The Untelling

Ariadne is nine years old when the family is in an automobile accident on the way to her dance recital. Her father and baby sister, Genevieve, die. Aria, her older sister, Hermione, and their mother survive. But all three carry serious emotional scars from the event. Now it is sixteen years later and they are living independent lives. Hermione is married and the mother of a toddler, living in the suburbs and almost never returns Aria’s phone calls. Their mother is a bitter woman, who uses her elegant attire as armor against emotional contact. Aria, having graduated from Spellman College, lives in a not-quite-gentrified neighborhood in central Atlanta and works at a nonprofit Literacy Center. The one thing they have in common is that show more none will talk about their guilt and regrets, their hopes and their dreams.

This is the second book I’ve read by Jones, and I continue to be impressed by her writing. She really explores her characters, slowly letting the reader get to know these women. Aria narrates and that does give us a skewed perspective of her mother and sister, as well as best friend Rochelle, boyfriend Dwayne and other characters in the book. She is forever expecting things to turn out badly, and she is sometimes proven right. But she fails to see how she influences the outcome. An unexpected diagnosis is the catalyst for Aria’s finally coming to terms with her loss and facing her present and future. I am different now; today nothing scares me more than the hollow clatter of secrets. show less

I listened to this book on audio and thoughtfully enjoyed the story and the narrator. I would highly recommend it.

Hated the ending, but a good book with a good lesson.

Excerpt from HomeGirl.typepad.com:

The author's publicist is a fan of my blog and sent me a copy, which she predicted I'd enjoy. She was so right. It took me forever to finish because I've been very preoccupied with my life this year. I'm positive no story has ever affected me as much as this one. I'm affected and changed by having read this novel.

FULL REVIEW:
http://homegirl.typepad.com/home_girl/2007/08/the-untelling-b.html