Authenticity

Deirdre Madden has written a beautiful novel about art, about memory about relationships and about how those relationships reveal themselves in time, flashing forward, flashing back. The characters are compelling and real, the narrative structure is powerful and evocative. This book is an authentic masterpiece. Through moments in the lives of characters Roderic (an artist), Dennis (his brother), Julia (Roderic's girlfriend) and William (a friend of Julia's), Madden reveals the interlocking lives and relationships of these individuals as one would learn them as one got to know them in real life, with the most vulnerable, most painful, most grievous memories and incidents toward the end. As the reader follows Julia and Roderic's relationship, one learns about both of their pasts, and how they relate to their families and to their friends. The characters emerge three-dimensionally and honestly with Madden's structure and descriptions, and as we learn their past hurts and regrets, we begin to understand their choices and their emotional scars. It's beautifully told, and expertly crafted novel. I highly recommend it.