I enjoyed reading All the Finest Girls, though I walked away with that slightly clammy feeling I get when reading about people who are treading the fine line of sanity. Addy Abraham is a sick little girl, driven to hallucinations and fits by the neglect and selfishness of her alcoholic father and simpering debutant of a mother. Her grip on sanity is strengthened by the arrival of Lou, her Caribbean nanny. Now that Lou has died, Addy as an adult travels to St. Clair, still unwell, to face the ghosts of her past. Ms. Styron has written the book by alternating chapters of the adult and child Addy, which works well and is easy to follow.All the Finest Girls is a disheartening book, the story of a sad and lonely little girl whose parents have forgotten the cardinal rule of parenthood -- the parents are no longer the focus of attention. I did not find Addy to be a particularly likeable character, though; she managed to somewhat annoy and bore me at the same time. It was the supporting cast that really shined in the novel, and I look forward to hearing more from Alexandra Styron. Also recommended along these lines is Bee Season by Myla Goldberg -- if you liked this one, you should give it a try.
I loved Ms. Styron's descriptive style. There were a few sentences/passages that I re-read 3-4 times just to soak in the power of her words. But being the literal person I am, I was left wanting a more ends-tied-up-nicely ending though it is a very visceral, real story and we all know the journeys in life lack that closure most of the time. It worked with the story told. I think I also felt left down because the story was over and I wanted more. More of the characters and their experiences. Ms. Styron creates believeable and human characters.
Do You like book All The Finest Girls: A Novel (2002)?
