Bernie McGill
Author of The Butterfly Cabinet
About the Author
Works by Bernie McGill
Associated Works
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- McGill, Bernie
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Lavey, County Derry, Northern Ireland
- Places of residence
- Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Portstewart, Northern Ireland, UK - Education
- Queen’s University (Italian and English)
Queen’s University (MA|Irish Writing) - Occupations
- Creative Writing facilitator
- Awards and honors
- Zoetrope:All-Story Short Fiction Award
ACES
Members
Reviews
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You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 3
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 255
- Popularity
- #89,877
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 14
- ISBNs
- 21
- Languages
- 2
There are two main narrators. One is Maddie McGlade, once a servant to to Ormond family beginning in the 1890s, culminating as nanny for Anna, the granddaughter of the other narrator, Harriet Ormond. In September 1968, Maddie is 90-years-old, and again living in Ormond's house, now converted into a nursing home. During Anna's visits, she is recounting stories revolving around Harriet that she thinks Anna should know. Maddie wanted to tell it earlier, but Anna said she wasn't ready. One wonders if afterwards, Anna is glad to have learned the story or not.
Harriet Ormond's story in contained in her prison diary -- she spends a year in prison after her 4-year-old daughter, Charlotte, dies in the course of one of her mother's severe punishments. It's a bit muddled as to what actually happened -- the author gives two slightly different descriptions -- and where on earth did she find such enormously long stockings! Was her husband 9-feet tall? Harriet has eight children, a ninth, Anna's mother Florence, is born in prison. Harriet's unwilling attachment to her children, whom she may love but doesn't like, apparently causes her disastrous attempts to be a hands-on mother. Everyone would have been better off if Harriet had left her children to be raised by nannies, governesses, and tutors, or her unmarried sister Julia, and spent more time on her favorite pursuits.
This skims on the edge of one of my least favorite genres: "I have something important to tell you, that could be explained in a chapter at most, but first I'm going to tell you my entire life's story." At least it wasn't almost 700 pages long, like the book that made me realize how much I hate this story-telling format. The writing is good enough to make the digressions worthwhile and the period details enriched the story for me. I thought the Big Secret was a bit contrived, though I understand the point that the author was trying to make. The glass of water might have made a difference, but maybe not. The story ends in a flurry of platitudes, which I found disappointing. Somehow, Harriet's life doesn't seem like much of an argument for embracing one's darkness, any more than Darth Vader's. In the end, I can find her pitiable, but not sympathetic, nor do I think she didn't deserve what she got, but the complicated and vexing questions of responsibility and free will may haunt us forever.… (more)