Anne Fine - Our Precious Lulu

review by Maggie Perkovic on show 2/9/10
ANNE FINE - OUR PRECIOUS LULU
I PICKED THIS BOOK IN BOURDEAUX'S (OUR LOCAL BOOKSHOP) AS IT DESCRIBED THE BATTLE OF THE SIBLINGS , A SUBJECT WHICH ALWAYS INTRIGUES ME.
HOWEVER, I FOUND THE STORY OF THE INTOLERABLE LULU, STEPSISTER TO GERALDINE, BECAME QUITE IRRITATING AFTER ONLY A FEW PAGES.
I QUOTE 'JOBS, LOVERS, FASHIONABLE CLOTHES, LULU PICKS THEM UP AT WHIM ONLY TO DISCARD THEM AS AND WHEN SHE PLEASES,CONFIDENT THAT HER STEPMOTHER OR HER STEP-SISTER, GERALDINE, WILL BAIL HER OUT OF EVERY PASSING PROBLEM'.
SO IT CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE BOOK. ROBERT THE FAITHFULLY SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND OF GERALDINE IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE STORY AND I HAVE YET TO MEET A HUSBAND WHO WOULD LISTEN AS HE DOES TO THE CONTINUAL MOANING GERALDINE DOES ABOUT HER STEP-SISTER!
AGREED LULU IS A VERY SELFISH AND UNPLEASANT FEMALE WITH CONSTANT PUT DOWNS AND CONSTANTLY MANIPULATING THE FAMILY TO SUIT HER OWN NEEDS. HER FATHER WAS MARRIED TO GERALDINES MOTHER, THEN, AFTER THE DIVORCE, RETURNED TO THE FAMILY WHEN HER FATHER DIED IN A CAR CRASH.
PRETTIER AND MORE STREETWISE THAN HER SISTER SHE SEEMS CLOSER TO HER STEP-MOTHER THAN HER OWN CHILD. WHEN SHE ANNOUNCES SHE IS TO HAVE A BABY BY A MARRIED MAN, IT SEEMS THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL FOR GERALDINE AS SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN TRYING FOR A BABY FOR MANY YEARS WITHOUT SUCCESS.
HOW THE FINAL SOLUTION IS ARRIVED AT IS QUITE A RELIEF, ALTHOUGH I WAS QUITE IRRITATED BY THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK. IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND I DID STAY TO THE BITTER END, WHICH OF COURSE WAS FAIRLY PREDICTABLE TOO.
I SUPPOSE NONE OF THE CHARACTERS WERE VERY LIKEABLE REALLY...
review by Mags