The Accidental Woman

A slight but charming novel of ideas, wise and tender, by turns unbearably sad, enviably clever and roar out loud funny, 'The Accidental Woman' is a series of vignettes from the almost tragic life of Maria, an intelligent and lovely young woman who has never been sure what she wanted and to whom as a consequence things just happen at random. This being the case, it isn't as exquisitely structured as his later work. The auctorial voice is playful, if compassionate, and scenes range from savagely farcical to gently satirical to a sort of heightened realism. Coe fans will enjoy it as long as you aren't expecting What A Carve Up or House of Sleep; anyone who hasn't read him should start with them.