Scenes of a Graphic Nature is the first book I’ve read by Irish author Caroline O’Donoghue. I was immediately attracted to the book by the eye-catching front cover and the premise of the book sounded really interesting. I was therefore delighted to receive an advanced copy.
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Plot
Charlie is struggling to break into the world of filmmaking and is feeling frustrated as she watches her friend Laura achieve success. Her beloved dad’s life was shaped by the events of his childhood and he is now facing a battle with cancer. Her dad was the sole survivor of a tragedy on the island of Clipim, where a class of children and their teacher died. Laura writes a film detailing the tragic events on Clipim and it gains the attention of an Irish film festival.
She and Laura, who produced the film with her, decide to attend the festival and visit the island where her dad grew up. However, it seems her father’s version of events may not be wholly accurate. Charlie is determined to find out what really happened to those children, despite the locals wanting to cover up the devastating conspiracy. It’s up to Charlie to find out the truth, whatever the cost.
Scenes of a Graphic Nature Book Review
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book, to be honest. I took a while to get into the story but when I did actually really enjoyed it. It’s quite a dark read in places and is a fantastic portrayal of jealousy, betrayal and family ties. I felt it dealt with some really difficult subjects with sensitivity.
I really liked that the characters weren’t one-dimensional. They were flawed and often quite unlikeable. Charlie made some strange decisions at times and her jealousy and obsession with Laura was irritating at times. However, I liked the characters had depth and I liked Charlie’s tenacity and determination to find out the truth. It wasn’t just Charlie who was flawed, Laura and Marie and many of the locals also were unlikeable at times. It perfectly displayed how experiences can alter behaviour.
I found it to be a gritty, honest and moving novel about family, disappointment and seeking the truth.
What to read next
If you enjoyed Scenes of a Graphic Nature, I would suggest reading more Caroline O’Donoghue novels, especially The Rachel Incident, which I really enjoyed.
I would also recommend also reading Snowflake by Louise Nealon and Normal People by Sally Rooney.
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I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information please see my disclosure policy.