BOOK - Ali Smith - The Accidental

Curiously and aptly, I found this book accidentally in Rayong, Thailand after we were forced to wait roadside for our mini-bus to the island of Koh Chang. It was the SongKran Water festival in Thailand, and we needed some shelter from the Finnish man on the opposite side of the road that was armed with a Super Soaker. The shelter was a second hand bookshop, and there, sat on the ‘recommended reads’ display was ‘The Accidental’ for one hundred and eighty baht.

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The first few pages grabbed my attention, as all good books should, but in a particularly novel way (no pun intended). The narrative voice was disjointed and unique. It was literally caught between two minds. A clever device that I can’t say I’ve seen used in any novel.

‘Astrid yawns, she is hungry, she is starving actually.’

Astrid’s character is built instantly and perceived initially to be the protagonist of the story. Although Astrid’s brother, mother and mother’s husband all share equally proportioned chunks devoted to the lives they lead. A literary device I found to be pain-stakingly intriguing and thoroughly successful.

The book follows the family to their holiday home in Norfolk where they meet the mysterious ‘Amber’. Amber plays her part in the unravelling of each of the respective family member’s lives and shattering their perceptions of who they are and why they are who they are. Amber is a remarkable catalyst to the development of the characters, and key to the development of the novel. She is a character hell bent on the reformation and re-examination of everyone, including the reader.

The Accidental was a thought-provoking tale that lingers post-read with its audaciousness, poignancy and sexiness. I long to read another tale that can be as courageous as this one. Its inventiveness was second to none and I cannot fault Ali Smith’s bold approach towards the themes of truth, fate and self-perception.

I read this mostly in Northern Thailand, an area without wealth or the vast amount of issues/lifestyles contained in British society. It was curious how reminded of life back home I became during this book. Definitely worth reading, if only to remind you about all the weird and wonderful explorations you’ve had on life’s journey.

Consider this added to my ‘recommended reads’ display.