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KOKKUPÕRKED
1982. aastal toimub Lääne-Austraalia kõrvalisel maanteel avarii. Keegi ei saa tõsiselt viga, kuid õnnetuse mõju on tunda aastakümneid. Nicole ja Samantha Cooper mäletavad mõlemad suvepäeva, kui nende ema Tina kaotas auto üle kontrolli – kuid mitte päris ühtmoodi. Pärast Tina surma, peaaegu neli aastakümmet hiljem, on õed sunnitud õnnetuse tagajärgedega tegelema. Aastaid elus sihitult triivinud Nicole on lõpuks leidnud armastuse, kuid ei saa sellele pühenduda. Ja Samantha varjab midagi, mis võib segi lüüa elu, mille ta on enda jaoks suure vaeva loonud.
„Kokkupõrked“ on lugu õdedest, kes peavad õppima toime tulema oma ema alkoholisõltuvusega ja isa läbikukkumisega nii abikaasa kui ka lapsevanemana. See on ka lugu põlvkondadevaheliste kokkupõrgete põhjustest ja tagajärgedest ning sellest, miks me teeme haiget just nendele, keda kõige enam kaitsta tahame. Viies lugeja korduvalt olevikust minevikku, paljastab autor armastuse keerukuse ja vastuolud ning tasapisi hakkame mõistma raskete muutuste kulgu. Õed ja nende probleemne ema on ebatäiuslikud, pettumust valmistavad ja kohati vihale ajavad, kuid siiski kaastunnet äratavad. Nad on inimesed, kes püüavad enda tekitatud segadusest hoolimata eluga edasi minna.
IMBI NEEME on blogija, lootustandev romaanikirjanik ja kaasahaaravate novellide autor. Tema käsikiri „The Spill“ („Kokkupõrked“) tunnistati 2019. aastal Penguini kirjandusauhinna vääriliseks.
Ta elab koos elukaaslase, laste ja lemmikloomadega Austraalias Melbourne’is.
„Kokkupõrked“ on lugu õdedest, kes peavad õppima toime tulema oma ema alkoholisõltuvusega ja isa läbikukkumisega nii abikaasa kui ka lapsevanemana. See on ka lugu põlvkondadevaheliste kokkupõrgete põhjustest ja tagajärgedest ning sellest, miks me teeme haiget just nendele, keda kõige enam kaitsta tahame. Viies lugeja korduvalt olevikust minevikku, paljastab autor armastuse keerukuse ja vastuolud ning tasapisi hakkame mõistma raskete muutuste kulgu. Õed ja nende probleemne ema on ebatäiuslikud, pettumust valmistavad ja kohati vihale ajavad, kuid siiski kaastunnet äratavad. Nad on inimesed, kes püüavad enda tekitatud segadusest hoolimata eluga edasi minna.
IMBI NEEME on blogija, lootustandev romaanikirjanik ja kaasahaaravate novellide autor. Tema käsikiri „The Spill“ („Kokkupõrked“) tunnistati 2019. aastal Penguini kirjandusauhinna vääriliseks.
Ta elab koos elukaaslase, laste ja lemmikloomadega Austraalias Melbourne’is.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
November 9, 2020
Imbi Neeme's debut novel is the warm and moving story of a fractured WA family over a number of decades. Structured more like a scatter diagram than a straight line, it was still able to be followed on audio without too much trouble, although if I'd had the choice I may have preferred to read a text copy (and enjoyed it even more). I felt the second half was a lot stronger than the first, possibly as I warmed to the main characters.
At the earliest point of the story there is a car crash. Young sisters Nicole and Samantha are in the car with their mother, Tina, behind the wheel. Nobody is seriously hurt, but it becomes part of the family lore that little Samantha could have been killed had she not switched places with Nicole (this was a time when cars only had seatbelts in the front). It is also accepted that Tina had been drinking. Roll forward 40 or so years and the girls are winding up their mother's affairs; dead from liver failure after a lifetime of alcoholism. Gradually, secrets, regrets and jealousies come out, so many of which can be tracked back to that crash. The sisters' already fragile relationship is threatened by misunderstandings, events that are mis-remembered and truths that are concealed. And then, in contemporary times, there is another crash that leads to some of the most moving and heartfelt family scenes I have read in a long, long time.
The contrast between Nicole and Samantha couldn't be more stark. While Nicole is far from a clown, she does provide a kind of light, humorous foil to Samantha's buttoned-down stresshead. But while Nicole may be a quicker and easier character to like, both have their tragedies and it's this that makes Sammy more and more relatable as the story unfolds. Those familiar with the City of Perth will enjoy the suburban locations and details of growing up there in the nineties and noughties.
This is an assured debut and Imbi Neeme joins the list of Australian authors to watch.
At the earliest point of the story there is a car crash. Young sisters Nicole and Samantha are in the car with their mother, Tina, behind the wheel. Nobody is seriously hurt, but it becomes part of the family lore that little Samantha could have been killed had she not switched places with Nicole (this was a time when cars only had seatbelts in the front). It is also accepted that Tina had been drinking. Roll forward 40 or so years and the girls are winding up their mother's affairs; dead from liver failure after a lifetime of alcoholism. Gradually, secrets, regrets and jealousies come out, so many of which can be tracked back to that crash. The sisters' already fragile relationship is threatened by misunderstandings, events that are mis-remembered and truths that are concealed. And then, in contemporary times, there is another crash that leads to some of the most moving and heartfelt family scenes I have read in a long, long time.
The contrast between Nicole and Samantha couldn't be more stark. While Nicole is far from a clown, she does provide a kind of light, humorous foil to Samantha's buttoned-down stresshead. But while Nicole may be a quicker and easier character to like, both have their tragedies and it's this that makes Sammy more and more relatable as the story unfolds. Those familiar with the City of Perth will enjoy the suburban locations and details of growing up there in the nineties and noughties.
This is an assured debut and Imbi Neeme joins the list of Australian authors to watch.
June 14, 2020
The winner of the 2019 Penguin Literary Prize was the recently released novel by Imbi Neeme, The Spill (Penguin Viking 2020), an impressive debut that explores the complexities of families, the dynamics of relationships that are ever-changing over time, the inconsistencies of memory, and the complicated bonds between parents and their children, and between siblings, most particularly sisters.
The Spill is a highly engaging story that had me hooked on the two main characters from the very first page and maintained my interest and concern for them over the decades that the narrative covers. It is 1982 and young sisters Nicole and Samantha are waiting for their mother outside the pub where she is having a well-needed drink after a car accident that has left them all a little dazed and with some minor injuries. The story then jumps to the present day, but returns again and again to that fateful day in 1982, and to the innocence and vulnerability of the girls, but also the aspects of their characters that – even then – show the promise of the adults they are likely to become.
Time has been carefully crafted in this novel. The structure takes us back and forth between 1982, and to many years between then and now – 2015, 1990, 2006, 2013, 2018, 2010, 1991, etc. All of this jumping around could, in the hands of a less skilled writer, become jarring or confusing, but Neeme manages the transitions smoothly, effortlessly taking us to certain times in the characters’ lives in the form of flashbacks or passages that reflect the period. I kept expecting to become befuddled, but I just didn’t. Her chapters are short and sharp. Each has a purpose; each adds to the giant jigsaw puzzle that is the life of these sisters.
The day of the accident changes Nicole and Samantha’s lives forever, but not in ways that are immediately apparent. As they navigate adolescence and grow into adulthood, pieces of information about that day – and the events surrounding it – are gradually revealed, allowing Neeme to slowly but inexorably paint a complete picture of the event and its repercussions. One thing that she does extremely well is her use of small details to link the varying sections. She will mention one tiny incident or fact or memory without explaining its relevance or importance, but then its significance becomes obvious in a further chapter. In this way, she lays a trail of breadcrumbs throughout the entire novel, leading us towards certain revelations.
This story is all about families and how they function (or don’t). The girls’ mother Tina is an alcoholic, and the present day part is set 40 years after that accident when the sisters are dealing with their mother’s death. Nicole has drifted for many years but has finally landed in a place where she is happy. Samantha has built the life she always wanted but is hiding secrets that could betray her to those she loves. Their relationship with their mother has always been complicated. Their father is on to his third wife and relations with him have also not always been smooth. But in the aftermath of Tina’s death, Nicole and Samantha begin to understand the ripple effects of what happened so many years earlier, and to see their mother in a different light.
The characterisation of all the main characters, but particularly Tina, Samantha and Nicole, is very well done. I was instantly engaged with this family and found it difficult to put the book down. The characters are real, infuriating, frustrating, sympathetic, annoying, determined and completely themselves. Neeme’s construction of the narrative is deftly handled, with many things half-said, or left unsaid, and it is left to the reader to join the dots as the story progresses. Her examination of memory, truth and lies is beautifully rendered. This is a fractured family, a broken family, a family injured by alcohol and betrayal and blame. But it is also a family willing to look hard at the past and contemplate a different future, without ever being saccharine. And it is so funny! There are genuinely hilarious moments that will resonate with anyone who has ever been a sister, a parent, a child. Moments of glorious and ridiculous truth. Moments of doubt and insecurity and shame. Moments of realisation and acceptance. Petty jealousies; misunderstandings that have long fuelled secret, seething anger; sliding doors moments that change everything. Long-held beliefs that have shaped lives and personalities and alliances – all dismantled by truths revealed. All the terrible mess of family, laid out for all to see.
This highly accessible story is compelling and easy to read but it also touches on deeper themes of love, family, the choices we make as we go through life, and how those choices affect us over time. The references to the eighties and nineties are immediately recognisable and familiar, but not heavy-handed. The major events of these girls’ / women’s lives are presented in taut vignettes that highlight a few random details that give us the overall picture. As they consider their regrets, the two sisters comprehend their early lives and the paths they each have chosen.
A nuanced and complex story of family, The Spill will appeal to a wide variety of readers, and leave you thinking about the characters long after the last page.
The Spill is a highly engaging story that had me hooked on the two main characters from the very first page and maintained my interest and concern for them over the decades that the narrative covers. It is 1982 and young sisters Nicole and Samantha are waiting for their mother outside the pub where she is having a well-needed drink after a car accident that has left them all a little dazed and with some minor injuries. The story then jumps to the present day, but returns again and again to that fateful day in 1982, and to the innocence and vulnerability of the girls, but also the aspects of their characters that – even then – show the promise of the adults they are likely to become.
Time has been carefully crafted in this novel. The structure takes us back and forth between 1982, and to many years between then and now – 2015, 1990, 2006, 2013, 2018, 2010, 1991, etc. All of this jumping around could, in the hands of a less skilled writer, become jarring or confusing, but Neeme manages the transitions smoothly, effortlessly taking us to certain times in the characters’ lives in the form of flashbacks or passages that reflect the period. I kept expecting to become befuddled, but I just didn’t. Her chapters are short and sharp. Each has a purpose; each adds to the giant jigsaw puzzle that is the life of these sisters.
The day of the accident changes Nicole and Samantha’s lives forever, but not in ways that are immediately apparent. As they navigate adolescence and grow into adulthood, pieces of information about that day – and the events surrounding it – are gradually revealed, allowing Neeme to slowly but inexorably paint a complete picture of the event and its repercussions. One thing that she does extremely well is her use of small details to link the varying sections. She will mention one tiny incident or fact or memory without explaining its relevance or importance, but then its significance becomes obvious in a further chapter. In this way, she lays a trail of breadcrumbs throughout the entire novel, leading us towards certain revelations.
This story is all about families and how they function (or don’t). The girls’ mother Tina is an alcoholic, and the present day part is set 40 years after that accident when the sisters are dealing with their mother’s death. Nicole has drifted for many years but has finally landed in a place where she is happy. Samantha has built the life she always wanted but is hiding secrets that could betray her to those she loves. Their relationship with their mother has always been complicated. Their father is on to his third wife and relations with him have also not always been smooth. But in the aftermath of Tina’s death, Nicole and Samantha begin to understand the ripple effects of what happened so many years earlier, and to see their mother in a different light.
The characterisation of all the main characters, but particularly Tina, Samantha and Nicole, is very well done. I was instantly engaged with this family and found it difficult to put the book down. The characters are real, infuriating, frustrating, sympathetic, annoying, determined and completely themselves. Neeme’s construction of the narrative is deftly handled, with many things half-said, or left unsaid, and it is left to the reader to join the dots as the story progresses. Her examination of memory, truth and lies is beautifully rendered. This is a fractured family, a broken family, a family injured by alcohol and betrayal and blame. But it is also a family willing to look hard at the past and contemplate a different future, without ever being saccharine. And it is so funny! There are genuinely hilarious moments that will resonate with anyone who has ever been a sister, a parent, a child. Moments of glorious and ridiculous truth. Moments of doubt and insecurity and shame. Moments of realisation and acceptance. Petty jealousies; misunderstandings that have long fuelled secret, seething anger; sliding doors moments that change everything. Long-held beliefs that have shaped lives and personalities and alliances – all dismantled by truths revealed. All the terrible mess of family, laid out for all to see.
This highly accessible story is compelling and easy to read but it also touches on deeper themes of love, family, the choices we make as we go through life, and how those choices affect us over time. The references to the eighties and nineties are immediately recognisable and familiar, but not heavy-handed. The major events of these girls’ / women’s lives are presented in taut vignettes that highlight a few random details that give us the overall picture. As they consider their regrets, the two sisters comprehend their early lives and the paths they each have chosen.
A nuanced and complex story of family, The Spill will appeal to a wide variety of readers, and leave you thinking about the characters long after the last page.
June 22, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
'I realised in that moment that the past was like one of Rosemary’s slinky toys when it got twisted and bent. Even if I managed to untangle all the lies and resentment, I could never fix it.’
The Spill is the debut novel from Australian author Imbi Neeme. The winner of the 2019 Penguin Literary Prize, The Spill is a remarkable and moving composition that explores the complex relationship between two sisters. The impact of time, memory, misunderstanding, secrets, stresses, personal strains and grudges weighs heavily on this strained family unit. The Spill is relayed from a perceptive and reflective approach.
A pivotal moment in time is forever etched on the hearts and minds of the Cooper sisters in Imbi Neeme’s The Spill. A hot summer’s day in remote Western Australia back in 1982 marks a point in time the Cooper family will never forget. When the mother of this family unit loses control her car, the impact of this incident will bear down on the whole family for years to come. The incident acts as a catalyst of sorts, signaling a personal demise, relationship breakdown and trauma. Now, many years after this marked event, the two sisters of this family fold struggle in their own different ways with the secrets they hold and the personal issues that continue to plague them. Through a process of gradual release, The Spill examines concepts of love, family, sisterhood, memories, grief, remorse and personal goals. Overwhelmingly, this is the story of a fractured sibling relationship that has to be repaired through the healing power of time, reflection and communication.
I always find stories about sisterhood and family relations incredibly fascinating. Although I don’t have a sister, I am drawn to novels that explore bonds between sisters. In The Spill we are presented with a relationship dynamic between two very different sisters, who find they have drifted apart over time following the impact of a pivotal event in their lives. The fallout from this situation echoes across time, impacting the characters in deep and contrasted ways.
I took note of the cover quote offered by J.P. Pomare on The Spill which states that ‘the prose thrums and the characters are so deep and richly imagined’. I admire J.P. Pomare, so his quote definitely struck a chord. I have to agree with Pomare’s apt statement. There is something about Neeme’s prose that sets it apart from the crowd, it is poised and reflective. It does seem as though every word, sentence and paragraph has been carefully inserted into the overall frame of this novel, for maximum impact. The format Neeme takes is clear, despite the switches between the past and the present. In The Spill, we bear witness to significant events, or vignettes in the lives of these very interesting sisters. A kaleidoscope of memories, hurt, pain, secrets and regret is presented in The Spill. The expression of these flashes in time and meaningful components in the lives of the Cooper sisters is incredibly honest, thanks to the authorship of Imbi Neeme.
The Spill is a book that I would class as a heavily driven character based piece. We have a thorough exploration of and a rich interrogation into the lives of both sisters. It is obvious from the very beginning these two sisters are completely different and the accident, their mother’s behaviour and the sheer weight of time results in a fractured relationship. Neeme manages to get inside the heads of each sister with ease and personal insight. We understand their inner thoughts, feelings, impressions, problems and memories. The Spill is an emotional tale that will leave quite an impression on you.
Personally, the aspect of the novel that seemed to call to me was the setting. I am a Western Australian, born and bred, so the many references to familiar locations and areas pulled me further into this text. Neeme’s vivid and realistic portrayal of her various settings interchanges worked really well on the pages of this novel. I was impressed!
Sometimes the most powerful and lasting stories to reach a reader’s mind are those drawn from real life. The Spill is inspired by author’s childhood. Imbi Neeme’s debut is a story that resonates, allowing the audience to examine their own personal constructions of the past and the reliance on memory in recalling significant events. The Spill is a considerate novel that I highly recommend.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Spill is book #70 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
'I realised in that moment that the past was like one of Rosemary’s slinky toys when it got twisted and bent. Even if I managed to untangle all the lies and resentment, I could never fix it.’
The Spill is the debut novel from Australian author Imbi Neeme. The winner of the 2019 Penguin Literary Prize, The Spill is a remarkable and moving composition that explores the complex relationship between two sisters. The impact of time, memory, misunderstanding, secrets, stresses, personal strains and grudges weighs heavily on this strained family unit. The Spill is relayed from a perceptive and reflective approach.
A pivotal moment in time is forever etched on the hearts and minds of the Cooper sisters in Imbi Neeme’s The Spill. A hot summer’s day in remote Western Australia back in 1982 marks a point in time the Cooper family will never forget. When the mother of this family unit loses control her car, the impact of this incident will bear down on the whole family for years to come. The incident acts as a catalyst of sorts, signaling a personal demise, relationship breakdown and trauma. Now, many years after this marked event, the two sisters of this family fold struggle in their own different ways with the secrets they hold and the personal issues that continue to plague them. Through a process of gradual release, The Spill examines concepts of love, family, sisterhood, memories, grief, remorse and personal goals. Overwhelmingly, this is the story of a fractured sibling relationship that has to be repaired through the healing power of time, reflection and communication.
I always find stories about sisterhood and family relations incredibly fascinating. Although I don’t have a sister, I am drawn to novels that explore bonds between sisters. In The Spill we are presented with a relationship dynamic between two very different sisters, who find they have drifted apart over time following the impact of a pivotal event in their lives. The fallout from this situation echoes across time, impacting the characters in deep and contrasted ways.
I took note of the cover quote offered by J.P. Pomare on The Spill which states that ‘the prose thrums and the characters are so deep and richly imagined’. I admire J.P. Pomare, so his quote definitely struck a chord. I have to agree with Pomare’s apt statement. There is something about Neeme’s prose that sets it apart from the crowd, it is poised and reflective. It does seem as though every word, sentence and paragraph has been carefully inserted into the overall frame of this novel, for maximum impact. The format Neeme takes is clear, despite the switches between the past and the present. In The Spill, we bear witness to significant events, or vignettes in the lives of these very interesting sisters. A kaleidoscope of memories, hurt, pain, secrets and regret is presented in The Spill. The expression of these flashes in time and meaningful components in the lives of the Cooper sisters is incredibly honest, thanks to the authorship of Imbi Neeme.
The Spill is a book that I would class as a heavily driven character based piece. We have a thorough exploration of and a rich interrogation into the lives of both sisters. It is obvious from the very beginning these two sisters are completely different and the accident, their mother’s behaviour and the sheer weight of time results in a fractured relationship. Neeme manages to get inside the heads of each sister with ease and personal insight. We understand their inner thoughts, feelings, impressions, problems and memories. The Spill is an emotional tale that will leave quite an impression on you.
Personally, the aspect of the novel that seemed to call to me was the setting. I am a Western Australian, born and bred, so the many references to familiar locations and areas pulled me further into this text. Neeme’s vivid and realistic portrayal of her various settings interchanges worked really well on the pages of this novel. I was impressed!
Sometimes the most powerful and lasting stories to reach a reader’s mind are those drawn from real life. The Spill is inspired by author’s childhood. Imbi Neeme’s debut is a story that resonates, allowing the audience to examine their own personal constructions of the past and the reliance on memory in recalling significant events. The Spill is a considerate novel that I highly recommend.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Spill is book #70 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
June 21, 2020
The Spill is the winner of the 2019 Penguin Literary Prize and it is a worthy recipient. A story of two sisters; on the surface, it may not seem all that spectacular. But the characterisation is so finely tuned, not just with Samantha and Nicole, but with all of the characters, even those that only pop up in memories. Where this novel really shines though is in the structure. Set in the present day, the perspective is shared between Samantha and Nicole, but as this is largely a novel about memory, the pieces of the past are scattered throughout. At first, the flashbacks seem random; there is no chronological order to them and sometimes it is Nicole’s flashback, while at others it is Samantha’s. However, all of these memory pieces are not at all as random as they first appear and as the novel moves towards its conclusion, we see it all fall into place, perspectives brought forward where we had previously only seen one sister’s view of that particular incident or occasion.
‘In that moment, everything in that brightly lit corridor slid away. Memories, half-forgotten, half-repressed, began to rise to the surface of my mind, like something finally coming to the boil.’
I found the memory aspect of this novel particularly fascinating. Memory itself is so interesting and I listened a little while back to a podcast on childhood memories and how they are so unreliable on account of the way in which our long and short term memory works. From a personal aspect, this idea of two sisters having a shared childhood but differing memories of it is something I can personally attest to. There has been many times over the years where my sister and I have been talking and it’s become clear that we remember certain things differently. I think this happens in many cases though, not just when there has been trauma or uncertainty attached to your childhood. Even in the present day, my memory of things quite often differs from that of my husband!
The fact that I grew up with an alcoholic mother is not something I keep a secret, although it’s also not something I go on about a lot either. It just is what it is. But of course, it means that this novel really did lie close to the bone for me, particularly as I also have just one sister, so there were many times over where I almost felt a sense of de-ja-vu about the story and the characters. What I can say though about this novel is that Imbi Neeme has absolutely nailed what it’s like to be a person who has grown up with an alcoholic parent. I could relate to both Nicole and Samantha intimately, so while there were things about them, particularly Samantha, that I didn’t necessarily like, I understood them, and more precisely, I recognised them. I feel that Imbi Neeme has really dug down deep into the tragedy of alcoholism and the far reaching inter-generational effects this disease has on a family. It’s a complex issue, easily judged by outsiders who are fortunate enough to have never had to deal with it. But the weight and burden of it is immense, and I honestly can’t articulate how much I appreciate this novel and the manner in which it wears its topic.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Spill for review.
‘In that moment, everything in that brightly lit corridor slid away. Memories, half-forgotten, half-repressed, began to rise to the surface of my mind, like something finally coming to the boil.’
I found the memory aspect of this novel particularly fascinating. Memory itself is so interesting and I listened a little while back to a podcast on childhood memories and how they are so unreliable on account of the way in which our long and short term memory works. From a personal aspect, this idea of two sisters having a shared childhood but differing memories of it is something I can personally attest to. There has been many times over the years where my sister and I have been talking and it’s become clear that we remember certain things differently. I think this happens in many cases though, not just when there has been trauma or uncertainty attached to your childhood. Even in the present day, my memory of things quite often differs from that of my husband!
The fact that I grew up with an alcoholic mother is not something I keep a secret, although it’s also not something I go on about a lot either. It just is what it is. But of course, it means that this novel really did lie close to the bone for me, particularly as I also have just one sister, so there were many times over where I almost felt a sense of de-ja-vu about the story and the characters. What I can say though about this novel is that Imbi Neeme has absolutely nailed what it’s like to be a person who has grown up with an alcoholic parent. I could relate to both Nicole and Samantha intimately, so while there were things about them, particularly Samantha, that I didn’t necessarily like, I understood them, and more precisely, I recognised them. I feel that Imbi Neeme has really dug down deep into the tragedy of alcoholism and the far reaching inter-generational effects this disease has on a family. It’s a complex issue, easily judged by outsiders who are fortunate enough to have never had to deal with it. But the weight and burden of it is immense, and I honestly can’t articulate how much I appreciate this novel and the manner in which it wears its topic.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Spill for review.
June 7, 2021
I did really enjoy this book, and it worked pretty well as an audiobook. I can certainly see why it was so acclaimed, deservedly I think, but I had a few smallish issues with it myself. Tiny ones, that are entirely personal and will probably not bother most people I suspect.
Anyway; The Spill is a novel centring on two sisters, Nicole and Samantha are children in West Australia's 1980's and the spill in question is a car accident they were in when their mother, Tina was driving them. The setting is good, the background of the 80's and Perth are pretty impressive and convincing.
The three main characters, Tina, Nicole and Samantha are also really well crafted, the story takes us on a year/decade skipping journey through their intertwined lives, starting in the 80's with the crash which is meant to have affected their whole lives and we hop, skip and jump backwards and forwards in time until over thirty years later, ending after Tina's death. While I am not always a fan of the time-travel-skipping tactic in novels, it was exceptionally well done and story appropriate in this book!
This is a character driven novel, with the main characters rich with detail and complexity, their relationships with each other intricate and all too often replete with sadness and disappointment, but entirely convincing to the reader. Even the secondary characters, more lightly described are excellent. In most ways I think the characters are entirely a five star experience (most ways except for one, which is a spoiler and is to follow), I liked Nicole and Tina a great deal and I empathised with their trials and tribulations and was engaged with their journey. Of all their tribulations, a large one is Samantha. Samantha is NOT a nice character. She is bossy, arrogant, self centred and managing, with a side hobby in being negligently cruel to her sister (she simply does not give a toss about her) and intentionally cruel to her mother (whom she bitterly hates for being an alcoholic). I kid you not, this woman is written with less self awareness, self analysis or introspection than a pot plant. Additionally she is a hypocrite who visits a lot of misery on both her sister, her mother and, indeed, probably everyone in her life. Funnily enough, despite all this she is exceptionally well written in that she is immensely convincing. Every youtube you have ever seen about entitled karens asking for the manager? Sam is just that and more. But so very well described that it all hangs together and makes sense, being believable in the extreme, right up to the ending, which will be a spoiler.
Why not five stars? One reason is not at all the fault of the book, but rather of the narration. While she managed to make the novel 'feel' like WA, and did an excellent voice for drunken Tina, and a hideously unlikable (thus appropriate) voice for Sam, the narrator had a quirk I really could not stand during ever point in the narration which did not involve specific voices: You. Know. Those. People. Who. Talk. As. Though. There. Is. A. Stop. After. Every. Word? Well, this narrator was one of those and it drove me spare the whole way through. I almost resigned the Audiobook unfinished, but the library did not have any real books available and I wanted to keep going with the story. Half a star off, for doing my head in that badly for the whole book.
That and the ending were my only complaints.
Mainly the narration fail plus the ending which I could not believe in, are enough for me to reduce it by a star or so. Also, I feel like there was a moral of the story hidden in there somewhere? But while I am really not sure exactly what it is, I am sure I don't agree with it. The secret alcoholic is more deserving of compassion that the one who is open about it? The kind sister who does her best her whole life is less deserving of consideration that the self centred little monster? That getting a rich boyfriend (or a loving partner) means it is ok to treat someone with disrespect?
No idea. But I object to it even without knowing what it is!
A really impressive novel though, I quibble, therefore I am, but I was still genuinely impressed by it.
Anyway; The Spill is a novel centring on two sisters, Nicole and Samantha are children in West Australia's 1980's and the spill in question is a car accident they were in when their mother, Tina was driving them. The setting is good, the background of the 80's and Perth are pretty impressive and convincing.
The three main characters, Tina, Nicole and Samantha are also really well crafted, the story takes us on a year/decade skipping journey through their intertwined lives, starting in the 80's with the crash which is meant to have affected their whole lives and we hop, skip and jump backwards and forwards in time until over thirty years later, ending after Tina's death. While I am not always a fan of the time-travel-skipping tactic in novels, it was exceptionally well done and story appropriate in this book!
This is a character driven novel, with the main characters rich with detail and complexity, their relationships with each other intricate and all too often replete with sadness and disappointment, but entirely convincing to the reader. Even the secondary characters, more lightly described are excellent. In most ways I think the characters are entirely a five star experience (most ways except for one, which is a spoiler and is to follow), I liked Nicole and Tina a great deal and I empathised with their trials and tribulations and was engaged with their journey. Of all their tribulations, a large one is Samantha. Samantha is NOT a nice character. She is bossy, arrogant, self centred and managing, with a side hobby in being negligently cruel to her sister (she simply does not give a toss about her) and intentionally cruel to her mother (whom she bitterly hates for being an alcoholic). I kid you not, this woman is written with less self awareness, self analysis or introspection than a pot plant. Additionally she is a hypocrite who visits a lot of misery on both her sister, her mother and, indeed, probably everyone in her life. Funnily enough, despite all this she is exceptionally well written in that she is immensely convincing. Every youtube you have ever seen about entitled karens asking for the manager? Sam is just that and more. But so very well described that it all hangs together and makes sense, being believable in the extreme, right up to the ending, which will be a spoiler.
Why not five stars? One reason is not at all the fault of the book, but rather of the narration. While she managed to make the novel 'feel' like WA, and did an excellent voice for drunken Tina, and a hideously unlikable (thus appropriate) voice for Sam, the narrator had a quirk I really could not stand during ever point in the narration which did not involve specific voices: You. Know. Those. People. Who. Talk. As. Though. There. Is. A. Stop. After. Every. Word? Well, this narrator was one of those and it drove me spare the whole way through. I almost resigned the Audiobook unfinished, but the library did not have any real books available and I wanted to keep going with the story. Half a star off, for doing my head in that badly for the whole book.
That and the ending were my only complaints.
Mainly the narration fail plus the ending which I could not believe in, are enough for me to reduce it by a star or so. Also, I feel like there was a moral of the story hidden in there somewhere? But while I am really not sure exactly what it is, I am sure I don't agree with it. The secret alcoholic is more deserving of compassion that the one who is open about it? The kind sister who does her best her whole life is less deserving of consideration that the self centred little monster? That getting a rich boyfriend (or a loving partner) means it is ok to treat someone with disrespect?
No idea. But I object to it even without knowing what it is!
A really impressive novel though, I quibble, therefore I am, but I was still genuinely impressed by it.
June 13, 2020
Maybe 3.5. This is a warm portrait of a family dealing with myriad problems - alcoholism, unfaithfulness, sibling rivalries, poor communication and more. It's written well - the structure in particular really worked, flitting about in time to gradually unfurl the backstories of the characters (and their competing memories of the same events). I wasn't always convinced by the characters - Sam in particular felt a bit over the top to me - but there's a lot to enjoy here.
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June 28, 2020I must have read a different novel to the one so highly rated in Goodreads. I persevered, continued reading with hope that it would improve. The chosen subjects of a family split apart, of intergenerational alcoholism, of the “misremembering” of memories that caused perceived betrayals and estrangement, were worthy of a more probing exploration. The dysfunction of this family was saddening: parents Craig and Tina, daughters Samantha and Nicole, the subsequent wives of Craig after his separation, the partners and husbands of the adult sisters – they were all players in the traumas that characterised the years 1982-2018.
The narrative and its structure were utterly confusing to me. Written both in the third and first persons, the clarity of characterisation suffered. As well, Neeme jumped back and forth, out of any sequential chronology, between her random “Pieces” (chapter headings) written in the third-person and the first-person monologues of each of the sisters. I realise that I am seriously outnumbered in my appraisal of this novel.
The narrative and its structure were utterly confusing to me. Written both in the third and first persons, the clarity of characterisation suffered. As well, Neeme jumped back and forth, out of any sequential chronology, between her random “Pieces” (chapter headings) written in the third-person and the first-person monologues of each of the sisters. I realise that I am seriously outnumbered in my appraisal of this novel.
July 11, 2020
I don’t give out my 5 stars easily. I finished this savouring the last chapters with tears running down my face. Maybe it affected me so much having had a childhood friend with an alcoholic mother. It dealt with the complicated relationships and differing sibling memories and the ripple effects over the years so very well. Add in the fact it’s set in Perth and WA and this is up there as my top read for the year.
March 5, 2022
The Spill by Imbi Neeme was a book my Mum read and enjoyed so she gifted it to me. We usually enjoy the same books so I decided to stick with it despite not really liking any of the characters early on. I appreciated the writing but the story was centred around a messed up family, one that was divided in all the ways possible except geographically. I may not have been able to empathise with all the characters, nor did I really care for them all, but ultimately the book grew on me.
This story highlighted the ramifications of an accident many decades before. It was about the ways we misinterpret decisions and actions and how we can let our interpretations rule our emotions and our own subsequent actions.
For most of the book the family of four didn't appear to care for, nor like, each other. Craig, the father was on his third marriage. Tina, the mother was an alcoholic and the two daughters, both adults now, had issues. Samantha, the younger of the two had a caustic nature and every conversation was barbed. Beneath her harsh exterior which she used against almost everyone - her mother, her sister, her husband and her own daughter - she was insecure, she had a guilty secret and desperately didn't want to be like her own Mum. The older sister, Nicole, had her own insecurities and though she had a loving partner with the means to give her a comfortable life she couldn't accept she was worthy of his love.
Tina's alcoholism had been blamed for all the family issues. I have no doubt there was a grain of truth to it too but as we eventually found out it was not really the main reason. The irony was that Tina was actually a likeable character. We only got one chapter from her perspective but that one chapter showed a woman of great strength and love. Her family treated her poorly but she made the best of her life and didn't try to fool herself about her failures with the drink. She took the barbs and criticism on board and went out of her way to keep the peace.
I wouldn't call this an uplifting story but there was a glimmer of hope for a reconciliation between the sisters towards the end of the book so I guess that's something.
This story highlighted the ramifications of an accident many decades before. It was about the ways we misinterpret decisions and actions and how we can let our interpretations rule our emotions and our own subsequent actions.
For most of the book the family of four didn't appear to care for, nor like, each other. Craig, the father was on his third marriage. Tina, the mother was an alcoholic and the two daughters, both adults now, had issues. Samantha, the younger of the two had a caustic nature and every conversation was barbed. Beneath her harsh exterior which she used against almost everyone - her mother, her sister, her husband and her own daughter - she was insecure, she had a guilty secret and desperately didn't want to be like her own Mum. The older sister, Nicole, had her own insecurities and though she had a loving partner with the means to give her a comfortable life she couldn't accept she was worthy of his love.
Tina's alcoholism had been blamed for all the family issues. I have no doubt there was a grain of truth to it too but as we eventually found out it was not really the main reason. The irony was that Tina was actually a likeable character. We only got one chapter from her perspective but that one chapter showed a woman of great strength and love. Her family treated her poorly but she made the best of her life and didn't try to fool herself about her failures with the drink. She took the barbs and criticism on board and went out of her way to keep the peace.
I wouldn't call this an uplifting story but there was a glimmer of hope for a reconciliation between the sisters towards the end of the book so I guess that's something.
July 29, 2020
I just didn’t enjoy the experience of reading this book. The premise and the plot are fine and interesting but I hated the structure of jumping all over the place in time and the switches between third and first person. By the end I found I really didn’t care - enough has been said about perception and memory, it was a bit anticlimactic and a touch too neat. Humans are flawed, yes I got that.
June 1, 2022
On the second anniversary of publication, I'm finally going to award myself 5 stars, if just for effort.
June 19, 2020
This book LIVES. I've finished my second read and ahhh, do I love me a re-read of a non-linear book. My first re-read through I was simply absorbing the story - it's such an immersive book that I didn't notice I was reading it. The writing feels so effortless that you just drink it in.
The characters feel like people you know. "I've been to that pub, I've had a drink with a Tina, I've been a bit afraid of a Samantha." (Plus, we all know a Darren...) They are the kind of people you have in your family or friend circle where you are aware of all this shit that's going on, and how complex people are, and understand why they might be acting in some ways when their edges catch on someone else's edges. It's also a beautiful and compassionate look at how you can love someone but not understand them.
I love that the pieces of their lives can't ever be put quite together, because of how they are shaped differently to each family member in memory. I did cry a little at the end but there's still joy and hope and love. I look forward to many more books from Imbi Neeme!
The characters feel like people you know. "I've been to that pub, I've had a drink with a Tina, I've been a bit afraid of a Samantha." (Plus, we all know a Darren...) They are the kind of people you have in your family or friend circle where you are aware of all this shit that's going on, and how complex people are, and understand why they might be acting in some ways when their edges catch on someone else's edges. It's also a beautiful and compassionate look at how you can love someone but not understand them.
I love that the pieces of their lives can't ever be put quite together, because of how they are shaped differently to each family member in memory. I did cry a little at the end but there's still joy and hope and love. I look forward to many more books from Imbi Neeme!
August 22, 2020
Beautifully crafted family drama that addresses many issues ... alcoholism, infidelity and sibling rivalry.
November 23, 2020
This book took me along on its personal journey and had me glued to the pages as secrets and relationships were exposed. Such a great read!
May 30, 2021
A clearly realised novel of sisterly love. The sisterly relationship reminded me quite a bit of Sorrow and Bliss.
Has great pace throughout and some terrific little Easter eggs that pull you up here and there. Really well put together and pull off.
Has great pace throughout and some terrific little Easter eggs that pull you up here and there. Really well put together and pull off.
October 1, 2020
3 1/2 stars. Alcohol is so pervasive in the Australian culture and Imbi Neeme has explored our relationship with it through this intimate and moving story. Relationships are built, destroyed and misconstrued in this novel and the changing point of view allows the reader to gradually unravel the sadness and regret at the heart of this story.
The characters are all quite extreme and become a little predictable in their behaviours and I think the novel would have benefited from making them a little more subtle.
This book nails growing up in Perth in the 1980’s-1990’s. Wow the flashbacks!
The characters are all quite extreme and become a little predictable in their behaviours and I think the novel would have benefited from making them a little more subtle.
This book nails growing up in Perth in the 1980’s-1990’s. Wow the flashbacks!
June 13, 2020
I can't pretend I'm a first-time reader of this amazing, award-winning novel. But this is the first time I've read it as a book between glossy covers. And I was invested. I cried at the end. Again. Even though I knew how heartbreaking the secrets, lies, and misunderstandings between the two sisters would be. Their lives feel real: pieced together from disjointed memories, refracted through distorting lenses; messy, flawed, and just wanting to be loved.
December 21, 2020
Absolutely trite .. so predicable .. you can guess the ending .. characters I did not care about at all .. last 40 pages I read like lightning to finish this .. what a waste of time .. heard the writer on a podcast and the book seemed interesting but reading it was torture .
July 19, 2020
A great read, that brought to life the experience of growing up in Perth.
What I loved the most were the very real characters, flaws and all, that drove the story.
What I loved the most were the very real characters, flaws and all, that drove the story.
March 6, 2025
Ajaviitekas, aga igati priima sealjuures. Tõesti, kordagi ei hakanud piinlik, midagi kunstlikku ja punnitatut ei olnud. Jooksis lobedalt, pani kaasa mõtlema ja tundma. Lühidalt öeldes on märksõnadeks emad-tütred, korduvad mustrid ja alkohol.
Ma ei usu ise ka, et seda ütlen, aga minu jaoks, kes ma ometigi ohtraid ajahüppeid romaanis armastan, oli neid alguses isegi sutsu paljuvõitu. Samas õnnestus järge hoida ja autor aitas ka kenasti kaasa, seega lugemismuljet see ei rikkunud. Ja lõpu poole liikudes mulle koguni meeldis, kuidas mingid puuduolevad tükid hakkasid järk-järgult oma kohale liikuma. Sõnaga, kõik klappis ja oli õigustatud.
PS. Ma ei tea miks, aga raamatut oli keeruline kätte võtta, ilma soovituseta polekski võtnud (aitäh, Krista!). Tõepoolest, see kaanepilt ja autori nimi lõid mu peas kujutluse väärikas eas väliseesti vanaprouast, kes vanuigi hakanud memuaare või, jumal hoidku, lemberomaane kirjutama. Tegelikult ei ole nii, kohe üldse ei ole :)
Ma ei usu ise ka, et seda ütlen, aga minu jaoks, kes ma ometigi ohtraid ajahüppeid romaanis armastan, oli neid alguses isegi sutsu paljuvõitu. Samas õnnestus järge hoida ja autor aitas ka kenasti kaasa, seega lugemismuljet see ei rikkunud. Ja lõpu poole liikudes mulle koguni meeldis, kuidas mingid puuduolevad tükid hakkasid järk-järgult oma kohale liikuma. Sõnaga, kõik klappis ja oli õigustatud.
PS. Ma ei tea miks, aga raamatut oli keeruline kätte võtta, ilma soovituseta polekski võtnud (aitäh, Krista!). Tõepoolest, see kaanepilt ja autori nimi lõid mu peas kujutluse väärikas eas väliseesti vanaprouast, kes vanuigi hakanud memuaare või, jumal hoidku, lemberomaane kirjutama. Tegelikult ei ole nii, kohe üldse ei ole :)
October 8, 2020
"I had never said any of this to anyone else and now that I had, now that I had pulled those words and thoughts out of the darkness and into the light, I could see how senseless it was to have blamed myself all this time."
I think this passage sums up The Spill perfectly - it shows that a great hypocrisy of families is how they often work so hard to repress trauma in the hope it doesn't become inter-generational, failing to realise the only way to truly do this is by working through things together in the open.
I took my time with reading The Spill, I think because of the weight it carried and that I needed to pace things out with the addition of COVID-19 related stress. The first part I connected with was the Samantha character. I loved her so much - how she was just so uptight and unreasonable to the point it was sometimes just ridiculous. Oh my gosh, yep, been there. I related to how she used cleaning as a way of feeling calm (esp. the hilarious moment after she finishes year 12 and tidies the entire chalet because it felt more relaxing than going to the pub with all her friends). And that moment when Samantha saw a bride snapping orders at her groom, her reaction was basically "Yeah, she's right you know!" I really enjoyed chuckling at Samantha's expense and at the parts of myself I felt she embodied so well!
There were also so many beautiful human moments scattered through this novel. The way that Jethro arranges his records in their order of purchase. Jethro!!! The way Nicole moves in with him and directly transplants the stack of unread books from next to her old bed to next to her new bed... too real. And the writing for all of these beautiful human moments is just exquisite - especially the young romance between Samantha and Trent :') and the image of Nicole holding Celine's hand in hospital :'( The most powerful for me was the way that Samantha feels she really lost the random lottery of birth by being given a shit mum, and the awkwardness when her need for a good female rolemodel is misplaced :(
I'm writing a linear novel and was really inspired by the non-linear narrative structure of The Spill, especially how it often reveals its motifs and symbols retrospectively (when Nicole inwardly yelps about the renovation's removal of the ceiling roses, and then later we learn about the role it played. Also the true symbolism of the cookie jar is withheld until the very last 50 pages).
I was also so moved by the ending, especially as a fellow writer and human who has wrangled with the experience of needing to revisit the site of a car crash. These innocuous seeming spaces, often just a random stretch of highway in the middle of nowhere surrounded by identical paddocks, can hold so much hypothetical "WHAT IF?" weight in the lives of people who've been impacted by road accidents.
The Spill is the best book I've read in a really long time. I will end my review with another memorable quote from the book that I loved:
"CARROT! SO MUCH CARROT!""
I think this passage sums up The Spill perfectly - it shows that a great hypocrisy of families is how they often work so hard to repress trauma in the hope it doesn't become inter-generational, failing to realise the only way to truly do this is by working through things together in the open.
I took my time with reading The Spill, I think because of the weight it carried and that I needed to pace things out with the addition of COVID-19 related stress. The first part I connected with was the Samantha character. I loved her so much - how she was just so uptight and unreasonable to the point it was sometimes just ridiculous. Oh my gosh, yep, been there. I related to how she used cleaning as a way of feeling calm (esp. the hilarious moment after she finishes year 12 and tidies the entire chalet because it felt more relaxing than going to the pub with all her friends). And that moment when Samantha saw a bride snapping orders at her groom, her reaction was basically "Yeah, she's right you know!" I really enjoyed chuckling at Samantha's expense and at the parts of myself I felt she embodied so well!
There were also so many beautiful human moments scattered through this novel. The way that Jethro arranges his records in their order of purchase. Jethro!!! The way Nicole moves in with him and directly transplants the stack of unread books from next to her old bed to next to her new bed... too real. And the writing for all of these beautiful human moments is just exquisite - especially the young romance between Samantha and Trent :') and the image of Nicole holding Celine's hand in hospital :'( The most powerful for me was the way that Samantha feels she really lost the random lottery of birth by being given a shit mum, and the awkwardness when her need for a good female rolemodel is misplaced :(
I'm writing a linear novel and was really inspired by the non-linear narrative structure of The Spill, especially how it often reveals its motifs and symbols retrospectively (when Nicole inwardly yelps about the renovation's removal of the ceiling roses, and then later we learn about the role it played. Also the true symbolism of the cookie jar is withheld until the very last 50 pages).
I was also so moved by the ending, especially as a fellow writer and human who has wrangled with the experience of needing to revisit the site of a car crash. These innocuous seeming spaces, often just a random stretch of highway in the middle of nowhere surrounded by identical paddocks, can hold so much hypothetical "WHAT IF?" weight in the lives of people who've been impacted by road accidents.
The Spill is the best book I've read in a really long time. I will end my review with another memorable quote from the book that I loved:
"CARROT! SO MUCH CARROT!""
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2020
Really appreciated the unusual structure of the book and its authentic depiction of a complex family. By the end, I felt I understood and sympathised with both main characters and the contrary nature of the sisterly relationship. Thoroughly agree with the author's proposition that memory is entirely subjective and contestable - no two people ever remember the same thing quite the same way.
July 20, 2020
Family, alcohol, sibling rivalry and secrets, fabulous references to Australian culture and products since from 1980's, with some good one liners. Secrets revealed piece by piece like a puzzle. A good lockdown read in Melbourne.
May 25, 2020
A warm-hearted, insightful and compelling novel about family dysfunction and the complex legacies of addiction.
November 5, 2020
Literally couldn’t put this book down. Brilliant read with such rich characters. A beautiful story of love, loss and hope.
March 12, 2021
3.5*
A good character-driven story and enjoyable read. Deals with issues of alcohol and ongoing fights in a Perth family across the decades
A good character-driven story and enjoyable read. Deals with issues of alcohol and ongoing fights in a Perth family across the decades
June 14, 2021
I take things pretty literally so did not like the cover of this book, centred around an event that happens in the middle of the DESERT. Also the design is way too literary-looking for a book that’s really quite down-to-earth. I loved how believable the characters were, even the minor characters. I enjoyed the Western Australian setting and the cleverness of how the sections were intertwined, showing how the past dictates the future - or more specifically, each person’s memory or interpretation of the past. This book explores how limited and warped these memories can be, for everyone.
Some parts were perhaps a little *too* neat, such as the Christmas where both sisters coincidentally have one of the worst days of their lives for unrelated reasons and both decide not to tell the other, with negative consequences all round. But overall it was clever and engaging. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Some parts were perhaps a little *too* neat, such as the Christmas where both sisters coincidentally have one of the worst days of their lives for unrelated reasons and both decide not to tell the other, with negative consequences all round. But overall it was clever and engaging. 4.5 stars rounded up.
August 8, 2020
This is MS Neeme’s debut book, winner of the 2019 Penguin Literary Prize, it is a story of a very dysfunctional family it takes in alcoholism, sibling rivalry and a lot of other aspects of life that come our way and MS Neeme has written this one really well.
Sisters Nicole and Samantha and their alcoholic mother Tina live a life filled with ups and downs, disappointments and yes there are fun times as well, they see their father Craig often and are close to him, he goes through a couple of wives one Samantha really gets on with and one that Nicole does. The story changes from year to year and with the girl’s opinions and memory, so we get the full story of their lives and the affect it has on them both and their futures.
This story takes in a lot about a family and their communication, their love for each other and how they show it, Nicole and Samantha really weren’t close as children but were always there for each other being the eldest Nicole would always help, but as they become adults and find their way in life they don’t see each other as much until the death of their mother brings them back together with a lot of opening up and a lot more comes out about their lives.
Congratulations MS Neeme on a fabulous debut, a very interesting story of life and family and memory of growing up, all put together in a great story.
Sisters Nicole and Samantha and their alcoholic mother Tina live a life filled with ups and downs, disappointments and yes there are fun times as well, they see their father Craig often and are close to him, he goes through a couple of wives one Samantha really gets on with and one that Nicole does. The story changes from year to year and with the girl’s opinions and memory, so we get the full story of their lives and the affect it has on them both and their futures.
This story takes in a lot about a family and their communication, their love for each other and how they show it, Nicole and Samantha really weren’t close as children but were always there for each other being the eldest Nicole would always help, but as they become adults and find their way in life they don’t see each other as much until the death of their mother brings them back together with a lot of opening up and a lot more comes out about their lives.
Congratulations MS Neeme on a fabulous debut, a very interesting story of life and family and memory of growing up, all put together in a great story.
June 12, 2020
Reading this book was like being wrapped in a warm blanket. I especially loved Tina, Samantha and Nicole from the beginning. Imbe Neeme has written characters, with all their flaws and foibles, and what it means to be family, with a wonderful insight. All the pieces of the jigsaw coming together, maybe a little ragged about the edges, but still connecting. A wonderful read.
July 7, 2021
When I finished Imbe Neeme's debut novel, The Spill (in three short nights), the word I kept mumbling was, 'satisfying'. The plot, the characters, the setting were all so immersive and engaging and the author had written this world so confidently that I felt like I was happily full when I closed the final page. I can honestly say, I haven't read a book like it for a fair while. I was in Nicole and Samantha's surrounds and I cared what was happening to them and the characters around them.
Also, the structure.
Which is rather amazing.
I looked at that structure and had structure envy. I thought the alternative points of view and different timelines were written with such assurance, that I didn't even need to look at the dates at the start of each chapter.
I tried to think of writers I thought were similar, because I did recognise this feeling of satisfaction from years gone bye: from the close up focus on women and family, a faintly ironic tone, contemporary issues explored like alcoholism, family, parenting and relationships. I think that perhaps The Spill reminds me of the female writers I've been reading for years, since the 70s and 80s, the ones I loved most, the ones that gave me the most pleasure because they were realistic and held a glass up to our interiors. Mainly female writers from the UK like Joanna Trollope, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Margaret Forster and Mary Wesley, many of whom I've been reading since the seventies, books that I thought I wouldn't see again.
I told someone that reading The Spill was like I'd just eaten a large bowl of creamy pasta. That's what I felt like when I finished it.
Loved it!
I can't wait for Neeme's next book. I shall devour it just as I did The Spill. Thanks for giving me so many hours of enjoyable reading! Thanks for making the book so sat.is.fying.
Also, the structure.
Which is rather amazing.
I looked at that structure and had structure envy. I thought the alternative points of view and different timelines were written with such assurance, that I didn't even need to look at the dates at the start of each chapter.
I tried to think of writers I thought were similar, because I did recognise this feeling of satisfaction from years gone bye: from the close up focus on women and family, a faintly ironic tone, contemporary issues explored like alcoholism, family, parenting and relationships. I think that perhaps The Spill reminds me of the female writers I've been reading for years, since the 70s and 80s, the ones I loved most, the ones that gave me the most pleasure because they were realistic and held a glass up to our interiors. Mainly female writers from the UK like Joanna Trollope, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Margaret Forster and Mary Wesley, many of whom I've been reading since the seventies, books that I thought I wouldn't see again.
I told someone that reading The Spill was like I'd just eaten a large bowl of creamy pasta. That's what I felt like when I finished it.
Loved it!
I can't wait for Neeme's next book. I shall devour it just as I did The Spill. Thanks for giving me so many hours of enjoyable reading! Thanks for making the book so sat.is.fying.
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