I could say this book is a "pushover," but even for I, that would be bad taste.
When I first saw this book, I thought it referred to the pushing exerted by women, during the process of childbirth.
And the attention this book is getting--a feminist tract on motherhood; the right to choose to mother or not; to love, or not love your child--come on! Stop kidding yourlseves. Anyone who grasps the character reference in my headline should understand where this story is headed.
Yes, it is another evil child, in the tradition of the 1950's work that set the gold standard--"The Bad Seed," by William March.
Obviiously, today's reviewers are clueless to any form of literature of the past. Nowhere have I seen the March work referenced, though it is patently drawn from it. Yes, there was a comparison to "We Need To Talk About Kevin," but even that would not have existed without the March novel.
Besides numerous decades, the main difference here--and the reader has to just go with this and believe--is that the mother, Blythe Conner, (NOT to be confused with Blythe Danner, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!) senses something wrong with the child, from the time it is in her womb. There is no "Rosemary's Baby" supernatural chicanery going on here. She just "senses" it.
And, of course, no one believes her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you kidding me? And I won't even bother going into the genetic explanation for this. You do need a reason to read the book.
That would be its last sentence. I kept wondering how Audrain would end her story, and she found a cliffhanger that left even jaded me gasping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, go ahead and read it. But, if you have never read "The Bad Seed," go read it afterward, and see why that holds up after 66 years. "The Push" will not.
2 comments:
Polanski wanted Sharon Tate instead of Mia, I read.
Or Tuesday Weld. Or Goldie Hawn! Can you imagine?!
Victoria,
There is an urban legend that Tate
is in the scene where Rosemary throws
a party for her young friends. This has
been disputed. I knew Tuesday Weld was
a front runner, and I think she was actress
enough to pull it off. BUT Mia had that
something extra--vulnerability--which is
key to the character of Rosemary!
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