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Relative Error
Adopted at birth, Marnie has spent her entire childhood and a good part of her adult life deliberately and blissfully ignorant of the identity of her birth parents – until certain personal and political events force her to delve into her past…
After splitting from her husband, she moves back to the UK after twenty years in France – just when her country of birth makes a monumentally stupid, suicidal decision.
Meanwhile, across the Irish Sea, her long-lost second cousin Dave is making some equally ill-advised choices in his personal life, and in Italy, her friend Amedeo hates his job and has always felt like an outcast in his family.
As if these various crises – personal, professional, political and existential – weren’t enough, a global health crisis hits, and suddenly the future is even less certain than ever.
But… there’s always good food and wine and Caravaggio – thank God.
'Relative Error' is a bittersweet portrait of kinship: both ‘true’ or blood, and ‘fictive’ – the family we choose.
After splitting from her husband, she moves back to the UK after twenty years in France – just when her country of birth makes a monumentally stupid, suicidal decision.
Meanwhile, across the Irish Sea, her long-lost second cousin Dave is making some equally ill-advised choices in his personal life, and in Italy, her friend Amedeo hates his job and has always felt like an outcast in his family.
As if these various crises – personal, professional, political and existential – weren’t enough, a global health crisis hits, and suddenly the future is even less certain than ever.
But… there’s always good food and wine and Caravaggio – thank God.
'Relative Error' is a bittersweet portrait of kinship: both ‘true’ or blood, and ‘fictive’ – the family we choose.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2021
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 15, 2023
An emotional topic on adoption turned into an evolving fiction
Though a big question is what drives adopted children to look for biological parents, the narrative of this story is rather about the expectations once they are found; a narrative about making peace with one’s self.
The author beautifully takes us into the main character’s mind, Marnie, to the point I believe and feel Marnie. Many sociological moments of trying to understand her existence as an adopted child. Throughout the read, I’ve tried hard to elucidate Marnie’s characteristics and struggles. Sometimes she is arrogant, sometimes emotional, and sometimes even annoying, and yet, most of the time she lets her intuition dictates the course of her life. One thing is for sure; she is very social, as evidenced by the many minor characters I met during the read. The fact that she was adopted affected her adult life tremendously, mostly with regard to relationships with men, and the fear that they would leave like her elusive biological father. Marnie is a fascinating character.
An example:
“And another thing!’ Marnie shouted after him. ‘For your information, I am not menopausal yet! In point of fact, I’m perimenopausal.”
Yet, there were a few mesmerizing confession moments, such as this: “…I don’t know if I have been a good mum to Rhiannon, but I know I was the best one I could possibly be. Because… because, what my mum and Deirdre went through – the choices they made, and the ones they didn’t even have – that meant I didn’t take anything for granted.”
There are few weaknesses. The writing suffers from over-telling. Secondly, the excessive use of parentheses disrupts the reading, unnecessary, and more suitable for articles. Third, there are way too many minor characters and names, sometimes felt like reading a memoir. Yet, it was a good read. There are also several twists in this fiction that make it worthy and engaging. For example, Marnie meets her half-sister while seeking to find their father she never knew. The story’s POV moves smoothly from one to another main character, turning the plot complicated and interesting - little stories turn into a complete book.
Though a big question is what drives adopted children to look for biological parents, the narrative of this story is rather about the expectations once they are found; a narrative about making peace with one’s self.
The author beautifully takes us into the main character’s mind, Marnie, to the point I believe and feel Marnie. Many sociological moments of trying to understand her existence as an adopted child. Throughout the read, I’ve tried hard to elucidate Marnie’s characteristics and struggles. Sometimes she is arrogant, sometimes emotional, and sometimes even annoying, and yet, most of the time she lets her intuition dictates the course of her life. One thing is for sure; she is very social, as evidenced by the many minor characters I met during the read. The fact that she was adopted affected her adult life tremendously, mostly with regard to relationships with men, and the fear that they would leave like her elusive biological father. Marnie is a fascinating character.
An example:
“And another thing!’ Marnie shouted after him. ‘For your information, I am not menopausal yet! In point of fact, I’m perimenopausal.”
Yet, there were a few mesmerizing confession moments, such as this: “…I don’t know if I have been a good mum to Rhiannon, but I know I was the best one I could possibly be. Because… because, what my mum and Deirdre went through – the choices they made, and the ones they didn’t even have – that meant I didn’t take anything for granted.”
There are few weaknesses. The writing suffers from over-telling. Secondly, the excessive use of parentheses disrupts the reading, unnecessary, and more suitable for articles. Third, there are way too many minor characters and names, sometimes felt like reading a memoir. Yet, it was a good read. There are also several twists in this fiction that make it worthy and engaging. For example, Marnie meets her half-sister while seeking to find their father she never knew. The story’s POV moves smoothly from one to another main character, turning the plot complicated and interesting - little stories turn into a complete book.
December 22, 2022
Great Read!
Don't read this if you are busy, hungry or have itchy feet. This is such a smooth read that you won't want to put the book down. The author really knows the turf she is describing in the UK and in Europe, both culturally and geographically. You also get a full complement of interesting characters and personal stories and they are very skillfully and sympathetically interwoven. None of threads seem superfluous and I never had to double back to refresh my memory as to who someone was and their purpose in the greater picture. There is a lot of honesty, humour, wistfulness, some romance and a touch of sad contemplation for some characters. The stuff of life. And all of this against a backdrop of Brexit and the pandemic.
Marnie Wade is a really appealing heroine because she is honest, not without flaw, as we all are, but displays such a thirst for life. She has energy. As a 'laydee' of a certain age who has lapsed into a bit of timidity and doesn't get out much, I find her quite inspirational. Anyway, I'll "bore off" for now. Suffice to say, I really enjoyed the book.
Don't read this if you are busy, hungry or have itchy feet. This is such a smooth read that you won't want to put the book down. The author really knows the turf she is describing in the UK and in Europe, both culturally and geographically. You also get a full complement of interesting characters and personal stories and they are very skillfully and sympathetically interwoven. None of threads seem superfluous and I never had to double back to refresh my memory as to who someone was and their purpose in the greater picture. There is a lot of honesty, humour, wistfulness, some romance and a touch of sad contemplation for some characters. The stuff of life. And all of this against a backdrop of Brexit and the pandemic.
Marnie Wade is a really appealing heroine because she is honest, not without flaw, as we all are, but displays such a thirst for life. She has energy. As a 'laydee' of a certain age who has lapsed into a bit of timidity and doesn't get out much, I find her quite inspirational. Anyway, I'll "bore off" for now. Suffice to say, I really enjoyed the book.
May 26, 2023
Hard to Put Down!
This is a beautifully-written, intelligent, and witty novel. The author describes pandemic-era life in the UK, Ireland, and Europe with painstaking detail. Her central character, Marnie, is flawed but sympathetic; she’s a recently-divorced, middle-aged woman trying to find herself and establish some stability in her life, as she tries to locate her birth father and establish a business after she loses her job. The other characters are interesting and colourful, too. The novel is full of deep insights about human nature, especially the families we’re born into the families who adopt. It’s also honest about troubled relationships within families, especially Marnie’s with her emotionally distant birth mother Deirdre. A first-class read not to be missed!
This is a beautifully-written, intelligent, and witty novel. The author describes pandemic-era life in the UK, Ireland, and Europe with painstaking detail. Her central character, Marnie, is flawed but sympathetic; she’s a recently-divorced, middle-aged woman trying to find herself and establish some stability in her life, as she tries to locate her birth father and establish a business after she loses her job. The other characters are interesting and colourful, too. The novel is full of deep insights about human nature, especially the families we’re born into the families who adopt. It’s also honest about troubled relationships within families, especially Marnie’s with her emotionally distant birth mother Deirdre. A first-class read not to be missed!
November 21, 2022
I bought this novel recently and finished it in one sitting, I literally could not put it down - Brexit, Covid, family relationships and life in general, this novel is a veritable tribute to the times we are living through, and an excellent read to boot!
I often find it hard to find books that are both well written and that have an interesting enough plot to make me want to keep reading them, but Relative Error really did achieve both, with its mix of human relationships, societal issues and cultural discovery. Not to mention the author's excellent writing style and voice, and her characters, who are very well developed - both the ones I liked, and the ones I didn't!
A must read.
I often find it hard to find books that are both well written and that have an interesting enough plot to make me want to keep reading them, but Relative Error really did achieve both, with its mix of human relationships, societal issues and cultural discovery. Not to mention the author's excellent writing style and voice, and her characters, who are very well developed - both the ones I liked, and the ones I didn't!
A must read.
January 4, 2022
I liked the writing in this book. It had a nice flow to it that kept you moving along in a relaxing way. The character development was wonderful and the author made sure to have characters with human flaws that I really loved. It’s a great account of the beginning of the pandemic and also lots of interesting background on these characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews