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Mehr als das Leben
»Glück haben ist nicht dasselbe wie glücklich sein.« Ein hinreißender Roman über eine ungewöhnliche Frau und über die Entscheidungen, die ein Leben bestimmen.
Das Leben ist ungerecht, denkt Gilda Meyer auf der Hochzeit ihres Sohnes Reuben. Eigentlich sollte sie glücklich sein, sich mit dem Brautpaar freuen. Doch sie fühlt sich seltsam deplatziert in diesem schicken Londoner Hotel, neben all den ausgelassenen Gästen. Schließlich hat sie selbst nur wenig zum Glück ihres Sohnes beigetragen. Und so setzt sie alles daran, die Dinge wiedergutzumachen. Doch das heißt auch: sich der eigenen Geschichte zu stellen – dem jüdischen Mädchen, das in den 1930er Jahren von Deutschland nach England geschickt wurde. Jener Gilda, die lernt, dass Glück haben nicht gleichbedeutend ist mit glücklich sein.
Das Leben ist ungerecht, denkt Gilda Meyer auf der Hochzeit ihres Sohnes Reuben. Eigentlich sollte sie glücklich sein, sich mit dem Brautpaar freuen. Doch sie fühlt sich seltsam deplatziert in diesem schicken Londoner Hotel, neben all den ausgelassenen Gästen. Schließlich hat sie selbst nur wenig zum Glück ihres Sohnes beigetragen. Und so setzt sie alles daran, die Dinge wiedergutzumachen. Doch das heißt auch: sich der eigenen Geschichte zu stellen – dem jüdischen Mädchen, das in den 1930er Jahren von Deutschland nach England geschickt wurde. Jener Gilda, die lernt, dass Glück haben nicht gleichbedeutend ist mit glücklich sein.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2018
39 people are currently reading
931 people want to read
About the author
Francesca Jakobi
1 book41 followersFrancesca studied psychology at the University of Sussex, followed by a stint teaching English in Turkey and the Czech Republic. On returning to her native London she got a job as a reporter on a local paper and has worked in journalism ever since. She is currently a layout editor at the Financial Times. Bitter is her first novel, inspired by her grandmother who was sued for divorce in the 1940s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
August 11, 2018
This is an extraordinarily accomplished debut from Francesca Jakobi, a profoundly moving, melancholic, perceptive and complex psychological portrait of the self destructive and lonely Gilda, a middle aged German Jewish woman with alcohol issues. She is a twice divorced, desperate, obsessive and troubled mother seeking ways to connect with her son, an unmoving, angry and resentful Reuben, who coldly rebuffs her efforts. Reuben has married a non Jewish woman, Alice, whom he clearly adores and loves, a love that Gilda fails to comprehend as she makes the ill advised decisions to stalk Alice and begin to emulate her. Why does he love Alice, yet reject her, his mother?
There is little to like in the unprepossessing Gilda we initially encounter but Jakobi deploys skill and effortless expertise as she elicits a more positive and sympathetic response from the reader as she reveals the pain and horrors lurking in Gilda's personal history. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we learn of Gilda's pre-war years in Germany, her ghastly and awful family who reject her, being sent to a boarding school out of the country and of her father's hand in her marriage to a much older man, Frank, a business associate of his. It is barely surprising that Gilda struggles with the roles of wife and mother, circumstances have dictated that she is ill equipped to fulfil them. She loves her son, Reuben, but fails to bond with him as she walks out on him when he is a child. It is the humanity and compassion in Alice, with her ability to see beyond the brittle and unsettling facade that Gilda presents to the world, that offers hope.
Jakobi is a naturally gifted writer which she ably demonstrates in this powerful, emotionally heartbreaking and instructive novel into what created the dysfunctional Gilda. This psychological drama serves as a salutary reminder of all those people who might be a difficult presence in our lives and urges us to consider just how they might have ended up as they have. This tale of love, loss, being a mother, mother-child relationships, and family is thoughtful and utterly mesmerising. Jakobi captures the changing position of women through the years with Gilda and Alice. A brilliant read with its humour and unexpected turns. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
There is little to like in the unprepossessing Gilda we initially encounter but Jakobi deploys skill and effortless expertise as she elicits a more positive and sympathetic response from the reader as she reveals the pain and horrors lurking in Gilda's personal history. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we learn of Gilda's pre-war years in Germany, her ghastly and awful family who reject her, being sent to a boarding school out of the country and of her father's hand in her marriage to a much older man, Frank, a business associate of his. It is barely surprising that Gilda struggles with the roles of wife and mother, circumstances have dictated that she is ill equipped to fulfil them. She loves her son, Reuben, but fails to bond with him as she walks out on him when he is a child. It is the humanity and compassion in Alice, with her ability to see beyond the brittle and unsettling facade that Gilda presents to the world, that offers hope.
Jakobi is a naturally gifted writer which she ably demonstrates in this powerful, emotionally heartbreaking and instructive novel into what created the dysfunctional Gilda. This psychological drama serves as a salutary reminder of all those people who might be a difficult presence in our lives and urges us to consider just how they might have ended up as they have. This tale of love, loss, being a mother, mother-child relationships, and family is thoughtful and utterly mesmerising. Jakobi captures the changing position of women through the years with Gilda and Alice. A brilliant read with its humour and unexpected turns. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
October 2, 2018
I Loved It...... What a stunning debut novel from Francesca Jakobi and heartbreaking portrait of a mother's love for her son. Thought provoking, emotional and yet at times humorous . From the opening chapter of this book I was hooked and captivated by the fascinating character of Gilda a woman destroyed by self and circumstances.
I wanted so sit and savour this book every time I opened its pages, I wanted to find a quiet place to read and be transported by the author into Gilda's World. This book worked wonderfully for me. Loved the short fast paced chapters and the flow of the story. A emotional read that never became depressing.
I have to point out there are no major twists or turns, no big reveals, just a beautiful and well written novel with great characterization and a story full of emotion and life. Its a short novel with so much to say and a book that would make a terrific book club choice.
I purchased a hardcopy of this lovely novel and knew very little about the book and what a wonderful surprise it was. Its feels fresh and original with a quiet unraveling story that I just didnt want to end. A story of how ones past can shape the futures, how every action has a consequences and how we live and deal with those consequences. How family can hurt or destroy one another and yet we love through the hurt and we hurt through the love.
Its 1969 and while the summer of love lingers in London. Gilda Myers is consumed by the mistakes of her past that have shaped the distant and cold relationship between her and her son Reuben whom she walked out on when he was just a boy and fears he will never forgive her. When he marries his petite blonde girlfriend Alice, Gilda is consumed with envy as she witness the love between her son and his wife and she begins to stalk Alice to find out why he has chosen to love her over his mother and its in this obsession that brings the past truths to light.
I think readers who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine or The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne might well enjoy this book.
A wonderful well rounded Novel, fresh, sharp and entertaining and I cant wait to see what Francesca Jakobi does next. This one gets a spot on my real life book shelf.
I wanted so sit and savour this book every time I opened its pages, I wanted to find a quiet place to read and be transported by the author into Gilda's World. This book worked wonderfully for me. Loved the short fast paced chapters and the flow of the story. A emotional read that never became depressing.
I have to point out there are no major twists or turns, no big reveals, just a beautiful and well written novel with great characterization and a story full of emotion and life. Its a short novel with so much to say and a book that would make a terrific book club choice.
I purchased a hardcopy of this lovely novel and knew very little about the book and what a wonderful surprise it was. Its feels fresh and original with a quiet unraveling story that I just didnt want to end. A story of how ones past can shape the futures, how every action has a consequences and how we live and deal with those consequences. How family can hurt or destroy one another and yet we love through the hurt and we hurt through the love.
Its 1969 and while the summer of love lingers in London. Gilda Myers is consumed by the mistakes of her past that have shaped the distant and cold relationship between her and her son Reuben whom she walked out on when he was just a boy and fears he will never forgive her. When he marries his petite blonde girlfriend Alice, Gilda is consumed with envy as she witness the love between her son and his wife and she begins to stalk Alice to find out why he has chosen to love her over his mother and its in this obsession that brings the past truths to light.
I think readers who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine or The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne might well enjoy this book.
A wonderful well rounded Novel, fresh, sharp and entertaining and I cant wait to see what Francesca Jakobi does next. This one gets a spot on my real life book shelf.
December 11, 2018
I was going through a chewy-brain time in my work and needed a distraction. A couple of comments about this novel caught my eye -- a comparison to Notes on a Scandal and its categorization (by a man) as a "beach read." Something told me that the novel was going to be deeply feminist.
Unlike, it seems, many readers on Goodreads, I'm attracted to the voices of women narrators who are not adhering to the fantasy of patriarchy. By that, I don't mean that I want my narrators to be feminists. I want them to be human beings -- as flawed and yet still worthy of love and attentiveness as are the deeply flawed male characters that are so well embraced in novels by Philip Roth, John Updike, or William Boyd. (It pains me to put William Boyd in the same category as Roth and Updike because I think he's a much better writer and not actually a misogynist, but he also is deft at drawing male characters who would be considered hideous were they female but instead tug at our compassion.) Flawed women (that is to say, human women) have not been so welcome in literature as narrators deserving nuanced understanding.
Though recently that's changing. Women writers have been out-growing patriarchy for a long time, but recently even some fiction publishers have been open to complex women. One of the things that's convinced me that this is cultural shift is the publication of women writers writing complex (i.e., "unlikable") women who do *not* consider themselves feminists. In this day and age, there's not much to hang on to for hope with regard to women achieving equal social and economic status in modern society, but when non-feminist-identified women write women who begin to embody the demands of feminism, well then -- that's hope in a jar. And I like it.
I don't know if Francesca Jakobi is a feminist or not. Her character Gilda would certainly not call herself a feminist. And yet this is a deeply feminist novel. I worry that my characterization of it as such will turn off readers, and I apologize to the author for that. But my hope is that it will also inspire others who might dismiss this novel as a "beach read" to take another look.
Plus the pacing is amaze-breasts. Plus it doesn't read like an MFA novel. Plus, despite the author's characterization of herself as a poor historian, I completely forgot it wasn't one of those NYRB paperbacks brought back from the 1960s to get its due. Plus each character springs to life from the pages. Plus the ending.
Unlike, it seems, many readers on Goodreads, I'm attracted to the voices of women narrators who are not adhering to the fantasy of patriarchy. By that, I don't mean that I want my narrators to be feminists. I want them to be human beings -- as flawed and yet still worthy of love and attentiveness as are the deeply flawed male characters that are so well embraced in novels by Philip Roth, John Updike, or William Boyd. (It pains me to put William Boyd in the same category as Roth and Updike because I think he's a much better writer and not actually a misogynist, but he also is deft at drawing male characters who would be considered hideous were they female but instead tug at our compassion.) Flawed women (that is to say, human women) have not been so welcome in literature as narrators deserving nuanced understanding.
Though recently that's changing. Women writers have been out-growing patriarchy for a long time, but recently even some fiction publishers have been open to complex women. One of the things that's convinced me that this is cultural shift is the publication of women writers writing complex (i.e., "unlikable") women who do *not* consider themselves feminists. In this day and age, there's not much to hang on to for hope with regard to women achieving equal social and economic status in modern society, but when non-feminist-identified women write women who begin to embody the demands of feminism, well then -- that's hope in a jar. And I like it.
I don't know if Francesca Jakobi is a feminist or not. Her character Gilda would certainly not call herself a feminist. And yet this is a deeply feminist novel. I worry that my characterization of it as such will turn off readers, and I apologize to the author for that. But my hope is that it will also inspire others who might dismiss this novel as a "beach read" to take another look.
Plus the pacing is amaze-breasts. Plus it doesn't read like an MFA novel. Plus, despite the author's characterization of herself as a poor historian, I completely forgot it wasn't one of those NYRB paperbacks brought back from the 1960s to get its due. Plus each character springs to life from the pages. Plus the ending.
May 21, 2018
Boy is this emotionally powerful... the last thing I had expected it to be. I've read a number of books where the story is that of obsession, there have been a few, even ones where the mother is obsessed with her son, just like this one. Of course, that is oversimplistic but that is the basis of it. There were things I really didn't expect - the sadness and desperation of the mother - it made for quite an emotional read. It manages to be both heartbreaking and extremely sinister, a unique mix.
If you had explained the true nature of this novel I probably wouldn't have chosen to read it but it turned out to be so addictive, I reckon there will be a lot of people hearing about this one and reading it this summer. It's certainly worthy of the attention. The prose is engaging and flows well and the book is paced perfectly. This novel shows just how scary obsession can be and what it can drive people to do. Despite being mother and son, Gilda is so wildly jealous of others relationships with her son that she loses her mind. Insanity and obsession make for a whole heap of trouble. SCARY! I did, at times, feel a little sorry for Gilda. I loved the exploration of the relationship between mother and son.
Highly recommended. I loved it!
I would like to thank Francesca Jakobi, Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you had explained the true nature of this novel I probably wouldn't have chosen to read it but it turned out to be so addictive, I reckon there will be a lot of people hearing about this one and reading it this summer. It's certainly worthy of the attention. The prose is engaging and flows well and the book is paced perfectly. This novel shows just how scary obsession can be and what it can drive people to do. Despite being mother and son, Gilda is so wildly jealous of others relationships with her son that she loses her mind. Insanity and obsession make for a whole heap of trouble. SCARY! I did, at times, feel a little sorry for Gilda. I loved the exploration of the relationship between mother and son.
Highly recommended. I loved it!
I would like to thank Francesca Jakobi, Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2018
It is sadly the case that motherhood doesn't always come naturally, and a good mother needs a good – or at least adequate - role model. So this desperately unhappy story of a mother’s dysfunctional relationship with her son and daughter-in-law will have a powerful emotional resonance for any mother.
In reference to the German narrator’s cruel nickname at an English boarding school – when she mistakenly says the German, instead of English, word for ‘please’- Gilda also comes across as a very bitter woman, who could be described as the mother-in-law from hell. But we soon find empathy for this painfully flawed character who went through a hellish childhood - rejected by her parents, sent away to boarding school in another country, and forced into an arranged marriage at 18 to a much older man. Unsurprisingly,when she becomes a mother, her parental skills are non-existent and she fails to develop a healthy maternal bond, with devastating consequences.
It is a tribute to the author’s skill that Gilda is an unsympathetic character who the reader can easily find empathy with – and even begin to like.
In reference to the German narrator’s cruel nickname at an English boarding school – when she mistakenly says the German, instead of English, word for ‘please’- Gilda also comes across as a very bitter woman, who could be described as the mother-in-law from hell. But we soon find empathy for this painfully flawed character who went through a hellish childhood - rejected by her parents, sent away to boarding school in another country, and forced into an arranged marriage at 18 to a much older man. Unsurprisingly,when she becomes a mother, her parental skills are non-existent and she fails to develop a healthy maternal bond, with devastating consequences.
It is a tribute to the author’s skill that Gilda is an unsympathetic character who the reader can easily find empathy with – and even begin to like.
September 23, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up. Really enjoyed this. Set in London in 1969 and told through the voice of 52 yo Gilda, we start off at the wedding of Gilda's son Reuben to the love of his life Alice. Gilda is curious seeing this loving side of Reuben and longs for the love and attention he is giving Alice. She acknowledges she hasn't been the best of mothers and we get flashbacks to Gilda's early childhood in Germany in the 1930s, her arranged marriage to Frank in London as a naive teenager during WWII, her subsequent efforts at motherhood and her awakening feelings and love for Leo, a Polish guy she meets whilst doing some volunteer work teaching English to German speaking migrants.
Whilst there is one part of the the story that has a slightly creepy element to it, I would caution that it's definitely not a mystery or thriller but instead, a really skilful and at times witty look at love, friendship, loneliness and parenting. A very impressive debut novel.
Whilst there is one part of the the story that has a slightly creepy element to it, I would caution that it's definitely not a mystery or thriller but instead, a really skilful and at times witty look at love, friendship, loneliness and parenting. A very impressive debut novel.
March 5, 2018
Gilda Myer’s mistakes have haunted her for decades. They’ve stilted her choices and sculpted the relationship between herself and son Reuben into a poor imitation of what it once was. Now, as he marries his new bride, Alice, she sees a new side to her son. A man who is not withdrawn but glowing with happiness and warmth. A side he has kept from her for years despite her attempts to breach his walls. Filled with jealousy, Gilda slowly infiltrates their new life, studying his new bride, following her, using snatches of her appearance and personality to remake herself. A transformation into a new woman. A better mother. Because surely she deserves some of Reuben’s affection? Surely she can tap into that reservoir of love? She is his mother after all. As Gilda’s shocking obsession gains momentum, the secrets of her past threaten to crack her fragile existence and rain down a truth that could alter everything.
Gilda is such a fascinating character. Before she was sent away to boarding school in England, her childhood was afflicted with woe. From her mother she barely received a scrap of affection, from her father the absence of a single kind word and from her sister, a torrent of sarcasm and disdain. And when she became a mother herself, a string of events scorched a line of fear through her heart. What if she accidentally hurt her son? What if she did something wrong? What if she didn’t raise him well? As Reuben grows, “nanny” is a word that falls from his lips quicker than “mother“. It is her hand he reaches for, her attention he craves, her love he blooms under. Suddenly Gilda is a wallflower to the life of her son. Although her obsession over Alice was extremely creepy to read and she is a very selfish, unnerving character, it was her other side, the loving side, that left an impression on me.
Bitter is a wonderful, wonderful book. It has a rich, thought-provoking story, striking characters and a voice that rings through your days even after you’ve finished the book. Francesca Jacobi’s writing is stunning. Her portrayal of heartbreak will hit a cord with a lot of readers, as will her descriptions of life and love. I adored this book! Gilda and her story will stay with me for a long time to come.
Bitter is a story of a mother’s imperishable love for her son and her quest to bridge the trauma of the past with the hope of a better future. A beautiful, visceral book that will storm your heart! Fully recommend!
Evocative. Heartbreaking. Wonderful.
Gilda is such a fascinating character. Before she was sent away to boarding school in England, her childhood was afflicted with woe. From her mother she barely received a scrap of affection, from her father the absence of a single kind word and from her sister, a torrent of sarcasm and disdain. And when she became a mother herself, a string of events scorched a line of fear through her heart. What if she accidentally hurt her son? What if she did something wrong? What if she didn’t raise him well? As Reuben grows, “nanny” is a word that falls from his lips quicker than “mother“. It is her hand he reaches for, her attention he craves, her love he blooms under. Suddenly Gilda is a wallflower to the life of her son. Although her obsession over Alice was extremely creepy to read and she is a very selfish, unnerving character, it was her other side, the loving side, that left an impression on me.
Bitter is a wonderful, wonderful book. It has a rich, thought-provoking story, striking characters and a voice that rings through your days even after you’ve finished the book. Francesca Jacobi’s writing is stunning. Her portrayal of heartbreak will hit a cord with a lot of readers, as will her descriptions of life and love. I adored this book! Gilda and her story will stay with me for a long time to come.
Bitter is a story of a mother’s imperishable love for her son and her quest to bridge the trauma of the past with the hope of a better future. A beautiful, visceral book that will storm your heart! Fully recommend!
Evocative. Heartbreaking. Wonderful.
July 23, 2018
Rarely have I been so emotionally engaged with a first person narration or changed my allegiance quite so emphatically as her story unfolded. At first it appears that Gilda is reaping what she has sown throughout her first marriage and her son’s childhood. The way she tells it, she consistently failed as a wife and mother, and we should not be surprised that she has ended up alone and (almost) friendless, excluded from her son’s life yet fixated on his happiness with his young wife to the point of stalking her. As I learned of her monstrous parents and her unhappy childhood, though, and the events leading up to her current situation, the more I came to sympathise with her and by the end I would have defended her just as vigorously as her friend Margo. Gilda suffers from rock-bottom self-esteem, bad luck and poor choices but not everyone else’s motives are quite as they seem.
The pacing of the revelations is spot on. I was so wrapped up in the action (skipping back and forth between 1960s London and 1930s Hamburg) that, as slow on the uptake as Gilda, I always failed to notice the hints the author dropped and was surprised when a different slant on events was revealed. Brilliantly done. I thought it finished at just the right point, not too neatly and on a tentatively hopeful note. I do love that in a novel.
I can scarcely believe this is a debut novel, wish the author the massive success she deserves and look forward to seeing what she tackles next.
With thanks to Orion/W&N via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this brilliant book.
The pacing of the revelations is spot on. I was so wrapped up in the action (skipping back and forth between 1960s London and 1930s Hamburg) that, as slow on the uptake as Gilda, I always failed to notice the hints the author dropped and was surprised when a different slant on events was revealed. Brilliantly done. I thought it finished at just the right point, not too neatly and on a tentatively hopeful note. I do love that in a novel.
I can scarcely believe this is a debut novel, wish the author the massive success she deserves and look forward to seeing what she tackles next.
With thanks to Orion/W&N via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this brilliant book.
January 8, 2018
BITTER is an emotional minefield of a debut from a writer I expect we will all soon be hearing a lot more about. On the surface, this is the story of Gilda Meyer, a middle-aged train wreck waiting to happen in her newly-married son Ruben's life. The problem, it appears, is that Gilda is jealous of her shiny new daughter-in-law. Why is it Ruben loves this bland, blonde, Alice person, while remaining resolutely indifferent to his own mother? In her quest to find out the answer to this, and more, Gilda begins to 'follow' Alice and to infiltrate her son's marriage in a variety of strange and unsettling ways.
Not only is Gilda a crazy stalker-mum, whose behaviour falls well-short of exemplary at every possible turn, she’s a wonderfully prickly piece of work into the bargain. So, while Ruben may not love his mother, the reader quickly does. In this sense, BITTER reminded me of Claire Morrall’s Booker nominated ‘Astonishing Splashes of Colour’. Like Kitty, Gilda is out there on a limb, actively making own problems explode into other people’s live. But when it’s all done in such a heartbreakingly vulnerable way, what’s not to love?
Francesca Jakobi’s prose is exceptionally stylish, with dry, elegant sentences unfurling to reveal all manner of delightful shocks and surprises. Often hilarious, sometimes harrowing, Gilda’s keenly observed worldview is always fascinating.
I also loved the way the various time periods (the war, and the 60s) were evoked and it is not hard to imagine BITTER being turned into a mini-series or film. Both Gilda and her daughter-in-law are products/prisoners of their times and yet also examples of how quickly things were changing for women in post-war Britain.
There are so many great lines in this novel but I don’t want to spoil anything by quoting them here. However, I will never reach for a rolling pin again without thinking of Gilda and her older sister’s advice.
With thanks to the publisher for letting me see an advanced reader’s copy of BITTER in exchange for an honest review.
Not only is Gilda a crazy stalker-mum, whose behaviour falls well-short of exemplary at every possible turn, she’s a wonderfully prickly piece of work into the bargain. So, while Ruben may not love his mother, the reader quickly does. In this sense, BITTER reminded me of Claire Morrall’s Booker nominated ‘Astonishing Splashes of Colour’. Like Kitty, Gilda is out there on a limb, actively making own problems explode into other people’s live. But when it’s all done in such a heartbreakingly vulnerable way, what’s not to love?
Francesca Jakobi’s prose is exceptionally stylish, with dry, elegant sentences unfurling to reveal all manner of delightful shocks and surprises. Often hilarious, sometimes harrowing, Gilda’s keenly observed worldview is always fascinating.
I also loved the way the various time periods (the war, and the 60s) were evoked and it is not hard to imagine BITTER being turned into a mini-series or film. Both Gilda and her daughter-in-law are products/prisoners of their times and yet also examples of how quickly things were changing for women in post-war Britain.
There are so many great lines in this novel but I don’t want to spoil anything by quoting them here. However, I will never reach for a rolling pin again without thinking of Gilda and her older sister’s advice.
With thanks to the publisher for letting me see an advanced reader’s copy of BITTER in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2018
Gilda Meyer loves her son – it’s just she doesn’t know how to show him love. When Reuben marries Alice, who is the very antithesis of his mother, Gilda is consumed by jealousy, and her behaviour starts to unravel. It’s not easy to make a reader fall in love with a character who is as flawed as Gilda. She is difficult, snooty, and unhinged – and I absolutely adored her. She deserves to take her place beside character greats such as Olive Kitteridge and Eleanor Oliphant. The plot moves at a swift pace, interspersed with chapters from Gilda’s past, and the writing is fresh and original. The cast of supporting characters is a marvel, but I particularly loved wheezing, ‘lumbering’ and ever-kind Margo. Although this is an incredibly moving book – I sobbed my way through the final 30 pages – there are some wonderfully funny moments too. Bitter is completely cathartic, but has left me with one of the most severe book hangovers I’ve ever experienced. Frankly, it’s a masterpiece.
December 6, 2018
An absolutely stunning debut, Bitter is a heartbreaking portrait of a mother's love for her son, and all the ways that love can go wrong. What I found so interesting is how Francesca Jakobi successfully made me sympathize with Gilda, a protagonist who is so snobby, judgemental and difficult that on the surface she seems unlikeable. And yet I completely adored her.
Gilda walked out on her son, Reuben when he was a child, and she has spent her life regretting almost every decision she ever made. When Reuben marries Alice, the complete antithesis of Gilda, Gilda is consumed with jealousy and determined to find out more about Alice.
I found this story profoundly moving and deeply perceptive as we discover all the ways that Gilda is seeking to connect with her son. It is a story to sit and savor, not one to rush through. The prose is lyrically beautiful and the characters so sympathetically drawn I felt I truly knew them. Highly recommend this one.
Gilda walked out on her son, Reuben when he was a child, and she has spent her life regretting almost every decision she ever made. When Reuben marries Alice, the complete antithesis of Gilda, Gilda is consumed with jealousy and determined to find out more about Alice.
I found this story profoundly moving and deeply perceptive as we discover all the ways that Gilda is seeking to connect with her son. It is a story to sit and savor, not one to rush through. The prose is lyrically beautiful and the characters so sympathetically drawn I felt I truly knew them. Highly recommend this one.
October 14, 2018
Anxiety is a wearing thing. It's always there, it seeps into everything.
A well-written debut novel about a 52-year old Jewish mother and her relationship issues with her only son. Gilda is not a very likable character, always complaining and feeling slighted by everyone.
Told from Gilda's viewpoint, the story is split in the then (flashbacks to her past provide us with insight into her decisions and actions taken previously) and the now (her slowly growing relationship with her daughter in law which is the catalyst for her need to change things).
This is a book filled with loneliness and regret, and the author manages to create a deep sense of empathy for Gilda over the course of the short book.
March 8, 2018
Readers who love a strong main character will feel for Gilda, the bitter 50 something divorced Jewish mother whose passion is her son, Reuben.
When Reuben marries Alice, a sweet young Gentile girl, Gilda cannot understand why he loves her so much and not herself, his mother. Set in London in 1969, Gilda's story is told through flashbacks interspersed with her present day life, jealously stalking Reuben and Alice or complaining to her one long time friend, Margo.
Bitter is an exceptional tale of mother/child relationships and how we are treated in our youth affects how we act as adults. One of my favourite books of 2017 was also an unforgettable character and voice, Eleanor Oliphant, and, although Bitter covers a very different life, Gilda will stay in my mind in much the same way Eleanor did. Many thanks to NetGalley and W&N books for the opportunity to read and review Bitter.
When Reuben marries Alice, a sweet young Gentile girl, Gilda cannot understand why he loves her so much and not herself, his mother. Set in London in 1969, Gilda's story is told through flashbacks interspersed with her present day life, jealously stalking Reuben and Alice or complaining to her one long time friend, Margo.
Bitter is an exceptional tale of mother/child relationships and how we are treated in our youth affects how we act as adults. One of my favourite books of 2017 was also an unforgettable character and voice, Eleanor Oliphant, and, although Bitter covers a very different life, Gilda will stay in my mind in much the same way Eleanor did. Many thanks to NetGalley and W&N books for the opportunity to read and review Bitter.
September 22, 2019
It's London, 1969, and Gilda's son Rueben is marrying a young small blond woman, showing her the kind of care and love Gilda doesn't receive from him. Gilda, the second daughter of a cold businessman and a mother much more interested in parties, is now in her early fifties. Originally from Hamburg, Germany, she was shipped off to an English boarding school just prior to W.W. II, and then married off early. With Rueben's marriage, the course of Gilda's life and the regrets engendered weigh especially heavily. In spare prose, we learn of her life, who she was, who she is. A very fast read, engaging and engrossing.
June 28, 2018
The price of privilege.
“I picture the past as a sort of Rolodex with thousands of life events marked out on cards. I didn’t pay attention when the cards were filed and now they’re all in a mess. I need to flick back through and find the cards responsible, then maybe I can sort them out and fix the errors I’ve made.”
Before the war, Gilda Meyer is brought up to a life of luxury and utter privilege in Hamburg. An ungainly but bright child, she envies her sister’s petite figure and popularity. Witnessing a sexual act between her father and a seamstress, Gilda is banished to a boarding school in England. Later she is ‘married off’ to a much older man, a cold transaction that will benefit her father’s business interests, and eventually she gives birth to a baby boy, Reuben. Utterly in love with him but terrified of the responsibility of motherhood, she hands over his care to a nanny, an error of judgement that leads, inexorably, to many more…
What a sad, sorry tale this is. Part psychological thriller, part the tragic story of a mother’s unreturned love for her son, part anatomy of the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamic, this novel is hauntingly written by Francesca Jakobi and was inspired by the author’s grandmother who was divorced in the 1940s when such a thing was scandalous. It is a powerful lesson in learning to trust one’s maternal instincts and the value of capability in the kitchen. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Weidenfeld & Nicolson and NetGalley for the review copy.
“I picture the past as a sort of Rolodex with thousands of life events marked out on cards. I didn’t pay attention when the cards were filed and now they’re all in a mess. I need to flick back through and find the cards responsible, then maybe I can sort them out and fix the errors I’ve made.”
Before the war, Gilda Meyer is brought up to a life of luxury and utter privilege in Hamburg. An ungainly but bright child, she envies her sister’s petite figure and popularity. Witnessing a sexual act between her father and a seamstress, Gilda is banished to a boarding school in England. Later she is ‘married off’ to a much older man, a cold transaction that will benefit her father’s business interests, and eventually she gives birth to a baby boy, Reuben. Utterly in love with him but terrified of the responsibility of motherhood, she hands over his care to a nanny, an error of judgement that leads, inexorably, to many more…
What a sad, sorry tale this is. Part psychological thriller, part the tragic story of a mother’s unreturned love for her son, part anatomy of the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamic, this novel is hauntingly written by Francesca Jakobi and was inspired by the author’s grandmother who was divorced in the 1940s when such a thing was scandalous. It is a powerful lesson in learning to trust one’s maternal instincts and the value of capability in the kitchen. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Weidenfeld & Nicolson and NetGalley for the review copy.
November 21, 2018
I really don't know how or where to start with this novel. Bitter is a really dark, emotionally powerful, uncomfortable story about obsession, family, parenting, marriage and relationships.
Gilda is our narrator. A 53 year old Jewish mother who is obsessed with her son Reuben and his newly married "shiksa" wife Alice. The story is set in 1969 in London, but we also alternate to Gilda's early life pre-war in Germany where she lived with her younger (and favoured) sister and wealthy parents.
It is clear that Gilda is "slightly" unhinged, her obsessions, behaviour and actions speak volumes, but when we learn more about her own upbringing and childhood, it becomes clear why Gilda behaves as she does.
All the characters were so wonderfully crafted and believable that my emotions towards Gilda were so mixed I had to keep reminding myself she was a fictional character, despite reminding me of several older Jewish ladies I know in real life. The relationships between Gilda and her childhood friend Margo was wonderful and their friendship was truly beautiful and touching.
This is a really moving and heart-breaking story about how our childhood and parents can shape our adulthood. An excellent debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Gilda is our narrator. A 53 year old Jewish mother who is obsessed with her son Reuben and his newly married "shiksa" wife Alice. The story is set in 1969 in London, but we also alternate to Gilda's early life pre-war in Germany where she lived with her younger (and favoured) sister and wealthy parents.
It is clear that Gilda is "slightly" unhinged, her obsessions, behaviour and actions speak volumes, but when we learn more about her own upbringing and childhood, it becomes clear why Gilda behaves as she does.
All the characters were so wonderfully crafted and believable that my emotions towards Gilda were so mixed I had to keep reminding myself she was a fictional character, despite reminding me of several older Jewish ladies I know in real life. The relationships between Gilda and her childhood friend Margo was wonderful and their friendship was truly beautiful and touching.
This is a really moving and heart-breaking story about how our childhood and parents can shape our adulthood. An excellent debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.
May 1, 2018
Imagine growing up in a household where your mother shows you no affection, more interested in attending cocktail parties, then spending any time with her daughters. Imagine a Father that has no kind words or a sister that treats you with contempt. This is Gilda’s world, as she grows up in pre-war Germany. Life doesn’t get much better when she is shipped off to an English boarding school where she is treated with scorn and derision for being German and Jewish. As war approaches her family must flee Germany and Gilda is married off to her father’s business associate, Frank. Much older then Gilda, theirs is a comfortable life and seems complete when Gilda welcomes her son Reuben, except how can Gilda be a mother when she doesn’t know how to be one.
It is an issue Gilda wrestles with for most of her adult life, and her turmoil intensifies when Reuben marries, sweet, petite Alice. As she sees her sons happiness and the ease at which he showers Alice with love and affection Gilda becomes increasingly jealous. Why can he not show her such love and affection, and so begins Gilda’s obsession with Alice. This was where the story became particularly interesting as the layers of Gilda’s past life were slowly peeled away. From a character that you really wanted to dislike, even hate, you slowly began to feel great sorrow for Gilda. Jakobi was brilliant at laying bare the immense turmoil and damage done to Gilda over many years. You could feel her aching with loneliness, not even able to find solace in her one and only best friend Margo. It was as though she had pressed the self destruct button and didn’t know how to make it all stop.
I felt myself willing Reuben to pull down his barriers, to show his Mum some affection and understanding and perhaps forgive her just a little bit. Yes, Gilda had made mistakes, but she was for the most part a victim of circumstance, of having no role models to look up to or persons to seek advice and guidance. Reuben sees only ones side, his, and his feelings of rejection run pretty deep.
I liked the role Jakobi gave Alice, the go between, the one normal person who had a loving, warm and secure family background. Gilda’s actions towards Alice are the most chilling aspect of the book, hinting of desperation and I was never sure if she actually wanted to harm Alice or just scare her. Unaware of what is happening and able to see the issues from both sides, Alice works tirelessly to try and bring the two together.
Jakobi’s writing is wonderfully evocative. I could feel the desperation and aching loneliness of Gilda in her later life and the coldness that emanated from her parents as she endured a loveless childhood, her bitterness oozing from the pages. The alternating timelines between past and present was seamlessly done, and the short staccato chapters perfectly reflected the sharpness we often associate with bitterness.
It is a novel full of anguish, of the relationship between mothers and their children, the good and the bad. It is profoundly sad but also full of hope, that redemption and forgiveness may be possible.
It is hard to believe that this is Jakobi’s first novel, it is remarkably well written and I look forward to reading her next novel.
Many thanks to Jennifer Kerslake at Weidenfeld and Nicolson for a proof copy to read and review.
It is an issue Gilda wrestles with for most of her adult life, and her turmoil intensifies when Reuben marries, sweet, petite Alice. As she sees her sons happiness and the ease at which he showers Alice with love and affection Gilda becomes increasingly jealous. Why can he not show her such love and affection, and so begins Gilda’s obsession with Alice. This was where the story became particularly interesting as the layers of Gilda’s past life were slowly peeled away. From a character that you really wanted to dislike, even hate, you slowly began to feel great sorrow for Gilda. Jakobi was brilliant at laying bare the immense turmoil and damage done to Gilda over many years. You could feel her aching with loneliness, not even able to find solace in her one and only best friend Margo. It was as though she had pressed the self destruct button and didn’t know how to make it all stop.
I felt myself willing Reuben to pull down his barriers, to show his Mum some affection and understanding and perhaps forgive her just a little bit. Yes, Gilda had made mistakes, but she was for the most part a victim of circumstance, of having no role models to look up to or persons to seek advice and guidance. Reuben sees only ones side, his, and his feelings of rejection run pretty deep.
I liked the role Jakobi gave Alice, the go between, the one normal person who had a loving, warm and secure family background. Gilda’s actions towards Alice are the most chilling aspect of the book, hinting of desperation and I was never sure if she actually wanted to harm Alice or just scare her. Unaware of what is happening and able to see the issues from both sides, Alice works tirelessly to try and bring the two together.
Jakobi’s writing is wonderfully evocative. I could feel the desperation and aching loneliness of Gilda in her later life and the coldness that emanated from her parents as she endured a loveless childhood, her bitterness oozing from the pages. The alternating timelines between past and present was seamlessly done, and the short staccato chapters perfectly reflected the sharpness we often associate with bitterness.
It is a novel full of anguish, of the relationship between mothers and their children, the good and the bad. It is profoundly sad but also full of hope, that redemption and forgiveness may be possible.
It is hard to believe that this is Jakobi’s first novel, it is remarkably well written and I look forward to reading her next novel.
Many thanks to Jennifer Kerslake at Weidenfeld and Nicolson for a proof copy to read and review.
January 30, 2019
The text on the cover is 'Someone is watching you', and there is a bit of watching, but also a lot of other things besides. In fact, I couldn't quite work out what this novel wanted to be about. Gilda spies on her daughter-in-law, but I was never sure why. She warns off a man who is interested in her daughter-in-law but this plot line doesn't go anywhere. She goes into her son's house and makes the bed, steals a key, but nothing happens. All the while we hear about her past relationships with her two husbands, and that with her son. There is a point that the story spins on, but it wasn't strong enough for me.
If this all sounds too negative, I did enjoy reading it. The strongest story line for me was Leo - Gilda's second husband, and his tragic life.
If this all sounds too negative, I did enjoy reading it. The strongest story line for me was Leo - Gilda's second husband, and his tragic life.
March 25, 2018
Named for a childhood taunt regarding main character Gilda's German nationality ('Bitte' 'Bitter'), Bitter seems to have been marketed as a psychological thriller. And while it does have elements of that (Gilda letting casually letting herself into Reuben and Alice's home when they're not there, spying on Alice at work and getting herself a new blonde hairdo inspired by her daughter in law) this is less 'Single White Female' and more 'Eleanor Rigby'. Gilda doesn't want to replace Alice, just to be a part of their lives (This is a book that actually made me viscerally angry how the main character was treated (I know that doesn't sound like a compliment but believe me it's a testament to the writing), thank goodness for Margo (it was heartwarming to see that, as much as Gilda complains about some of her more irritating characteristics, she recognises her as the true friend that she is) and for Alice, who had the compassion & kindness Reuben didn't (I understand where he's coming from but I must admit I went through the book wanting to give him a good slap to giving him a good shake)). Some of Gilda's actions can be seen as sinister but me came off more as melancholic (indeed, an air of loneliness pervades the book) and this is less a psychological thriller, I think, and more a brilliant character study. Short Chapters make the book whizz by and place and time is brilliantly evoked (though I could be a little bit biased as I love books set in the 60s). Is Gilda bitter and with good reason? You'll have to read it and find out.
January 5, 2018
Set in 1969 Bitter follows the story of Gilda, a 52-year old woman, twice-divorced and lonely in London. Following her only son’s wedding Gilda is plagued by memories of her past, and feelings of guilt for being a terrible mother, and her desperate attempts to make amends.
What I loved about this?
• Voice, voice, voice. Narrated in first-person by Gilda what gripped me from the opening line was her voice. It's sharp and fierce, but as the story goes on you start to see cracks and catch glimpses of Gilda’s loneliness and melancholy. It's raw and intense, but so emotionally engaging.
• Plot and structure. I found Bitter incredibly pacy and well-plotted. Jakobi wonderfully balances the shifts in narratives through short, alternating chapters and, personally for me it didn't waver in tension nor did I find myself, as can often be the case, preferring one narrative over the others.
Overall – I loved this book. I found the characters and premise so fresh and different. Stories about ‘terrible’ mothers is hardly written about, and I found this to be such an honest read about a flawed woman trying to redeem herself. Reminiscent of the works of Jean Rhys, Zoe Heller, and Patricia Highsmith Bitter is an unflinching and searing portrait of motherhood, love and envy.
What I loved about this?
• Voice, voice, voice. Narrated in first-person by Gilda what gripped me from the opening line was her voice. It's sharp and fierce, but as the story goes on you start to see cracks and catch glimpses of Gilda’s loneliness and melancholy. It's raw and intense, but so emotionally engaging.
• Plot and structure. I found Bitter incredibly pacy and well-plotted. Jakobi wonderfully balances the shifts in narratives through short, alternating chapters and, personally for me it didn't waver in tension nor did I find myself, as can often be the case, preferring one narrative over the others.
Overall – I loved this book. I found the characters and premise so fresh and different. Stories about ‘terrible’ mothers is hardly written about, and I found this to be such an honest read about a flawed woman trying to redeem herself. Reminiscent of the works of Jean Rhys, Zoe Heller, and Patricia Highsmith Bitter is an unflinching and searing portrait of motherhood, love and envy.
December 17, 2017
This was good. A slow steady kind of read. Really refreshing not to have instant drama, instant wow. But instead a gentle discovery of characters, of their lives and their flaws.
Gilda is a lonely woman, twice divorced and not on close terms with her only son Reuben. Reuben has just married Alice and amidst the jealousy of a woman that has his heart, is a desperate fear that she’ll never have his love. Through the backstory of Gilda and her school years, her relationships with her own parents, her ( more or less) forced marriage, and her difficult bonding with her young baby we and she learn why the bond between mother and son has been so troubled. And if there is any way to repair it.
Gilda is a lonely woman, twice divorced and not on close terms with her only son Reuben. Reuben has just married Alice and amidst the jealousy of a woman that has his heart, is a desperate fear that she’ll never have his love. Through the backstory of Gilda and her school years, her relationships with her own parents, her ( more or less) forced marriage, and her difficult bonding with her young baby we and she learn why the bond between mother and son has been so troubled. And if there is any way to repair it.
May 31, 2020
Wow, why I first thought about this book is not what I feel at the end, I mean I have tears!! I didn’t know what I was going to get with this book, I mean Gilda is most definitely on the verge of some sort of breakdown, some of her actions were just unbelievable! One point when she dresses up in this pink dress I was just floored by her audacity in her actions and how situations spiral out of control.
We see Gilda’s life from a young age has been harsh, banished to England by her father, sister despised her and mother hasn’t got any time for her. She is then married off at a young age to someone who is twice as old for her fathers “business relations.” She was not giving a chance to live her life and so mistakes were made, which impacted her future and her relationships.
Gilda’s life begins and ends with her son Reuben, the problem is he just sees her as inconvenience due to actions in the past. He has no time for her so she begins “stalking” for want of a better word his wife. As I said, some actions are questionable, all I will say the scene with the raspberry-red dress!! Gilda will do anything to be close to her son and to build a relationship. The shine is always taken away and his father, Frank, and his wife Berta can do no wrong.
When we learn the through of everything has happened in the last 30 years that’s when my eyes start to leak. So much hardship and grief for one person was palpable and too much. This is Gilda’s story and we watch her come alive in technicolour throughout the book. It is definitely a thought-provoking book as you think about how our actions can affect people later on in life.
Jakobi’s writing entices you along. I kept missing my checkpoints with Rae because I just didn’t want to put the book down and I know she didn’t either so we would keep saying oh I got to x chapter oops! I thought the way the book started that this would be a bit more dark and twisty instead of a coming of age book, and I am thankful for that. Gilda has issues that are clear to see, but in those times they didn’t understand mental health and just thought women were having a “funny turn.” It was hard to see her struggle day to day and not understand why.
When I first started this book, I didn’t like Gilda, I didn’t want to like her. I couldn’t warm to her, although I felt sorry for her by the end, and I most definitely did warm to her. I wanted her to be well and I wanted her to start living her life again. I did wonder if this book would be like Looker by Laura Sims as it has that feel to it initially but no this went down a different path (eventually!).
I am finding to find the right words for Bitter, but it’s hard. The title of the book is spot-on as there is a lot of bitterness in the book and it’s about letting it go because life really is too short. I would definitely read another book by Jakobi because I am fascinated by what she writes. She slowly draws you in, short chapters, interesting complex characters and a storyline to keep you guessing!
We see Gilda’s life from a young age has been harsh, banished to England by her father, sister despised her and mother hasn’t got any time for her. She is then married off at a young age to someone who is twice as old for her fathers “business relations.” She was not giving a chance to live her life and so mistakes were made, which impacted her future and her relationships.
Gilda’s life begins and ends with her son Reuben, the problem is he just sees her as inconvenience due to actions in the past. He has no time for her so she begins “stalking” for want of a better word his wife. As I said, some actions are questionable, all I will say the scene with the raspberry-red dress!! Gilda will do anything to be close to her son and to build a relationship. The shine is always taken away and his father, Frank, and his wife Berta can do no wrong.
When we learn the through of everything has happened in the last 30 years that’s when my eyes start to leak. So much hardship and grief for one person was palpable and too much. This is Gilda’s story and we watch her come alive in technicolour throughout the book. It is definitely a thought-provoking book as you think about how our actions can affect people later on in life.
Jakobi’s writing entices you along. I kept missing my checkpoints with Rae because I just didn’t want to put the book down and I know she didn’t either so we would keep saying oh I got to x chapter oops! I thought the way the book started that this would be a bit more dark and twisty instead of a coming of age book, and I am thankful for that. Gilda has issues that are clear to see, but in those times they didn’t understand mental health and just thought women were having a “funny turn.” It was hard to see her struggle day to day and not understand why.
When I first started this book, I didn’t like Gilda, I didn’t want to like her. I couldn’t warm to her, although I felt sorry for her by the end, and I most definitely did warm to her. I wanted her to be well and I wanted her to start living her life again. I did wonder if this book would be like Looker by Laura Sims as it has that feel to it initially but no this went down a different path (eventually!).
I am finding to find the right words for Bitter, but it’s hard. The title of the book is spot-on as there is a lot of bitterness in the book and it’s about letting it go because life really is too short. I would definitely read another book by Jakobi because I am fascinated by what she writes. She slowly draws you in, short chapters, interesting complex characters and a storyline to keep you guessing!
December 25, 2018
An excellently written debut novel. Francesca Jakobi has a flair for illustrating epochs out of the insipidity of modern human life. She elevates Gilda's private anguish that stems from her perceived failure, to a highly personable experience for the reader. I've enjoyed tearing into the book, a little too much...and now I'm left with my heart feeling full from the emotional turmoil, but with a certain part of me also feeling slightly bereft. ☹️
August 2, 2018
This was a really emotional novel but so wonderfully written that’s it’s a book that just takes you into the mind of Gilda and makes you care deeply for her and the life she has had. A compelling read and no hesitation in giving it 4+ stars ...well recommended.
June 6, 2019
Loved this debut book, the story of a mother son relationship. I read this in about three days. Heart rending and I felt compassion for Gilda the Mother. I recommend this one. An author to watch out for.
March 5, 2025
..fast an einem Stück gelesen, so fesselnd und heftig. Margo ist meine Lieblingsperson und ich verstehe nicht, was alle an Leo auszusetzen haben, aber lest selbst!!
October 10, 2018
Oh my goodness! What an absolute treat this story is. I was lucky enough to have the time to sit down (by the pool in Rhodes) and read this from cover to cover, almost non-stop. The writing, the characters and the beautifully told story swept me up, away from the blue skies of Rhodes, and back to 1960s London and before.
Bitter hits every single one of my must-reads. An incredibly well-drawn, flawed female lead character; a 1960s setting and an unsettling yet realistic family dynamic.
The reader meets Gilda in 1969, her only son Reuben is getting married to Alice; a pretty, delicate blonde girl who Reuben says showed him how to love. Gilda is bitter and jealous, and sad and beginning to get obsessed. She begins to stalk Alice; accidentally bumping into her on the street, watching her in the hair salon, hiding behind a pillar as Alice works at a beauty counter.
Gilda wants nothing more than to be part of Reuben and Alice's life, but Reuben only remembers the mother who abandoned him when he was just a small boy.
Whilst there is no doubt that Gilda is disturbed and flawed and unpredictable, this incredibly clever author allows the reader to care for her. We learn her early story as the daughter of a rich Jewish family in 1920s Germany, to when she was bundled off to boarding school in England after witnessing her father's indiscretions. Life at the English boarding school was hard for Gilda, and it is only Margo, her one friend who keeps her from going under.
Margo is a permanent fixture throughout the story, and this friendship between two very different, but equally damaged women is beautiful. That total ease that comes from a lifetime friendship is brilliantly portrayed, I think most readers will wish that they had a Margo in their life.
As the reader learns more about Gilda's life; her two marriages, her relationship with her husbands, her son, her sister and her parents, it becomes clear how she became the character that she is today. There's such a subtle sadness that runs through her life, she's vulnerable but weak and makes many decision that have far-reaching consequences.
Francesca Jakobi writes with precision and so lyrically. Bitter is deeply moving and so very wise. I absolutely adored it and can't wait to find out what this very talented author does next.
Bitter hits every single one of my must-reads. An incredibly well-drawn, flawed female lead character; a 1960s setting and an unsettling yet realistic family dynamic.
The reader meets Gilda in 1969, her only son Reuben is getting married to Alice; a pretty, delicate blonde girl who Reuben says showed him how to love. Gilda is bitter and jealous, and sad and beginning to get obsessed. She begins to stalk Alice; accidentally bumping into her on the street, watching her in the hair salon, hiding behind a pillar as Alice works at a beauty counter.
Gilda wants nothing more than to be part of Reuben and Alice's life, but Reuben only remembers the mother who abandoned him when he was just a small boy.
Whilst there is no doubt that Gilda is disturbed and flawed and unpredictable, this incredibly clever author allows the reader to care for her. We learn her early story as the daughter of a rich Jewish family in 1920s Germany, to when she was bundled off to boarding school in England after witnessing her father's indiscretions. Life at the English boarding school was hard for Gilda, and it is only Margo, her one friend who keeps her from going under.
Margo is a permanent fixture throughout the story, and this friendship between two very different, but equally damaged women is beautiful. That total ease that comes from a lifetime friendship is brilliantly portrayed, I think most readers will wish that they had a Margo in their life.
As the reader learns more about Gilda's life; her two marriages, her relationship with her husbands, her son, her sister and her parents, it becomes clear how she became the character that she is today. There's such a subtle sadness that runs through her life, she's vulnerable but weak and makes many decision that have far-reaching consequences.
Francesca Jakobi writes with precision and so lyrically. Bitter is deeply moving and so very wise. I absolutely adored it and can't wait to find out what this very talented author does next.
February 12, 2018
This was a tender, beautiful and heart-breaking read.
When we first meet fifty-something Gilda, she is attending the wedding of her only child, Reuben. On first impressions, she is a woman who lives up to the novel's title. She is critical of everything, down to the canapes. But the final paragraph of the opening chapter offers the reader a window into her heart:
He says she taught him how to love; that she taught him what love could be.
And I can't look at him because he didn't learn about love from me.
As the novel unfolds, we soon get to learn that there is more to Gilda than her 'bitterness.' This is a novel about a mother who desperately loves her son, but doesn't know how to atone for the mistakes of the past and repair their broken relationship.
I found Gilda to be a fascinating and authentic character, who has herself suffered from a lack of maternal care. I was moved to tears several times throughout the novel and by the end, I found myself in a sobbing heap!
I read the book in two sittings. Its short chapters made it a pacy read.
As other reviewers have said, the subject of 'awful mothers' is seldom written about. I believe this book will resonate deeply with readers who have had a difficult relationship with their mothers and/or grandmothers. A novel that resonated with me deeply and one which I will always remember.
5 stars. Would highly recommend.
When we first meet fifty-something Gilda, she is attending the wedding of her only child, Reuben. On first impressions, she is a woman who lives up to the novel's title. She is critical of everything, down to the canapes. But the final paragraph of the opening chapter offers the reader a window into her heart:
He says she taught him how to love; that she taught him what love could be.
And I can't look at him because he didn't learn about love from me.
As the novel unfolds, we soon get to learn that there is more to Gilda than her 'bitterness.' This is a novel about a mother who desperately loves her son, but doesn't know how to atone for the mistakes of the past and repair their broken relationship.
I found Gilda to be a fascinating and authentic character, who has herself suffered from a lack of maternal care. I was moved to tears several times throughout the novel and by the end, I found myself in a sobbing heap!
I read the book in two sittings. Its short chapters made it a pacy read.
As other reviewers have said, the subject of 'awful mothers' is seldom written about. I believe this book will resonate deeply with readers who have had a difficult relationship with their mothers and/or grandmothers. A novel that resonated with me deeply and one which I will always remember.
5 stars. Would highly recommend.
July 15, 2018
If only she were. In fact, once finished, I felt that Francesca Jakobi had left that responsibility up to the reader. I wish I'd realised sooner.
As Gilda stumbles through her life seemingly unable to fit anywhere, everything is uncomfortable. Her literal size means she "never felt like the little sister". Unable to dress up in her mother's clothes she describes how she 'wore father's instead, their leather hard and shiny as a beetle's shell." But far worse,: her propensity to be in the wrong place at the wrong time finds her sent away to boarding school and launched into the world "such a hostile place". Moreover, the injustice does not stop there. Consequently the reader bears witness to the shaping of an individual who tries to make sense and gain control of a life that is not of her own choosing; "the choices I made were never really choices: I only had half a picture there."
Totally devoid of the emotional maturity required to deal with her 'lot', Gilda uses drink as a prop which, of course, does nothing to endear her to those, like her son, who already struggle to understand.
For me, the most remarkable aspect of this book is that Francesca Jakobi crafted the story in a manner that, despite being written in the first person, meant I too spent the vast majority of the experience wondering what there was to like about Gilda-only to be left feeling I (like every other character in the book aside from her loyal friend Margo) had done her a disservice.
Whilst there are plenty of parallels, she is not Olive Kitteridge. As I read, I did not find myself wanting to shout a warning, shake her or translate her actions so others saw what was (in Elizabeth Strout's tale) so obvious on the page. But ultimately, that is what Gilda not only needed but deserved. So now, I am left with the task of reading again in order to allow myself the opportunity to judge her more kindly and relieve the guilt of my misconceptions.
As Gilda stumbles through her life seemingly unable to fit anywhere, everything is uncomfortable. Her literal size means she "never felt like the little sister". Unable to dress up in her mother's clothes she describes how she 'wore father's instead, their leather hard and shiny as a beetle's shell." But far worse,: her propensity to be in the wrong place at the wrong time finds her sent away to boarding school and launched into the world "such a hostile place". Moreover, the injustice does not stop there. Consequently the reader bears witness to the shaping of an individual who tries to make sense and gain control of a life that is not of her own choosing; "the choices I made were never really choices: I only had half a picture there."
Totally devoid of the emotional maturity required to deal with her 'lot', Gilda uses drink as a prop which, of course, does nothing to endear her to those, like her son, who already struggle to understand.
For me, the most remarkable aspect of this book is that Francesca Jakobi crafted the story in a manner that, despite being written in the first person, meant I too spent the vast majority of the experience wondering what there was to like about Gilda-only to be left feeling I (like every other character in the book aside from her loyal friend Margo) had done her a disservice.
Whilst there are plenty of parallels, she is not Olive Kitteridge. As I read, I did not find myself wanting to shout a warning, shake her or translate her actions so others saw what was (in Elizabeth Strout's tale) so obvious on the page. But ultimately, that is what Gilda not only needed but deserved. So now, I am left with the task of reading again in order to allow myself the opportunity to judge her more kindly and relieve the guilt of my misconceptions.
December 14, 2018
It's so hard to believe this book is a debut novel, the characters are so vividly and wonderfully drawn, it's totally compelling, engaging, perfectly paced and beautifully written - I was loath to put it down.
A story of obsession, dysfunctional relationships and manipulation, of the best and worst of parenting - it's a mesmerising read, heartbreaking at times yet there is love and friendship and humour - As her story unfolded I grew to understand and love Gilda almost as much as I hated her parents.
An unreserved 5 stars - really looking forward to reading more from this author!
A story of obsession, dysfunctional relationships and manipulation, of the best and worst of parenting - it's a mesmerising read, heartbreaking at times yet there is love and friendship and humour - As her story unfolded I grew to understand and love Gilda almost as much as I hated her parents.
An unreserved 5 stars - really looking forward to reading more from this author!
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