learns to become a whole person – someone who takes up space in the world, and demands to be herself.
Part gentle love story, part bizarre horror tale, but never, ever boring, Ms Cellophane is a revealing look at one woman's nightmare transforming her reality in unexpectedly amusing ways.
Elizabeth Smith, recently made redundant, thinks that her life is deadly dull. She feels like cellophane – like people look right through her, like she's not even there. A simple redecoration job involving a mirror turns her life upside down.
Through ominous horror and an unexpected romance Liz learns to become a whole person – someone who takes up space in the world, and demands to be herself.
Part gentle love story, part bizarre horror tale, but never, ever boring, Ms Cellophane is a revealing look at one woman's nightmare transforming her reality in unexpectedly amusing ways.
- GenresFantasy
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
53 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Polack
53 books79 followersGillian is a writer and historian, currently living in Canberra, Australia. She intends to count the books in her library soon, when they stop falling on her and otherwise intimidating her.
She was given the 2020 A Bertram Chandler Award for lifetime achievement in science fiction.
She was given the 2020 A Bertram Chandler Award for lifetime achievement in science fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 12, 2009
Romance, mystery, magic. And a slow build to a creepy finish.
I was especially disturbed by the protagonist's ex-boss, Penelope, aka The Bee Hive. I've read articles about workplace bullying on Monster.com, but this story really brings that kind of situation and its emotional toll to life.
The romance was fun; not at all traditional, and very well handled.
I really enjoyed the way the mirror was handled. I can remember being both frightened and fascinated by mirrors when I was a child; I was certain that there was another universe on the other side and that if I watched closely enough I would eventually catch one of the people I could see there in an action that didn't exactly match those on our side, so when the mirror began to act up, I was instantly suspicious of what the results would be. While drawing on the classic fairytale concept of a magic mirror, as well as upon traditional horror approaches to mirrors, the mirror in Life Through Cellophane is entirely itself and doesn't feel cliched. I also loved the way the ants were at once a whimsical touch and an analogue for what might happen to humans in their interactions with the mirror.
If you're looking for an urban fantasy that doesn't just follow the same old standard tropes, I recommend you give this book a try.
I was especially disturbed by the protagonist's ex-boss, Penelope, aka The Bee Hive. I've read articles about workplace bullying on Monster.com, but this story really brings that kind of situation and its emotional toll to life.
The romance was fun; not at all traditional, and very well handled.
I really enjoyed the way the mirror was handled. I can remember being both frightened and fascinated by mirrors when I was a child; I was certain that there was another universe on the other side and that if I watched closely enough I would eventually catch one of the people I could see there in an action that didn't exactly match those on our side, so when the mirror began to act up, I was instantly suspicious of what the results would be. While drawing on the classic fairytale concept of a magic mirror, as well as upon traditional horror approaches to mirrors, the mirror in Life Through Cellophane is entirely itself and doesn't feel cliched. I also loved the way the ants were at once a whimsical touch and an analogue for what might happen to humans in their interactions with the mirror.
If you're looking for an urban fantasy that doesn't just follow the same old standard tropes, I recommend you give this book a try.
December 8, 2009
Check out my review of Life Through Cellophane here: http://www.alanbaxteronline.com/2009/...
February 20, 2010
Life Through Cellophane is a gentle urban horror. THose words may sound incongruous together, but I can't find more accurate ones. It's the story of Elizabeth Smith, recently made redundant, and how she learns to become a whole person - someone who takes up space in the world, and demands to be herself and not just the female 'Mr Cellophane'. It's also the story of a mirror and slowly, sneakingly, is up to no good.
Elizabeth thinks she's dull - although it's clear to the reader that, while she may have an unexciting life she is anything but dull in herself. She has a biting wit and a love of words, and watching her unfurl from doormat to complete person is a joy. Throughout the story she constantly gives herself labels: "Elizabeth the Joyously Disconnected"; "Ms LIz the Virtuous"; "Liz the Ditz"; "Ms Ellizabeth the Cowardly". She's trying on personas, but by the time she's worked out who she is, she doesn't need the labels any more.
The horror creeps in slowly, beginning as merely an unsettling presence in the living room. The wrongness subtly - and then not so subtly - increases until the final denouement. It reflects (as it were)the unhealthy relationships in Liz's life (with her mother, her oldest friend, and her pyschopathic ex boss) and the way these things start slowly and innocently. A lot of toxic relationships begin well and, like the old story of the frog in the slowly boiling water, by the time we discover how poisonous it is, we find that we're too deep in hot water to extricate ourselves.
It's a gentle read, often funny, often frustrating as Liz simply accepts unacceptable behaviours - but it's a joy to watch her friendships grow, and to see Liz discover herself as a person. The horror sneaks up on us, as it does on Liz, when we realise it has been woven throughout. It's an engaging story with a satisfying ending and thoroughly believable characters.
Elizabeth thinks she's dull - although it's clear to the reader that, while she may have an unexciting life she is anything but dull in herself. She has a biting wit and a love of words, and watching her unfurl from doormat to complete person is a joy. Throughout the story she constantly gives herself labels: "Elizabeth the Joyously Disconnected"; "Ms LIz the Virtuous"; "Liz the Ditz"; "Ms Ellizabeth the Cowardly". She's trying on personas, but by the time she's worked out who she is, she doesn't need the labels any more.
The horror creeps in slowly, beginning as merely an unsettling presence in the living room. The wrongness subtly - and then not so subtly - increases until the final denouement. It reflects (as it were)the unhealthy relationships in Liz's life (with her mother, her oldest friend, and her pyschopathic ex boss) and the way these things start slowly and innocently. A lot of toxic relationships begin well and, like the old story of the frog in the slowly boiling water, by the time we discover how poisonous it is, we find that we're too deep in hot water to extricate ourselves.
It's a gentle read, often funny, often frustrating as Liz simply accepts unacceptable behaviours - but it's a joy to watch her friendships grow, and to see Liz discover herself as a person. The horror sneaks up on us, as it does on Liz, when we realise it has been woven throughout. It's an engaging story with a satisfying ending and thoroughly believable characters.
February 13, 2015
‘I am Ms Cellophane. I have no job and no spouse or children and I am overweight. This makes me a dumpy middle aged spinster. Cellophane.’
Liz Smith, middle-aged spinster, rendered redundant, and living a life she considers deadly dull. Is it any wonder that Liz Smith thinks that she is boring? Ah, but will Liz remain boring? Her life is about to change. The changes start with a simple (hah) redecorating project, but where (and how) will it end?
‘Life was standing still, waiting for Liz to fall into its trap.’
Liz may be enduring her very own form of existential crisis, but she is not alone. Just ask her friends, and the ants, especially the ants. In Liz’s world, nothing is as it seems – especially when it involves a mirror.
I am especially fond of the mirror. Until I looked into it, I couldn’t recognise anyone in the story. Or perhaps I just chose not to. After all, Canberra is full of middle-aged people, isn’t it?
I read this novel when it was first released as ‘Life through Cellophane’ in 2009. I reread it after it was reissued in digital form, and found that I enjoyed it even more. The first time around I focussed on the hectic drama of Liz’s life, a blend of inward-focussed musing and curious external events. This time around I looked more at the journey Liz was taking, at how she was looking for a meaning not defined by relationship and employment status. Or ants. Who might Liz become?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Liz Smith, middle-aged spinster, rendered redundant, and living a life she considers deadly dull. Is it any wonder that Liz Smith thinks that she is boring? Ah, but will Liz remain boring? Her life is about to change. The changes start with a simple (hah) redecorating project, but where (and how) will it end?
‘Life was standing still, waiting for Liz to fall into its trap.’
Liz may be enduring her very own form of existential crisis, but she is not alone. Just ask her friends, and the ants, especially the ants. In Liz’s world, nothing is as it seems – especially when it involves a mirror.
I am especially fond of the mirror. Until I looked into it, I couldn’t recognise anyone in the story. Or perhaps I just chose not to. After all, Canberra is full of middle-aged people, isn’t it?
I read this novel when it was first released as ‘Life through Cellophane’ in 2009. I reread it after it was reissued in digital form, and found that I enjoyed it even more. The first time around I focussed on the hectic drama of Liz’s life, a blend of inward-focussed musing and curious external events. This time around I looked more at the journey Liz was taking, at how she was looking for a meaning not defined by relationship and employment status. Or ants. Who might Liz become?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
November 12, 2020
A great writing voice - especially in Liz's diary entries. Hilarious and snarky. Unfortunately, I just couldn't stay with the character to the end of the book. She was just so very passive (at times even passive aggressive). I understand that this passivity can create an interesting character arc in itself (in which the character gradually shifts out of her passivity), or that in a more literary novel one shouldn't expect an active protagonist or even a character arc. Maybe I have no reading stamina, but the plot and its central character just didn't seem to be going anywhere and I couldn't stick with them.
September 27, 2012
First published as My Life Through Cellophane by Eneit Press, Ms Cellophane by Gillian Polack was recently republished by Momentum Books as an ebook. While I agree that Ms Cellophane is the catchier title, I can't help but feel that the original title described the book better.
This is by far the most literary book I've read all year. To clarify, I mean literary in the sense of the genre in which the main character's journey is internal, as opposed to the external journeys typical of genre fiction (SFF, crime, romance, etc). That said, Ms Cellophane is also decidedly magical realism.
The protagonist is Elizabeth, who is made redundant from her public service job at the start of the novel and struggles a bit to work out what she's going to do with her life, beyond the immediacy of spending her redundancy package on redecorating her house. As part of the redecorations, she buy an antique mirror which, as you might guess from the cover, features heavily. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth grows closer to a couple of her ex-workmates and, eventually, starts to venture out of her shell. Most telling is that the beginning of the novel is written mostly in diary entries and the end mostly in third person, as she grows less dependent on diarising.
The book sets are very specific mood. I was never bored, but I found I read the first half quite slowly and had to be in the right mood to take it in. The second half was a bit more fast paced and harder to put down, however.
Aside from a few key events, most of the action takes place in Elizabeth's head. It's very much the story of her self-actualisation and discovery. No longer does her job consume her entire life, despite what her somewhat psychotic former boss might want. She always thought of herself as a lonely spinster, but when first friends and then tentative love move into her life, these labels can no longer apply. Not that Elizabeth in any way hesitates to give herself endless labels.
What I enjoyed most about Ms Cellophane was the extent to which I found myself empathising with Elizabeth. I'm neither forty nor a retired public servant, but for most of the book I really understood exactly how she felt. Particularly in the nothing moments where she was rambling to herself. (Also, Polack is a deft hand at having her character say the same things in different and interesting ways that from another writer would probably have come across as repetitive.) I found it a very relatable book, despite my own personal lack of creepy mirror and psychotic ex-boss.
All in all, I enjoyed Ms Cellophane a lot and I strongly encourage anyone looking for something a little bit different in spec fic to give it a go. And anyone who usually reads literary fiction (though why you're reading this blog, I'm not sure) and is looking for a soft introduction to magical realism.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog, Tsana's Reads.
This is by far the most literary book I've read all year. To clarify, I mean literary in the sense of the genre in which the main character's journey is internal, as opposed to the external journeys typical of genre fiction (SFF, crime, romance, etc). That said, Ms Cellophane is also decidedly magical realism.
The protagonist is Elizabeth, who is made redundant from her public service job at the start of the novel and struggles a bit to work out what she's going to do with her life, beyond the immediacy of spending her redundancy package on redecorating her house. As part of the redecorations, she buy an antique mirror which, as you might guess from the cover, features heavily. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth grows closer to a couple of her ex-workmates and, eventually, starts to venture out of her shell. Most telling is that the beginning of the novel is written mostly in diary entries and the end mostly in third person, as she grows less dependent on diarising.
The book sets are very specific mood. I was never bored, but I found I read the first half quite slowly and had to be in the right mood to take it in. The second half was a bit more fast paced and harder to put down, however.
Aside from a few key events, most of the action takes place in Elizabeth's head. It's very much the story of her self-actualisation and discovery. No longer does her job consume her entire life, despite what her somewhat psychotic former boss might want. She always thought of herself as a lonely spinster, but when first friends and then tentative love move into her life, these labels can no longer apply. Not that Elizabeth in any way hesitates to give herself endless labels.
What I enjoyed most about Ms Cellophane was the extent to which I found myself empathising with Elizabeth. I'm neither forty nor a retired public servant, but for most of the book I really understood exactly how she felt. Particularly in the nothing moments where she was rambling to herself. (Also, Polack is a deft hand at having her character say the same things in different and interesting ways that from another writer would probably have come across as repetitive.) I found it a very relatable book, despite my own personal lack of creepy mirror and psychotic ex-boss.
All in all, I enjoyed Ms Cellophane a lot and I strongly encourage anyone looking for something a little bit different in spec fic to give it a go. And anyone who usually reads literary fiction (though why you're reading this blog, I'm not sure) and is looking for a soft introduction to magical realism.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog, Tsana's Reads.
October 27, 2012
Ms Cellophane, published by Momentum, is a digital reissuing of Polack’s previously titled Life through Cellophane published by Eneit Press in 2009.
It’s the tale of Elizabeth, a newly redundant public servant, who is finally free of an overbearing and underworking psychopath of a boss. Or so she thinks.
It’s a inward looking tale of a woman's self discovery. Redundancy gives her the time and space to find the person buried by life and work traumas.
It’s a tale of a mirror with its own unnerving and at times unpleasant agenda.
Kaaron Warren described it as “part gentle love story and part bizarre horror tale”. I think if forced, I’d be inclined to categorize it under general fiction as opposed to genre fiction.
There were elements of romance and a blossoming relationship but it’s not a central focus for me and so I’ll respectfully disagree with Kaaron. For me its more a drama than a romance. On the charge of bizarre horror tale I’ll quote one of the characters on the situation surrounding the mirror:
”if this were a horror tale we would know its[the mirror’s] parameters”
So for me the horror elements of the book are a little too nebulous and understated for it to fit wholly under horror. It sits on the boundary, perhaps unnerving magical realism might be worth chucking in here. Personally the more horrific part of the tale is the treatment of Elizabeth by her boss, all the more horrific because situations like this do occur.
Ultimately it’s a good read. I think Polack’s mix of perspectives; first person diarised accounts, juxtaposed with third person narrative gives us a very real sense of Elizabeth’s inner thoughts while not becoming overbearing. The novel takes awhile to pick up pace aswe get to now Elizabeth but by the end we are treated to an edge of your seat mystery.
You’ll appreciate the work if you have ever had the fortune(misfortune?) to work for a government department and you enjoy a work the is focussed on a personal journey. The fantastical elements straddle that border between genre and literature so that if you are coming from either camp you won’t have an issue.
Originally posted at Adventures of a Bookonaut
It’s the tale of Elizabeth, a newly redundant public servant, who is finally free of an overbearing and underworking psychopath of a boss. Or so she thinks.
It’s a inward looking tale of a woman's self discovery. Redundancy gives her the time and space to find the person buried by life and work traumas.
It’s a tale of a mirror with its own unnerving and at times unpleasant agenda.
Kaaron Warren described it as “part gentle love story and part bizarre horror tale”. I think if forced, I’d be inclined to categorize it under general fiction as opposed to genre fiction.
There were elements of romance and a blossoming relationship but it’s not a central focus for me and so I’ll respectfully disagree with Kaaron. For me its more a drama than a romance. On the charge of bizarre horror tale I’ll quote one of the characters on the situation surrounding the mirror:
”if this were a horror tale we would know its[the mirror’s] parameters”
So for me the horror elements of the book are a little too nebulous and understated for it to fit wholly under horror. It sits on the boundary, perhaps unnerving magical realism might be worth chucking in here. Personally the more horrific part of the tale is the treatment of Elizabeth by her boss, all the more horrific because situations like this do occur.
Ultimately it’s a good read. I think Polack’s mix of perspectives; first person diarised accounts, juxtaposed with third person narrative gives us a very real sense of Elizabeth’s inner thoughts while not becoming overbearing. The novel takes awhile to pick up pace aswe get to now Elizabeth but by the end we are treated to an edge of your seat mystery.
You’ll appreciate the work if you have ever had the fortune(misfortune?) to work for a government department and you enjoy a work the is focussed on a personal journey. The fantastical elements straddle that border between genre and literature so that if you are coming from either camp you won’t have an issue.
Originally posted at Adventures of a Bookonaut
July 7, 2014
‘Life was standing still, waiting for Liz to fall into its trap.’
Liz Smith, middle-aged spinster, rendered redundant, and living a life she considers deadly dull. Is it any wonder that Liz Smith thinks that she is boring? Ah, but will Liz remain boring? Her life is about to change. The changes start with a simple (hah) redecorating project, but where (and how) will it end?
Liz may be enduring her very own form of existential crisis, but she is not alone. Just ask her friends, and the ants, especially the ants. In Liz’s world, nothing is as it seems – especially when it involves a mirror.
I am especially fond of the mirror. Until I looked into it, I couldn’t recognise anyone in the story. Or perhaps I just chose not to. After all, Canberra is full of middle-aged people, isn’t it?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Liz Smith, middle-aged spinster, rendered redundant, and living a life she considers deadly dull. Is it any wonder that Liz Smith thinks that she is boring? Ah, but will Liz remain boring? Her life is about to change. The changes start with a simple (hah) redecorating project, but where (and how) will it end?
Liz may be enduring her very own form of existential crisis, but she is not alone. Just ask her friends, and the ants, especially the ants. In Liz’s world, nothing is as it seems – especially when it involves a mirror.
I am especially fond of the mirror. Until I looked into it, I couldn’t recognise anyone in the story. Or perhaps I just chose not to. After all, Canberra is full of middle-aged people, isn’t it?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June 8, 2015
Well, two stars because I finished it. One more because I'm still thinking about it. But don't ask me anything about it. And I'm not sure I like it. Or didn't understand it. I. Just. Can't. But I will say it keeps talking about horror in the review and write ups. This is horror on par with a slightly twitchy Twilight Zone. Not even one of the scary ones.
But I'm still thinking about it.......
But I'm still thinking about it.......
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews