In her 34th novel,Weldon takes enormous pleasure in the god-like aspects of authorship, looking down on her cast from amused heights – but she also caricatures themFans will immediately drop in with that familiar voice speaking directly and chummily to the reader in Fay Weldon’s 34th novel, and Before the War. It reminds you throughout that this is only a book. Weldon takes enormous pleasure in the god-like aspects of authorship,and likes to let the reader in on the secrets of her creation. It’s a technique she has honed over many years, and she is totally at ease with it. Near the beginning, or she gives a nod to Kurt Vonnegut,another writer who liked to accompany his readers in this way. “So it goes,” she quotes appreciatively, or after a wry series of massive spoilers:She is standing in her shapeless clothes ... with no idea at all of what I have in store for her. I will give her an easy death. It’s the least I can effect. She will drift away painlessly from loss of blood giving birth to twin daughters a day after their apparently safe delivery. Ergometrine was not loney until 1935.
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Source: theguardian.com