Long-listed for the 2011 Orange Prize for Fiction in the U.K., the controversial Repeat It Today with Tears by Anne Peile is just now being released in the U.S. Though decidedly English in its geography (and its language), this debut novel will likely elicit much discussion among its American readers, as well.
The narrator is Susanna, a rather chubby and insecure preteen who evolves into an attractive, self-assured adolescent during the first part of the book. From the opening line, it is clear that she will embark on an adventure that will hold the reader's attention: "The first time I kissed my father on the mouth it was the Easter holiday."
As Susanna becomes increasingly isolated from her mother and sister, she dreams of establishing a connection with the father she's never known; indeed, she purposely does just that, initiating an intimate relationship with him while neglecting to share her true identity. Though incest is obviously a difficult topic to address, Peile writes with such sensitivity that the relationship seems plausible. Such an affair is bound to cause complications, however, and the latter part of the novel addresses the disasters that befall both Susanna and her father as he is confronted with the truth and she is ultimately committed to a mental institution.
While some readers might hesitate at a book dealing with such a difficult subject, Repeat It Today with Tears is well-written, sympathetic in its handling of delicate material and notable for its astute observations of the time. This short novel is clearly worth a look, and would make for an intriguing book club selection. --Roni K. Devlin, owner, Literary Life Bookstore & More