written by Ellie Eaton, Book 8 of 2021
“What am I supposed to tell him? That since becoming a mother I exist in a state of perpetual unease? That the world seems to me overwhelmingly dangerous and chaotic. How of all the multitudinous threats posed to him and the baby: earthquakes, rising sea levels, drunk drivers, melanomas, pandemics, zealots with semi automatics. It’s something else I’m most afraid of; the past slowly coiling around us, the snake in the crib.”
Ellie Eaton, The Divines
This book is unsettling, eerie, and deeply compelling. The story in The Divines is told by a woman named Josephine in alternating narratives. Some chapters are told from Jo’s perspective as a teenager at a failing all girls boarding school in the 90’s, and others as Sephine in her adult years as she struggles with marriage and motherhood. Listening to this story brought me back painfully to the sensitive years of teenagehood when everything feels so much more visceral than it does as an adult. It raises questions about how one sees oneself versus how one is seen and how we are all unreliable narrators in our own memory. Ellie Eaton is able to distill some of the common experiences of teenage girls and highlight how the disastrous effects of the self focused narrative can unravel themselves into adulthood.
I’d highly recommend reading this as an audiobook! Imogen Church is a wonderful narrator for this dark and dramatic story. As an American, the distinction between accents and tone was striking to listen to and added so much depth to the story that I otherwise would have totally missed.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for providing early access to The Divines!
Recommended for: Drama and Suspense Lovers, people who enjoy great narration.
Actions I will take in response to this book:
- Consider the impact my childhood friendships and relationships have on my present self
- Reminisce on the feelings of being a teenager and empathize with teens in my life
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers): Bullying, Adolescent Trauma, Drugs, Sexuality, Body Image Issues, Substance Abuse