Singing Songs

This is a wonderful book as most everyone states, but it is not fiction. Meg Tilly has recently admitted that this is a true account of her childhood. Keep that in mind as you read...

I read the original edition of Ms. Tilly's debut novel about 2 years ago and greatly enjoyed it. She reminds me of Dorothy Allison in a lot of ways -- similar subject matter, similar compelling story, you can't put it down, despite the horrors these abused children endure at the hands of their mother and stepfather, along with his sons. I re-read Singing Songs recently -- I got my grubby little hands on an advance reader's copy of the new edition of Singing Songs being reissued this fall by Syren Book Company, at the same time the publisher is releasing Gemma, Ms. Tilly's second novel. This new edition is BRILLIANT! Ms. Tilly wrote a foreword to the new edition that will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! As will the new cover art. All I can say about the new cover of Singing Songs is: a picture is worth a thousand words. Ms. Tilly's decision not to make any more movies may be film buffs' loss -- but the fact that she's writing fiction is book readers' gain.

I loved Singing Songs and think Meg Tilly is as talented a writer as she is an actress. She reminds me of Dorothy Allison or even Alice Sebold. She is able to write about these incredibly painful things in such a way as to completely draw the reader in to her world and care about the characters.Wow. I hope to see more novels from Meg Tilly.

...and the really sad thing is that it's a story that's repeated too often in real life (a fact that should be recognized by the number of fictional works dealing with this subject). All of the books written around the subject of sexual abuse (and I'm not giving away anything by mentioning that -- it's obvious from the inside cover flap) are not as well-written as this, however.Tilly has captured the essence of any book that sets out to tell a story from the perspective of a child -- she has found an authentic voice for her young narrator, without coming across as patronizing or forced. Young Anna's thoughts and memories ring very true, allowing the reader to plunge into her frightening world and experience it along with her. In the course of the story, she frequently experiences stomach cramps -- no doubt from anxiety -- and I actually felt myself feeling them in several places in the narrative.One of the most heart-wrenching things about Anna's story is that, more than any other book I can remember that deals with this subject, she is subjected to abuse by so many perpetrators -- not just her stepfather (again, this is mentioned on the cover flap), but several other adults and even children more or less her own age. The strength and determination that she shows (and that actual survivors must draw upon if they are not to remain victims for the rest of their lives) is amazing. It hurts to read about a child being subjected to such horrors as Anna is forced to endure -- but it's an eye-opening experience for the reader. It's also important to remember that these horrors actually happen to more children 'in real life' than most people would dare to imagine -- I think it's the great shame of our so-called 'civilization' that it happens at all.Meg Tilly has shown with this novel that she's not only a talented actress -- she's a talented writer as well. I hope, with this novel 'out of her system', she chooses to give us more tastes of this side of her abilities.

As a former social worker I found this book to be disturbingly accurate in its' portrayal of an abusive family. Children are so much more resilient than we give them credit for. Parents such as these who are self-absorbed and narcissistic are all too common. Fortunately, most such as Anna are forgiving. The unknown is far too frightening. Anna is a survivor and will prove to either be just like her mother or the opposite. Meg has struck a cord in this former social workers heart. I only wish she would write more!