| Title | : | Bitter Like Orange Peel (The Bell Collection) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1925417484 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781925417487 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 312 |
| Publication | : | First published September 30, 2013 |
Kit is a twenty-five-year-old archaeology undergrad, who doesn't like to get her hands dirty. Life seems purposeless. But if she could track down her father, Roger, maybe her perspective would change.
The only problem—Roger is as rotten as the decomposing oranges in her back yard according to the women in her life: Ailish, her mother—an English literature professor who communicates in quotes and clichés, and who still hasn't learned how to express emotion on her face; Ivy, her half-sister—a depressed archaeologist, with a slight case of nymphomania, who fled to America after a divorce to become a waitress; and Eleanor, Ivy's mother—a paediatric surgeon who embellishes her feelings with medical jargon, and named her daughter after "Intravenous."
Against all three women's wishes, Kit decides to find Roger. Enter a sister Kit never knew about. But everyone else did.
Bitter Like Orange Peel (The Bell Collection) Reviews
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*** Possible spoiler alert but I have intentionally been quite vague :) ***
Ummm, sorry for what follows, as it's not so much a proper-format review as just my rambly thoughts about a great read. So here goes.
The blurb for Jessica Bell's forthcoming novel Bitter Like Orange Peel states that there are 6 women, 1 man, and "7 secrets", and all that is true. However, sometimes I felt like the secrets would never stop being revealed, the lies would never stop being uncovered and the extremely "unconventional" family unit described in this book would never get its poo together.
I'm not sure they really did manage that immense feat by the end of the book, but they were a darn sight closer to it than they had been at the start of the book. The family(ies) in this book seem(s) to have a much-clung-to tradition of keeping all the important truths about the past (and in some cases the future) hidden. Secrets are a must because ... why? You don't want to hurt your daughter's feelings? You don't want to DISAPPOINT your daughter? You don't want to admit that the past still has a serious hold on you? Maybe those are some of the reasons and maybe there are a lot more, like plain old pride? Either way, I just read a book about a pretty unhealthy family, and I feel immensely grateful to belong to a family that doesn't exist in a web of lies like this one did.
Jessica Bell's writing is as beautiful as ever, though this time she writes about characters who, for the most part, are pretty well flawed and often unlikeable as well. There were two characters I could mostly feel sorry for: Kit (though she was a bit mean to Sein sometimes) and Eydie. Especially Eydie. Oh, and I felt sorry for Brian too, particularly at the Christmas scene - but I was very glad to read the hotel scene later. Brian also disappointed me on occasion, but now that I have his whole story I conclude that he's generally a good guy. Note that I am talking about all these characters as if they are real and believable people, because they really are, and that is what makes Jessica Bell such a great writer. Well, there's the beauty of her style, of course, but her characters are always very real. Not always particularly "likeable", as mentioned already.
Sometimes it felt like every chapter of this book ended with another bombshell, though I know that having finished the read, my mind is now simply churning with all the secrets that were so slowly revealed over the course of the book.
The Christmas Day scene in particular is one that makes me smirk to think about, because it was almost comedy how the truth kept inching towards being revealed. Eydie's experience that day was the most tragic part of the book for me. However, I'm not entirely sure if I "get" what Kit's ultimate story was - was Ailish right or did she misunderstand the scene she walked in on 25 years ago? It's probably obvious to others, but I'm just not ENTIRELY sure I can trust my conclusions (which are that Ailish misunderstood). Anyway ... those are just some very rambly thoughts on this book that kept me gasping with each newly revealed sliver of truth. There were many gasp-worthy moments, but the three that stick in my mind most now are: 1) finding out about Brian's upcoming significant life event; 2) finding out how Eydie was conceived; 3) finding out what Ailish had been keeping hidden from everyone.
I have tried to keep this review spoiler-free but I decided to make it 'hidden because of spoilers' anyway in case there's something that gives too much away. Jessica, feel free to tell me if you think it can go public. ;) -
This is an age-old tale: how the intersection of lies and families can destroy the relationships we crave and need to deliver our emotional security.
Bell presents us with a cast of flawed characters, characters who are so smart they're rather dumb when it comes to emotions, knowing themselves and being able to deal with reality. While the idea of lies undermining families is not new, Bell imbues this story with modern drama - the prodigal daughter's distance from loved ones is enforced by distance but enabled through the modern miracle of technology.
While the title of this book alludes to the fresh citrus, there's nothing sweet about this tale. At the story's heart is a rotten mix of lies, mistrust and lives half-lived. It's a very modern drama that reveals itself like a segmented orange, leaving behind the aftertaste of its zesty but bitter peel. -
Bitter Like Orange Peel by Jessica Bell is a 2013 release, published by Vine Leaves Press.
This story is told from the perspective of the wives, lovers, and daughters of one man named Roger.
Ivy's mother, Eleanor, was married to Roger when he began an affair with one of his students, Ailish. Ailish has a child by Roger named, Kit. After Eleanor's divorce, Ailish and Eleanor become friends and raise the two half sisters together as a family. Now, as adults, both girls are emotionally stunted. Ivy especially, is incapable of maintaining relationships, holding a real job, or knowing just what it is she really wants in life.
Kit is only a tiny bit better. Kit, though has decided she wants to find and meet her father, Roger. It seems that Roger had married once again and had yet another daughter. However, Kit is unaware she has another sister. None of the women seem to know where Roger is presently.
Kit's insistence on finding Roger and begging for Ivy's help in doing so, opens up a plethora of long kept secrets. They ALL have a piece to the puzzle and all have their own reasons for keeping these secrets.
Sadly, each person involved is left feeling betrayed. Harsh words and actions result and Ivy seems to sort of come unhinged.
These people take dysfunctional to a whole new level. How many ex-wives deliver their ex-husband's child with another woman? How many former wives/lovers are actually friends and allow their offspring to grow up together? Is it OK for one to keep a secret from the others?
More shocking revelations develop as we go along. Not only do the main characters harbor secrets, but some secondary characters are also less than forthcoming, including a guy Ivy begins dating named Brian.
So, do you have all that? It sounds like a giant soap opera, and is in a way. There is a REALLY big shocker at the end. This big reveal leaves it up to the reader how to interpret these revelations. There is no neat, all tied up in a neat bow, conclusion. We know that some people will find a kind of peace that will allow them to move forward with their lives, others will remain just as they are, most likely, and some will most likely need some professional help before it's all said and done.
Hopefully, all these women will continue to lean on each other and become closer now that some of the secrets are out in the open. But, I think maybe there is still more to be told in this story, and I hope the author will consider an update on what becomes of these characters in the future.
The author did an excellent job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, wondering what will happen next. It was hard to put this book down. I kept thinking about the characters and maybe was a little worried about them from time to time. If an author can evoke that sort of reaction from readers, they are a real talent. A very skillful author indeed.
A+ -
Bitter Like Orange Peel the debut novel by Jessica Bell, is the story of six women who's lives have all been changed because of one man. The novel begins with Kit looking at a defaced photograph of her father and decides to call her half sister Ivy. She tells Ivy that she is interested in finding their father. Wanting to find that missing piece is how we begin to see secrets revealed and revelations brought to light.
Bitter Like Orange Peel essentially is a well-written story about female adults dealing with the challenges of their lives that may, or may not, have anything to do with the abandonment of this guy, Roger. Kit is in her mid-twenties and is still unsure of what to do with her life. She's encouraged by her mother Ailish to do something purposeful with her field of study in archaeology. Ironically, the same profession as her older sister Ivy, and their father. Kit may in fact be the most relatable and well developed character of this novel. The idea that finding our lineage and answers to burning questions is coherant, if not obvious for a plot.
Ivy represents the woman who seemingly has her life together. She's taking a break from getting her PHD after divorcing her husband Amir. Ivy runs off to Seattle in search of a new life and figure the one out that she has. While waitressing she meets Brian. Eventually, Ivy doesn't seem so put together at all.
Bitter Like Orange Peel would have been a 3-star review for me if it had a little more focus, especially the end. The different view points broke up the flow of the novel and left me wondering at times was that person's insight even necessary.
I commend Jessica Bell for bringing to life in Bitter Like Orange Peel the importance of family and just being there. We don't always see the affects the relationships we have, or don't have, with the people we have no choice in being related to. Bitter Like Orange Peel does not deter me from reading Jessica Bell's other works. Bell's definitely a unique voice in the literary world that I would love to explore further. -
This is another case of me being unable to connect to characters because their ideals and values differ so much from mine. Still, I can deal with this, as long as I understand their motivations. Blaming your sister for your ex-husband being a rapey douche doesn't belong in that category. The moment that disconnect happened, I no longer cared about the story. It became tedious, melodramatic and cheap, which is very unfortunate, because there were some promising elements in there.
Read the full review on
The Random Transliterator. -
This book has a good story. It has good characterisation. It's quite punchy. It has an interesting style. And yet. Ultimately, it's not for me.
This is the story of several dysfunctional families, all with a single connection, and how the secrets they keep affect their lives, and more Importantly, those of the people they love.
I was not even halfway through this fairly slim novel before I had concluded that I was not its demographic. I reached that conclusion long before I had answered "me" to the question posed by one of the characters "What teen wouldn't recognise a marijuana plant browning next to a bed of Chamsonetter Pink Gazanias". That's not to say I didn't enjoy the story. It did hold my attention, I wanted to know where it was going, and the characters are very well drawn, sufficiently for me to feel something for them, be it like or dislike.
But there was something holding me back from really liking the book. Partly, it is the style of writing, in very short, punchy sentences. In some ways, it adds a leanness to the book, which makes the stripy move along apace, but sometimes, for me, it feels like I have no feel for the surroundings the characters are in. It is a style I am sure would suit many, which is why I am not saying this as a criticism, but just saying that I am not the demographic this book is aimed at.
Whilst being light on description, there are numerous analogies, and I will admit I found the pharse "like a" rather tireseome after a while. I particularly didn't take to something being described as "like a fertilised egg in a uterus". There sometimes seemed to be too much detail: I didn't need to know that a character was "snapping the 250-gram bunch [of spaghetti] in half". But on the other hand, writer Jessica Bell can produce lines such as this, from a young woman who lives with her alcohlic mother, feeling that hope has left, that "sympathy claimed its freedom long ago, descending down their street in triumph", and there are moments of brilliance, such as when Brian's thoughts are in turmoil. This is a time when the short punchy sentence es really work, perfectly capturing the restlessness in the character's mind.
The concept of moving the story on from the perspective of 7 different people works well together, particularly where the same scene is viewed from more than one perspective. But it does also give the novel the feeling if a film script, and I couldn't help wondering if that was the ultimate aim the author had. -
I received a free Adobe Digital Editions copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, this has not compromised my ability to write an honest and critical review of the book.
20/11 - I don't really know what's going on yet, but I didn't want to forget the first thought that came to mind my when I read the following lines:
She takes the photo from her bedside table and runs her fingers around the edge of his legs. My father's legs. Roger's legs. Dad's legs. She tastes the different textures of the three different names she could call him, rolling them around her tongue to see which attaches itself to the wall of her mouth first, like a fertilised egg to a uterus.
That must be one of the weirdest and most disgusting uses of a similie I've ever come across (not including 50 Shades of Grey and other horror books). Every time I read it (or even think about it) I get the phantom feeling that there's a foreign body in my mouth, that a spider has, unknown to me, crawled inside my mouth and laid its eggs there and they're going to hatch and come flowing out of my mouth like the water from a broken dam. This would be a good horror book similie, as it would give you that creepy, squirmy feeling that would work perfectly with the monster/serial killer/ghost/alien theme, but not in a book marketed as 'women's fiction'. To be continued...
24/11 - Still not sure where this story is going and only sort of enjoying it at the moment. Now, Bell is Australian and I have to ask how a born and raised Australian can mispell metre as meter when discussing the height of a pile of papers on page 51 - that's just a disgrace to the national spelling rules that say r before e in words like metre, centre, litre, theatre and numerous others. It's just not right, it's not Australian. To be continued...
26/11 - I think I'm starting to get a handle on what Bitter Like Orange Peel is about. Three half sisters and their mothers, all connected by one horrible, selfish sounding man - Roger. The chapters change from one woman's PoV to another and so far we've heard the most from Kit and Ivy and a little from Kit's mother Ailish. Kit wants to find Roger and wants Ivy to help by asking her mother, Eleanor, for information on where he might be found. Ivy wants to be an archaeologist and seems to have fallen in love with Brian, a customer she frequently serves at the coffee shop where she's working until she can get a job in her chosen field. Other than finding her father, Kit doesn't seem to know what she wants - she's studying, off and on, archaeology because Ivy said she might like it; she has treated her next door neighbour, Sein, like shit since they were kids but then suddenly decides to sleep with him after finding out that her mother's relationship with Roger was going on during his marriage to Eleanor and that the relationship began as university professor and student. Kit has just found out from her mother that she has another half sister (an attempt at a pre-emptive strike, figuring that it'll be better if Kit finds out about another half sister from her than someone else), news which sends her into a Sein-punching, fence-kicking rage - eventually averted when Sein says the magic words "They (parents) do the best they can." This miracle revelation sends Kit running back to her mother to hear her side of the story. And end scene. To be continued...
2/12 - I get the feeling that Bell might have been trying a bit too hard when it came to her use of literary devices. Some of the metaphors and/or similies (I always get those two mixed up) are just plain weird. For example: "The crisp, firm leaves collide tenderly, like rice shifting in a plastic jar." Sentences like that give me the feeling that an author is trying to prove their literary sophistication by using every device under the sun. When I think of gum leaves brushing against each other in the wind, the first thought that comes to mind is not rice shifting in a plastic jar. There are many others like that but I don't want to bang on about it over and over, but it does pull me out of the scene because I can't help but see what's being described in these strange sentences and sometimes it's a minute or two before I go back to reading - that's not conducive to a flowing story. To be continued...
A few hours later... - Um, Ms Bell, why did you feel the need to use the words eponychium and digitus quintus? Why not the more simple, and more importantly, less supercilious cuticle and little finger? Yes, we're reading from Eleanor's PoV, but just because she's a surgeon doesn't mean she thinks in Latin in her head. Even in her operative reports I doubt she would use the phrase digitus quintus, in my experience they tend to use the phrase fifth digit (I am a medical transcriptionist and have some experience in medicalese).
Late that night - Finished, and I didn't like any of the characters (except maybe Eydie). Kit's inability to stick to one thing in life was very frustrating to read, it made me want to shake her and say that unless she had an unending source of wealth she couldn't afford to go from one career/course to another. When she decided that she was going to be a writer, that she wanted to have a piece of her work published, like her mother, I thought "Yeah, I'll give that six months and then you'll want to do something else, or go back to one of your many previous careers."
Ivy's smoking really bugged me, even more than it seemed to bug Brian, and I wasn't actually breathing in her poisonous breath. But that wasn't what made me really dislike Ivy, what made her so unlikable was the way she treated Amir and Brian. I mean, moving in with Brian within a week or so of the first time she actually talked to him, then turning his apartment upside down and neglecting to even attempt to keep it in the state he was used to finding it in. Playing what I saw as a game with herself, Amir and Brian (although Amir and Brian didn't know they were playing) that involved Brian winning if she saw him before she got on the plane and got some kind of promise to work on a relationship after she came back and Amir winning if she felt that special 'something' upon seeing him for the first time since their divorce. Amir won, temporarily at least, because between the time they saw each other again and them pulling up at Eleanor's house they'd decided to get married again (of all the decisions she made this was the craziest). Then Brian shows up during Christmas lunch and she sends him away, but follows him to his hotel not long after and tells him that she and Amir aren't getting re-married after all, and does he want a quickie for the road (Brian shoving her away was the only time I actually liked him, the rest of the time all I could think about was his not-yet-finalised-divorce and his inability to communicate how unhappy he was with Ivy moving in).
Eleanor and Ailish were both keeping so many secrets regarding Roger, the girls' father and cheating bastard, that it was impossible for me to feel any sympathy for them when their secrets kept getting revealed at the worst possible times. They both said that the reason they kept these secrets from their daughters was because they were trying to protect them from the pain that would surely come if the truth came out. But it seemed to me that there was plenty of pain caused by the keeping of these secrets, that the lies and half truths they had to tell their daughters built walls that kept them apart, emotionally and sometimes physically - the pain they imagined on the telling of those secrets couldn't have been worse than the pain they were all experiencing anyway.
One more comment about the style and then I'm done: I'm experiencing a metaphor and similie overdose. At the moment I feel sick with the amount of strange, weird, and not wonderful literary devices I've ingested today. If I never hear "Roger tentatively takes Ailish's hands. She lets him. They hang in his like large wet leaves." or anything like it again, that'll be good. I mean "large wet leaves"? I'm getting a psychosomatic smell of mouldy, wet leaves and the slimy feel of the in my hands just re-writing it. It's great that Bell can create atmosphere so easily, but she seems to be overdoing it with this story. Not every paragraph needs to have a metaphor or a similie in it, or if they do they can surely be slightly less oddball than the ones used in this book. -
Bitter Like Orange Peel by Jessica Bell focuses on six women with an interconnected relationship. In a rather awkward scenario, three are daughters of Roger and three are the mothers of those daughters. Ivy, an anthropologist with a masters who is recently divorced and working as a barista, is the daughter of Eleanor, a pediatric surgeon who is the only women who was ever actually married to Roger. Kit, also an anthropology student, is the daughter of Ailish, an English literature professor who had an affair with Roger. Eydie is the last sister (and a surprise to Kit) and her mother, Beth is an alcoholic who slept with Roger.
The secrets revealed were not that earth shattering when held up in comparison to a woman (Eleanor) who encouraged a relationship between half-sisters (Ivy and Kit) and, in fact, had a friendship with the mother of the woman who had an affair with her husband (Ailish). That's not even taking into consideration the completely worthless deadbeat father who apparently was fathering daughters everywhere and then disappeared without even trying to continue a relationship with his children.
The problem I had with Bell's book was not with her writing, which, even though it was a bit over-wrought at times, was certainly well executed. (This is assuming I ignore inclusion of Australian slang in American characters - I'm running with the premise that Ivy's acquaintances picked it up from her.) The problem I had was with every single character and everything they said and did. In the end I actually loathed every character in this book. That is a mighty high hurdle for any storyline/plot to overcome. Bell still might have won me over but the ending was unsatisfactory to say the least. Sadly, Bell just couldn't pull this one out of the hole for me.
I'm giving Bitter Like Orange Peel a so-so rating based on the quality of the writing alone.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of the author via Netgalley for review purposes. -
I didn't expect to like this book at first, the slightly misleading YA-sound of the opening chapter almost made me put the book aside prematurely, but the determination to read something outside of my comfort zone made me stick to it, which I am now very grateful for. To be clear: this is not a YA novel. It's just one that opens with the least mature 30 year old I have ever encountered.
Jessica Bell tells her story through several voices and she does so very well, there's not a single cardboard character in her book but people in all their complexity. Six woman all dealing with one absence left by the same man, an absence where a lover, husband, father should be, all handeling it in their own way.
It seems to me that this novel was about more than that though. To me - and this is what I thought was beautiful about this book - it was about the power of absences in general. The words NOT said, the things NOT done, the people NOT present - and how they sometimes inform our lives as much, if not more than the things that are present, outspoken and tangible. -
Family secrets...what family doesn't have secrets? Perhaps at the Christmas table, you've caught furtive glances between relatives, a sudden shushing that alerted your attention to something said that may have best remained quiet, awkward silences without an immediately apparent cause, etc. You want to ask...but do you really want to know the answer? What if the answer to the secret is more unbearable than you've ever realized...but can you bear not knowing?
LONG STORY SHORT
Bell has worked an absolutely exquisite literary creation here that should be added to the syllabus of every literary criticism class across America. Angst, beauty, tragedy, lies, secrets, shame, joy, guilt, jubilation...this story has it all. From characters that make readers want to hug and slap them simultaneously, to enough drama to float the Titanic, to a Titanic sized secret kept for over two decades, this book will keep your pages turning.
Ivy and Kit are sisters who are determined to meet their father. Well, one of them is determined. Well, she thinks so. Anyways, neither of them have seen their father in over two decades and neither of them know exactly why. But will this pursuit of a long-lost familial relationship destroy what semblance of a family they currently have? Get ready for a story that will grip you, excite you, disturb you, and leave you with a taste in your mouth that is bitter like orange peel.
Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!
LONG STORY
The Good
Well that was...very interesting - and I don't mean interesting in the passive aggressive Midwestern way of saying it sucked, I mean truly and completely interesting. I don't think this book sucked. In fact, I happen to think it is quite good and should be on the syllabus of any literary criticism class.
Two sisters (apparently). Two mothers (apparently). One father. One major question - where is the father? Sisters embark upon a journey to find the father who apparently abandoned them when they were super little, but this journey forces their respective mothers to face each other and secrets they'd rather keep buried. But will these secrets harm or help their beloved daughters? And can they keep the secrets bouncing around inside of them, eroding their innards like acid? Who and what relationships will survive this journey? Their spouses, or lack thereof? Their sisterly/motherly bonds?
I'm phrasing everything as a question intentionally. This book is a giant question mark. What will happen?
Let's chat setting for a moment. Bell switches between Australia and Seattle. After all, one sister is in Australia and the other is in Seattle. Bell's ability to do so in keen. She hones in on local slang and such in a way that does actually feel as though one were stepping back and forth between cultures. Keeping in mind that the person saying this has never actually been to Australia (but wants to go desperately....anyone want to front me a ticket?) :P Internal settings in the two locations are described with precisely enough detail to give a general picture about what is going on. Details provided have some kind of significance within the story, they are not just to set the scene. Especially the orange tree in the Australian back yard.
Characters here are just that - absolute characters. Ivy and Kit fight like sisters, which they are. Their mothers interact warmly as friends despite having been bedded by the same man at the same time (who also apparently took up with a prostitute....how promiscuous was this guy?). Apparently his "little guys" all neglected to carry a Y chromosome, because the women documented as getting a little freaky with him all had daughters. The book is written in such a way that we get to peek into the minds of all the major characters and see them for who they are: fraught with insecurities, self-doubt, and wondering if they are doing the right thing. Lovers and loved. Menders and the mended. But aren't we all?
That brings me to style. I noted that we get to peek into each of the character's minds. How? Well, it's not an omniscient narrator. Bell literally writes every chapter (chapters are pretty short) from a different point of view. We see things from Kit's perspective, then Ivy, then Brian, then Ailish, etc. While there is still some guesswork involved regarding why certain people behave the way that they do, it is kind of nice to actually be inside of everyone's head here. Well, at least I liked it - but I am a psychology person. =)
Anyways (sorry, I think this is my favorite word today), where style and voice are concerned, it is obvious to me that the writer has written for a long time and/or has a superb grasp of effective metaphorical language and foreshadowing. Part of what kept me reading was not just the story itself (which is intriguing in its own right), but simply the absolutely beautiful way that Bell writes. Seriously, just take a look at this sentence:
"Between her last word and a blink, ***************’s lips touch hers. The kiss paralyzes the tiniest microorganism within her. It’s the kiss that eclipses the hug."
Love it! Bell writes in a very efficient manner that grips one's imagination and heart strings firmly and refuses to be let go. Little snippets of characters' thoughts pepper the document, enhancing and informing the story. I love Bell's writing style here. It is absolutely poetic, poignant, dramatic, and dazzles with artistic ingenuity. And oranges show up constantly, threading a consistent image throughout the book without being obtrusive.
Oh, and the ending? Well, I was ready to kick something at the ending...not for what it contained but for what it did not contain. There is no resolution, no "and then this happened and they all went on to do XYZ". It feels as though it ends a couple chapters too soon for a true resolution. Then I read something the author wrote about not liking endings that are "tied up with bows", and I had more patience. At that point, the psychologist in my brain kicked in and said that what I was experiencing was a kind of transference - the characters, despite finding answers to many of their questions, were nowhere near closer to a resolution than they were when their saga began, and they felt just as up in the air and discombobulated as I did. Okay, well played, Bell. = )
This book is rich fodder for a literary criticism class - one can approach it from many different literary models and be able to produce volumes. This, my dear readers, is one sign of a truly worthwhile read.
The Bugly
Okay, so I've sung the praises of multiple points of view. I like getting to peek into everyone's heads. The problem is that there was so much peeking going on that it was danged difficult to figure out exactly who was who, who lived where, what was going on, etc. Maybe it is because I just finished reading a book with a main character who had the same name as one of the characters here, maybe it is because I'm a tired momma with a very active nearly-two year old who lives to move while my brain struggles to keep up. Not sure. All I know is that I kept wishing for a glossary or family tree somewhere in the book just to help me keep my brain straight on who was who. I had to backtrack entirely too much.
The other problem with point of view switching constantly is that, unfortunately, the character's voices blended into one another. There were only a couple of people who were truly distinct, and given the differences in professions/personalities, I expected there to be a bit more distinction. As readers of this blog know, I abhor it when character voices blend into one another because that is a signal that the true voice heard is that of the author (which isn't a problem depending on who is doing the narrating). Sorry, that kicked my score down a peg.
In essence - read this book. You won't be let down (though be forewarned of an emotional roller coaster).
I wrote this review in exchange for a copy of the book from Xpresso Book Tours. -
Normally I give myself a chance to digest between finishing a book and writing my review for it. But I just finished Bitter Like an Orange Peel a couple of seconds ago and really need to talk about it right now.
I'm so mad at this book. I'm almost having trouble coming up with how to explain to you guys how much I did not like this book. I guess I'll just start at the beginning...
Something that was very confusing right from the start was where this book took place. I didn't completely understand where all of the characters lived until about 65% of the way through. You see, there's a family in this book made up primarily of two sets of a mother and a daughter. One of the daughters, Ivy, lives in Seattle, WA, and the rest of the family live in Australia. But it's never actually explained that most of these characters live in Australia, so I just assumed that they were all in Seattle until very late into the book when it's finally explicitly said.
Related to that problem is the author's problem with language. Literal language — American-style English vs. Australian-style English. It quickly becomes obvious that this book is written by an Australian author who doesn't totally understand the difference in cultures between the two countries. Because, even though half of the characters do live in Australia and would therefore use words like "Mum" and talk about Vegemite commercials, the other half...wouldn't. But the author did not distinguish between the two, and there were definitely a couple of times in which both of the two American-born characters (Brian and Ivy's gay best friend) randomly use weird Australian slang and reference Australian customs, even though those things don't fit with their characters.
Another problem that I had with the book was the constant switching back and forth between a multitude of different perspectives. I believe that this technique does work...but only if done extremely well. It did not work in this book. I would have much preferred there to be only two perspectives — those of Ivy and Kit. The way the author chose to do it was strange, because often the perspective would switch mid-scene from one person in the room to the other. Why it that necessary? It's just disconcerting and makes it completely obvious that it's being used as a ploy to get out of having to actually write your characters well. Yes, it's hard to make well-rounded, relatable characters when you can't write from their perspective...but that doesn't mean that you just write from every single character's point of view.
I also just thought that the majority of this book was boring. The characters weren't relatable or likable, making it very hard to get invested in the story. Pretty much all of them were horrible, keeping multiple secrets from their family members and treating their friends and lovers like crap. These people were awful. It was interesting at first, but then the drama just really started to get monotonous.
Last, but certainly not least, is the EXCRUCIATING ending. I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room. This thing just ends. Like, in the middle of the most important and the one actually intriguing and mysterious scene. One of the characters decides to go ahead and drop and huge, confusing, and seriously-in-need-of-an-explanation bomb...and then it's over. OVER. Absolutely zero resolution or comprehension of what the f*** just happened. I can't even believe that I stuck through this book until the very end, just to see what would happen in that scene...and then it's just done. Endings like that only work in very specific, very rare situations. And it completely 100% did not work here.
The only reason that this book is getting two stars instead of one is that most of it was really well written. There were a few awkwardly purple similes and that problem with the perspectives, but I did think that the book's tone and overall language was good. After having read so many poorly written books, I definitely can appreciate author's that do have actual talent and potential. It's just that mix of amazing storytelling and the awesome writing that seems to be lacking in most of the books I've given low star ratings to.
**ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.** -
In a recent interview about 'Bitter Like Orange Peel', author Jessica Bell said that it was aimed at women readers, but that there were some men who had read and appreciated the book. I am one of those men.
I have always loved Jessica's luscious writing, with choice words packed into the pages like exotic produce in a rich fruit cake, and here I was not disappointed. Neither was I disappointed with her, controversial it seems, decision to make all of her characters dislikable. I am not a person who dislikes others easily. With hand on heart, I cannot call to mind a single person of my acquaintance whom I dislike. And so for me, reading 'Bitter Like Orange Peel' was an unexpected but welcome opportunity to (over)indulge in the luxury of hating every person in the book.
As a man, I should have logically have empathized with—at least—one of the male characters, who I have noticed that other reviewers have more-or-less ignored. I feel, perhaps, that these were supposed to have been more sympathetic. But I hated them too. I hated Roger, perhaps in a jealous way, for being a man around whom every woman's life in the book seemed to revolve. I hated Brian, for being attracted in the first place to poison Ivy, and then for his abominable behavior. I hated Amir, for his terrible decision to re-enter the life of one of the most awful women in the book. I hated Sein for hanging around Kit's house like a soaked puppy in the hope of getting a lift to college. Most of all, however, I hated Gabriel, whose clichéd gayness was so true to the many real people, whose affectation is a major barrier to the acceptance of our community in mainstream society.
Many people have criticized Jessica Bell for making every one of her characters so irredeemably unsympathetic, but for me, this was the master stroke. It compelled me on to the end of the book, in order to see how each of these monsters would achieve their comeuppance, all the time, willing terrible things to happen to them. I won't say what did, or didn't happen, as I want you to read the book for yourself, and so will leave this review with nothing but a hearty recommendation to read, savour and enjoy this beautiful and original piece. -
I like that this book was written from the point of view of all of the characters. It helped me to understand better what everyone was going through. Even though I could understand the characters a little better, the secrets stayed secrets until the very end, which definitely kept me reading.
Since this book was full of secrets, there were a lot of questions that were going through my head throughout the book, many which were left unanswered. What was the deal with Brian? How was he already so in love with Ivy? How did her ex-husband go from driving her home from the airport to remarrying her to being out of the picture? What was the point of the secret sister and her mother?
I also found Ivy to be very unlikable. I didn't really understand her at all and just found her annoying. Then there were crazy things like Ailish smoking pot in the bathroom. What was up with that? Why didn't we go into that topic more. I also didn't really even understand the title of the book.
The end of the book happened so fast that I don't even know what even really happened. We waited all this time to know this secret, and at the very end we don't even know if it really happened. Was it all just a misunderstanding? I have no idea.
I liked this book, and it kept me reading, but there was just SO much that was left unanswered that I feel like I didn't even finish the book. That's why I could only give the book 3 stars. -
Bitter Like Orange Peel by Aussie author Jessica Bell (who is also a talented book cover designer) I found very interesting. I guess I'd have to call it literary WF. LOTS of telling, w multiple POV (like 8?). Very unique writing style. It actually works, but it isn't as emotionally compelling, or perhaps I mean immersive, as a book with more showing. I liked it anyway. The woman is a master wordsmith. Brilliant really. With the most killer metaphors and ways of describing emotion I've ever seen. e.g. "But tears threaten to burn through the rear of her nasal cavity like a strong chemical smell." And sensory descriptions like: "The crisp, firm eucalyptus leaves collide tenderly, like rice shifting in a plastic jar." As well as examples of what I'd call "objective correlative" such as: "The room fills with the first inkling of morning light, and a neutral silence that masks Ivy's deeper thoughts." or "She rubs her face with both hands as if to wipe away need." and a mind blowingly perceptive description of minute non-verbal behaviors and expressions. "...smiling the peacemaker smile–" and people picking at things, wiping their fingers, twitching, engaging in avoiding behaviors, eye contact or not, checking their reflection in places like microwave oven doors and christmas balls, making faces at themselves, stuff like that. It's amazing.
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I was torn about how to rate this novel. If I could’ve cut most of Ivy from the story, I would have given it at least four stars, if not five. I didn’t like Ivy. She made me vacillate between eye rolling annoyance and head banging frustration.
I loved Kit. A lot And I loved Ailish and even Eleanor. Eydie was awesomeness. I loved her spunk and wanted her to make it. I felt invested in the characters. I kept reading, driven to know each incremental secret they would slowly reveal to me.
At one point in the novel, Bell uses the words, “Thick breaths. Bitter secrets.” I highlighted that. It seemed to sum up their lives so succinctly.
The ending disappointed me a bit. I didn’t understand whether Ailish was correct in what she assumed or not. It wasn’t clear.
All in all, I enjoyed the read. I would read more by this author. She has a way with description that reeks of poetry. Being a poet, those were my favorite parts. I’d have loved more time on the bathroom floor, writing with Ailish. -
Bitter Like Orange Peel is a fresh take on family drama. The narrative explores how secrets and withholding shape the life of an extended family through the eyes of three half sisters. Each sister is at a place in her life where she needs answers to her questions about their mysterious father.
Jessica Bell’s prose is interesting and engaging. Each of the sisters are uniquely flawed in ways that make the characters jump off the page and take up residence in the reader’s head. -
Harsh, compelling and real. Bell has a habit of telling like it is - without being dour and depressive. This is good writing, do not miss the chance to read this family drama told from various POVs - Bell's strong narrative.
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gorgeous writing! Unique story--love it~ <3
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I love Bell's lyrical writing and her honesty on the page.
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Blood ties!
One extended family linked by blood, the past and the pain of close connection. If you’ve ever felt the urge to destroy the closest relationship you have by screaming every hurtful word you can think of, you’ll understand the characters in this book. And also their hopes that this time they won’t screw up.
Like all Jessica Bell’s work, this novel speaks for borderliners, outsiders and misfits with disturbing honesty. ‘White Lady’ is more polished as a novel but this raw diamond cuts deeper.
A novel that's almost social documentary written as poetry, with an ending you have to resolve in your own imagination. -
Family secrets centered around one man - the father of three girls from three different mothers. I enjoyed the book even though I felt at times that the unraveling of the secrets was a bit drawn out. A goodread in any case.
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What a bloody awful book. I'm sorry, but it has to be said. I've read some bad books in my time, but this is most definitely in the top five. The synopsis held the promise of a novel that wasn't delivered.
The basic premise is a group of six women who all have ties to this one man - to some of them he was a lover, a husband, and to others he was a father - or an absentee one at that. Kit, one of the daughters, is desperate to find out about this man who she has never met, so sets out on a journey to meet him. However, in doing so she unveils a whole load of buried family secrets.
One thing I can't get over is the awful language. It's so unnecessarily vulgar! Swearing I don't really care about, but it was several times per page and it just...why?! There was also constant references to genitalia - just randomly it would say something like "He itched his scrotum and then farted." As the reader, do I really need to know about his itchy balls? No, no I don't. Or - and I actually quote - "A drop of sweat tickles Kit's crotch. She scratches herself and wipes her wet fingers on the carpet beside her thigh." It's highly sexualised for no reason, and eventually it just made me cringe. It also happened at the most random moments - as if the author thought the book was getting a bit too serious so hey, why not have a random sex scene in the middle!
I also didn't connect with the characters. Like, at all. I hated every bloody one of them and their stupid life problems. They were all so selfish, so self-centered, and they all seemed to start crying for no reason. They are the weakest female characters I have ever come across, and I'd just like to point out that if you want to make a character seem 'strong' it doesn't mean making them into temperamental bitches (I think this is the first time I've ever sworn in a review, but it isn't more fitting).
The plot was almost as scatterbrained as the characters. There's going to be serious spoilers here, but it's bloody awful. The initial premise of them finding out about this lost father intrigued me. However, the secrets grew and grew until they were borderline ridiculous. First we meet the "secret" half-sister who one of the sisters conveniently already knew. The second secret we uncover is that the father has had a stroke, so one of the mothers spent a daughters uni fund on making sure he got well again (and when the daughter finds out, she SLAPS the mother! Overreaction Central right here - and it's not as if she'd touched the money for ten years). There is then a subplot of Ivy (the selfish, going-to-slap-my-mother one) having sex with this guy and it turns out he has a wife he's divorcing which he didn't tell her about (oh horror of horrors!) Then Ivy returns to Australia and meets up with HER ex husband and they decide to get remarried (sigh). Then Kit (the indecisive one) finally decides to make a damn decision after 90% of the book and they meet the father. THEN (and this is literally right at the end) Kit's mother accuses the father of molesting Kit when she was a young girl. We're then privy to a really confusing cut scene that tells us f-all about whether this accusation is true or not, and then the book ends. It was one disaster after another, and not only was the ending anticlimactic, but it produced more questions than it answered.
The title reference to the book was another terrible aspect. The author force fed oranges and orange peel into the storyline - if you cut out all the bits about oranges, the story literally wouldn't change one little bit. It seemed to me as if the story was being written and suddenly the author would turn around and be like "Damn, I haven't written about orange peel in a while! Better make Ailish really upset that her daughter's boyfriend picked the fruit off of their rotting orange tree!"
Bitter Like Orange Peel is truly terrible. It makes no sense, and I'm really confused as to how books like Harry Potter had a difficult time getting published when there are stories like this out there. If there is one recommendation I have after all of this, it's do not read this book. See it and avoid it, because it is a train wreck. I think Bell meant well, but it just went horribly wrong. -
An entertaining book about six women, three daughters and three mothers, and the man they are all related to in someway. The daughters, never knowing the man, are now grown and wanting to know. The moms, who have not disclosed about the man whom they had loved so well but were left behind by in the end, kept silent about the man and why he was absent from their lives.
The lives of all six women become complex as the younger daughter, who later finds out that she is in fact the middle one, begins the quest to locate the man, their father. She discovers that she has a younger sister, news that elates her, confuses her, and yet she ultimately accepts happily to have another sister. And that sister is just one of the secrets the mothers have kept. Of course, as mothers do, their mind set at keeping this secret and others is in the thought of keeping their children safe. But, as all secrets tend to do, it is found out in the end, some in more hurtful ways than others.
This is how the novel ascends: it jumps from one daughter to another and whereabouts they stand in their lives, their own relationships with their own men, and their love of them. And in the end, coming to terms with what they discover.
On the other hand, this quest of the daughters involve their mothers, too, and they must face their own demons of the past and the secrets they've kept. Only then are they able to move forward. They discover that for the past twenty five years, they've kept their torches burning for the man who abandoned them to raise their daughters alone. By far, the first two women are extremely intelligent and successful women who, in the heart and love and relationships, are complete failures. The third mother is totally incongruent to the first two.
This is a novel that grasps your attention and holds it tightly as you want to discover the secrets these women are keeping. It moves along swimmingly and keeps you engaged. The ending was a bit troublesome for me. It was very enigmatic and ambiguous, giving two person's perspectives, leaving the reader to determine what may have happened but not that actual occurrence. So, was it that particular misunderstanding that caused the rift? You can't be quite certain. -
I am sitting here so confused by own thoughts on this book right now. I can’t decide how I feel.
First, I have to say, I was drawn to this book/blog tour because of the cover. It is different, it is beautiful, and it is right there in your face.
When I say this next line, it is no reflection on the author, she is a wonderful writer, everything was superbly written, it’s reflection on all of these scenarios in the book. It is like watching a train wreck. You just can’t turn away. You have to keep reading to see how this is going to end.
You have all of these women and the only one that even approaches likable to me is the last sister that is added to the group (I am trying to be vague so I won’t give away any spoilers. Also, that might surprise people that that one character was the one I felt for.)
Honestly, the rest of the characters were …. not very nice at all. Wait, Ivy’s best guy friend might be someone I could like if I knew more about him.
The rest of them? Not so much.
Serious train wreck effect, you are sitting here watching all this drama play out from person to person to person, and you know that this whole mess is going to blow up, you have to keep reading.
The ending messed with me the most.
Not the epilogue, the part before that. I reread that 5 times to see if I missed something. Did it happen or didn’t it happen? I am leaning towards it was a misunderstanding, but I don’t know.
That is when my confusion set in.
I was reading along, drawn into this story of these not nice women and then I get to that part and…. I have no idea what just happened.
I have to add that at the very end, the last thing Brian says to Ivy, I completely agree with him.
That would kind of go to all of them women minus the one that I pointed out earlier that I could feel for.
All in all, interesting read. I think I need more time to ponder it, maybe do a reread, that might help me sort through some more of my thoughts on this one. -
*Received a review copy for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.*
I wasn't sure quite what to expect from this book when I started it. The premise was interesting to me and I love emotional reads, but how this one man connected to all six women beyond the brief glimpse provided in the blurb nagged at me. Going in, this book definitely felt like it could go either way.
The main female characters were also this way. At times I would love them for their humor, honesty, or strength and at others I would want to shake them for the decisions they were making. But as tumultuous as it sounds, I became invested in their story. The up and downs, the well-meaning but overzealous attempts to protect each other. It was really like getting a glimpse into a family: imperfect and at times impractical, but still full of love.
With all of that said, they all made some really dumb decisions in their lives, and not just in the name of protecting each other. Ivy and Kit especially act well below their ages, seemingly, unable to move forward with their lives. And while it was frustrating at times, it also fed into their back stories well. The absence of their father played a role so clear that even Psych 101 wasn't necessary to see it. So even when they were frustrating, you saw what was underneath it, even if you couldn't condone it. I definitely couldn't. By the end, the only character's I really felt sorry for were Eleanor and Edyie, since they were the only two that were never, to me at least, selfish or childish over the story's progression.
The one thing that didn't sit well with me was the ending. A major bombshell got dropped, never really cleared up, and then it was over. The book would have probably rated higher for me overall if that weren't the case, and I really wish I'd known going in. There's also something to be said for the fact that I was invested enough to really want to read more.
Overall, I Bitter Like Orange Peel was an enjoyable read for fans of emotional dramas, but don't go in expecting a resolution. -
I wish to thank the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story starts with the relationship of two woman, half-sisters and blossoms to the intertwining story of six women. Through life they’ve all been dealing with a mutual betrayal of one man, but unknowingly to some they’ve been betrayed even further. Life has been good in some ways to them but in other ways they each have moments of weakness that shape their lives into something not quite fitting of who really are. The loss of the man in their life has reshaped their attitudes, indiscretions and has created a bit of chaos in a way to cover the emotional impact he left on them.
This story had its ups and downs. The book started off strong, pulled me in, but lost its steam not that far in. So much going on, the change of POVs was dizzying and distracting. There was an entrance of certain characters that just really didn’t need to be there. A set of family that really didn���t add that much to the story itself. The hush-hush secrets that really didn’t play out well. In the end I just didn’t feel there was a closure to the multitude of different stories going on and left me wondering what exactly the point was the author was trying to reach.
I did enjoy the different stories going on, the different lives of the individuals and how they intersected with the others. How one action set off a domino effect from one character to another. The vulnerabilities were well played out and the strength of some shone through brightly.
This book is a good fit for those who like to read about dysfunctional families and the outcomes of choices. This book would be enjoyed by those who read not only Adult but also New Adult fiction because they characters, who are adults, in some ways have the maturity levels of those younger than them when it comes to handle relationships and life’s crazy turning of events. -
Bitter Like Orange Peel - the story of one man, due to numerous reasons, abandoning six women that loved him told from their various perspectives.
Jessica Bell delivers a multifarious plot along with overwrought characters in Bitter Like Orange Peel. She approaches a fragile subject matter - absent father and abandonment in a bold and fresh manner. Her characters, numerous and as varied as you can get weave together to create a multidimensional story.
All six characters are damaged in some way, small to great, the emotional scars scream along with the psychological damage Roger has caused. Each character is looking to heal and close their festering wounds. Trying to heal from the aftermath of their sense of loss is paramount in this story. Twists and turns aplenty, not to mention a unconventional but fitting ending adding to the entire story. Secrets are revealed and welcomed only heightening the unconformality but appealing talent of Ms Bell both in writing and story content.
"Get to know him before what, Kit? Getting acquainted with Roger is not going to define who you are. You don't need your father to shine. You already shine. You are already you."
There's a lot going on in Bitter Like Orange Peel but somehow Ms Bell makes it all come together forming a very realistic view of this all too familiar and real topic. It is evident Jessica Bell is a fearless writer, a maverick with a talent for touching on sensitive subject matter with the outcome reflecting an " in your face" boldness peppered with reality. I have no doubt future writings from her will be controversial and raw in both characterization and narrative. Bell is definitely a multi talented contemporary writer. Curious to read more from this up and coming author.
A copy of Bitter Like Orange Peel was provided by Vine Leaves Press -
I had to twice check that this book was not a YA or teen read: it isn’t, but the protagonist is so blatantly immature that even her approach and speech patterns are that of someone half her stated age of twenty-five.
While the author has made great efforts to deal with difficult situations, the character of Kit was one that I was dying to shake: adults learn to take responsibility for the here and now, and don’t constantly whine about “but I never had”. They place blame rightly or wrongly at a more appropriate target, or they learn to grow up and move on. It took quite a while to see any sort of growth for her, and I got so transfixed by the other characters who were, in my opinion, far better developed and presented that finding one out of 6 major characters dislikable was not the worst.
The other characters in this story: all six women have one thing, one person in common. Kit’s father Roger: the man around whom the plot revolves. Told from the perspective of each character, we see how the absence of the father, lover, husband, friend; leaving each woman with a void, an emptiness from things unsaid, undone or unresolved.
It was an interesting read, although the continual ‘poor me’ from Kit was an overwhelming damper on my enjoyment of the story overall. Bell has managed to capture each woman and her own perspective on Roger, on his absence, his meaning to their lives and even on their efforts to move forward. I’m still undecided about my overall liking for the story: well-crafted with great characters, even the less than savory for me, Kit, the issues are treated with a deft hand and show great ability to detail the “what happens when…”
I received an eBook copy via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility. -
Did I enjoy this book: I wanted to but it just didn’t do it for me. The story has promise but the delivery fell short.
Bitter Like Orange Peel is a look at a “family” — 3 different women, 3 daughters, 1 man — and how they all relate, react, and coexist with each other while hiding secrets from each other. It was a raw, gritty look at this type of situation. It was interesting and, as I said above, has a lot of promise. However, there are some issues that made me want to put it down without finishing it.
First, there are quite a few mentions of the characters’ groins and crotches. I do not understand the point of so many. It was rather uncomfortable. I read about sweat dripping on Kit’s crotch, how Brian spilled coffee on his groin, and that one guy’s scrotum looked like melted fudge. Too much information. And if that wasn’t too much, I also learned about one of the mom’s hairy armpits and about Kit’s unshaven knees. As well as furry teeth and knotted hair — all of the women experienced these at some point. Too much information. This is not needed and really turned me off.
Another perplexing part, Ivy does drugs. So does Kit’s mom. Fine, whatever, it just didn’t seem to fit the characters. I guess that goes to you don’t know people until you really get to know them, but I just didn’t see it. And the ending, the big build up to this one moment, fell short. It was too rushed, too incomplete, too many questions left unanswered and unexplained. I kept reading because I wanted to see the resolution. This was not expected and was a bit of a let down.
Would I recommend it: I would not recommend this book.
Will I read it again: I will not.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/01/re... -
A truly epic effort to represent the lives and emotions of 6 different women part of a complex, character-driven narrative that revolves around (what else?) a guy, and a fairly worthless one at that.
It's a central theme of this book--that people are flawed. If I were to say anything negative, it would be that we are sort of beaten over the head by that fact, but I sense that was the author's intention so I say "mission accomplished!"
I'm the first to admit I love book that challenges me to understand a character's motivations but I will say there were an awful lot of folks in this book that I simply couldn't "get." Now, don't get me wrong. I do not have to "connect" or "like" characters in books I read. But I do need to have some kind of a handle on what's motivating them to act the way they do. That's the job of an author determined to challenge his or readers with deeply unlikeable characters.
The over-use of obviously Australian jargon and slang by American characters aside, the women in question are very well drawn all the way up to the end which left me a bit flat (as in, "hey, I need more explaining").
Ms. Bell's style is very compelling and unique and really kept me reading. I found her short, punchy sentence structure and use of simile and metaphor to be a great representation of where these women were in their heads.
I'd recommend this book to anyone seeking something to make them think hard about realistic characters and why they do the things they do (to each other and to themselves). I love non-formula, literary fiction and Bitter Like Orange Peel fits that description to a tee.
