Love, lust and humour make this a satisfying read
THE TROUBLE WITH MY AUNT – INSPIRED BY ACTUAL EVENTS HEDI LAMPERT Porcupine Press Review: Beryl Eichenberger
“NOBODY really understood what the trouble with Aunty Vi was – all I knew was that it was Gran’s fault” and so begins a story that is sometimes uncomfortable, always engaging, but ultimately enormously satisfying.
A pacey read, Hedi writes with brutal honesty and empathy and, as the story unfolds, it becomes more and more engrossing. At its heart is the little known “Fragile X syndrome” which, while a fairly common disorder, was only identified in the early 1990s.
As a result many children who were born with this genetic condition were discarded as retarded, no remedial teaching was offered and family members had no support to turn to.
This novel is the story of one such family and with humour and insight gives us a broad understanding of living with a mentally-challenged family member and the repercussions on the rest of the family.
Meet three generations of a middle-class Jewish family; Gran, Aunty Vi, mother Amy and her daughter, high-flying career woman Leah Fine.
The backdrop is Johannesburg of the 1990s and, when an unplanned pregnancy forces Leah to re-look at her life, her first fear is that her child may be impaired like her Aunty Vi.
Her mother has always told her that “Aunty Vi is Gran’s cross to bear” – but what is it that afflicts her and why is Gran to blame?
What follows is a story that will grip and resonate with anyone who is of child-bearing age, or has a mentally-challenged family member.
Leah’s frantic search for answers uncovers a family secret, the strength of family bonds and the women who shape her life. This is a strong story of sisterhood because without the women in our lives where would we be?
Hedi is an insightful writer, recreating the Johannesburg of the ‘70s when Leah is a child, and her colourful descriptions took me back to my time living there.
I instantly recognised Leah and her family. Some of the members were so very similar to my own, immediately eliciting a smile and a nod.
The flamboyant and theatrical Lily Gerber who deliberately shocks, but is the kindest of friends to Gran, the steadiness of Leah’s best friend Stella and the roller-coaster ride that is boyfriend Steve – they are all there asking for the reader’s attention – and they get it. The characters are so very real I expected them to walk through the door.
Love, lust and humour, but also meticulous research makes this an absorbing and very satisfying read leaving you with new knowledge and empathy for affected families.
Families and their foibles are sharply illustrated. How they protect their weakest and most vulnerable members is brought under the spotlight, as well as a guilt that can colour a person’s life. All the ingredients that make for a beautifully poignant read. Highly recommended.