Oh, Dear Sylvia tells of a family tragedy with Sylvia in a coma under troubling circumstances. But this isn’t a tragedy. It’s an epic-drama-comedic-tragedy with people woven through the tale.
I’m liking
There is a lot of care that’s been put into the story. These are real life problems. You see how dependent characters are on one person- how flimsy those relationships are when the person who holds everything together (Sylvia) isn’t in her usual place. There’s care taken in these views of different people. The lives of her family and friends and those she touches day to day are told in relation to her and visiting her; in their relationship with her and peeling back the layers of life.
The writing feels like it’s grown since Dawn French’s first novel, A Tiny Bit Marvellous (2010). She’s braver and more interesting. For someone well known for her comedy, she doesn’t rely on easy humour. It’s clever.
Things that made me go hmmmm
I enjoyed the book, but I struggled with the characters- they weren’t, well, very likeable. I think this was purposeful. Sylvia’s friends and family have somewhat rejected her and yet this reminds them how central she is to them.
The conclusion
Recommended? Overall, yes. It’s an enjoyable read and not what you might be expecting.
