The Family Tree by Carole Cadwalladr

The Family Tree

Carole Cadwalladr

Family relationships always provided a mine-field for Rebecca. Eleven years into marriage with oblivious geneticist Alistair, she is driven to re-examine her childhood and think again about her parents and grandparents, as well as sister Tiffany. This is a very funny book which manages to introduce tragic themes without any trace of smaltz. Concentration is required as Rebecca's thoughts skip backwards and forwards but the book is well worth it - for the select family viewing of the Charles/Diana Royal Wedding alone.

Extract
The next week, Tiffany writes about the modern inability to come to terms with death and I get into my car to drive over to her house. I want to rip her arms out of their sockets but am diverted by an all-night bakery.
Parallels
  • Rough Music by Patrick Gale
  • Descent by Sabrina Broadbent
  • Escape Routes for Beginners by Kira Cochrane
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Violence
Explicit sexual content