How to be both is a book with two different stories which have been interconnected in an abstract way by the brilliant writer, Ali Smith through a fresco painting and use of excellent literary forms. The book has two versions and it is left on chance as to which version the reader lays his/her hands upon.
The version we are reviewing has a modern day teenager girl, Georgia, in the first part of the book.
In the very outset, Georgia is struggling emotionally trying to make sense out of her mother's death. Formerly a firm believer in perfection and either/or concept, Georgia drifts into the recent past arguing with her mother when the mother was alive and the present where she lives with her father, depressingly an alcoholic, and a minor brother that she has to tend to when a girl called H comes into her life.
The other part is a biographical narration by a 17th century renaissance fresco painter, Francesco Del Cossa right from the painter's infantile years of first memories through adolescence till death.
How to be both is a powerful novel that will leave you thinking for days. Nominated for the Man Booker prize for 2014, this is a compelling, fast paced philosophical must read.
We give it a 9.5 in a scale of 10.
The version we are reviewing has a modern day teenager girl, Georgia, in the first part of the book.
In the very outset, Georgia is struggling emotionally trying to make sense out of her mother's death. Formerly a firm believer in perfection and either/or concept, Georgia drifts into the recent past arguing with her mother when the mother was alive and the present where she lives with her father, depressingly an alcoholic, and a minor brother that she has to tend to when a girl called H comes into her life.
The other part is a biographical narration by a 17th century renaissance fresco painter, Francesco Del Cossa right from the painter's infantile years of first memories through adolescence till death.
How to be both is a powerful novel that will leave you thinking for days. Nominated for the Man Booker prize for 2014, this is a compelling, fast paced philosophical must read.
We give it a 9.5 in a scale of 10.
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