Hating Gladys

by Leona Gom

Gladys Pratt was in control, the mistress of her own domain. In the sixties she and her husband were running a lodge in a remote area of the Yukon. Communication to the outside world was by mail, if it got out. Gladys was a tyrant. Deeply unhappy in her own life, she made life miserable for everyone around her — her house-keeper, her cooks and the young women who worked as her waitresses during the summer months. Kendy and Elke were two of them — fresh out of high school and heading to university, they anticipated earning enough money to pay their first semester's tuition. Elke was shy and timid, new at waitressing and often the butt of Gladys's wrath. But Kendy was more confident and found the courage to stand up to Gladys, and for that Gladys's punishment was devastating. Flash Vancouver 2000. Kendy is a successful entrepreneur, and Elke a university professor. One summer day, Elke spots Gladys on the bus. She's shocked at seeing Gladys and struggles with the fierce emotions that threaten to engulf her. Elke seeks out Kendy; neither has forgotten their Yukon summer. Kendy thirsts for revenge and draws the reluctant Elke into a plan. Hating Gladys is a story of conflicting emotions told from both Elke's and Glady's points of view. Their disparate voices weave a story of wit and irony, humour and anguish. Gom explores the damaged lives of younger and older women learning to deal with bitterness and betrayal, the destructive impulses of a dangerous hatred, and the treacherous but remedial ways of understanding and forgiveness.

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2002

About the author

... est née en 1946 en Alberta. Spécialiste de littérature anglaise, elle a enseigné en Alberta en plus d'être éditrice et directrice littéraire de poésie pendant plus de dix ans au magazine littéraire Event. Poète, elle a publié de nombreux textes dans diverses anthologies à travers le monde. Récipiendaire de plusieurs prix de poésie, elle a également écrit deux pièces de théâtre pour la radio, toutes deux produites à la CBC, la radio anglaise de Radio-Canada. Leona Gom, dont le Chromosome Y est le premier roman d'anticipation, habite actuellement en Colombie-Britannique.

Reviews

[Katy Mead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the library because the novel's setting intrigued me. The Yukon has hosted thousands of job seekers for the tourist trade to make it through the busy season, until the dead winter closes in again. Summers working at highway lodges was part of my teenage years, although I never worked for such a horrible boss as Gladys Pratt. Brilliantly created, these characters all come to life. I could hardly put the book down, wanting to know the ending. Rarely do I not skip ahead to the last chapter, but this novel's pace carried it throughout, so I was never bored enough to check the ending! And it was a very good ending. Resolved, but with a bitter taste in the mouth.

[Three O'Clock Press]

Gladys Pratt was in control, the mistress of her own domain. In the sixties she and her husband were running a lodge in a remote area of the Yukon. Communication to the outside world was by mail, if it got out. Gladys was a tyrant. Deeply unhappy in her own life, she made life miserable for everyone aruond her - her housekeeper, her cooks and the young women who worked as her waitresses during the summer months. Kendy and Elke were two of them - fresh out of high school and heading to university, they anticipated earning enough money to pay their first semester's tuition. Elke was shy andtimid, new at waitressing and often the butt of Gladys's wrath. But Kendy was more confident and found the courage to stand up to Gladys, and for that Gladys's punishment was devastating. Hating Gladys is a story of conflicting emotions told from both Elke's and Gladys's points of view. Their disparate voices weave a story of wit and irony, humour and anguish. Gom explores the damaged lives of younger and older women learning to deal with bitterness and betrayal, the destructive impulses of a dangerous hatred, and the tracherous but remedial ways of understanding and forgiveness.