The Truth Commission by Susan Juby
Rating:★★★★
Wow, where to start with this book. For one, I loved the writing style—the novel is set up as the heroine's senior, non-fiction writing project, with hilarious footnotes and dialogue between her and her english teacher. It's quite a way to get to meet our main character, Normandy, and the format allows the novel to flow in a very colloquial manner.
Normandy is one of my favorite people, ever. That might be exaggerating a bit, but she really pulls at your heart. By the end you want to punch a lot of people in the face on her behalf.
(These next three paragraphs are vaguely spoilery. I don't straight up reveal anything, but I do speak to the characters' personalities, which aren't totally apparent initially)
She's a little bit lost as a person (and who wouldn't be when their entire home life revolves around one very narcissistic snowflake—her sister—that gives an impression of fragility, while it's really an evil, soul sucking witch with no human emotion, who's exploiting you and your family's insecurities, then MAKING MONEY OFF OF IT?).
Normandy is never allowed to just 'be' in her house. She and her parents live on egg shells because her parents agree with, and push, the delicate snowflake theory, when, ironically, the parents are the real snowflakes. Their daughter (the evil one) writes graphic novels, the catch is that the main characters are based on Normandy and her parents, and are twisted, horrible representations of them. The characters embody an exaggeration of everything the 'real people' hate about themselves. To top it off, all of the events that take place are events from their actual lives. It's been a vent to let the whole world see all the family's dirty laundry. The novelist just stands in the corner and watches her family when she's home, her eyes catching everything, and the family is left to worry if their most recent blunder will end up broadcast to the whole world.
The worst part, is that the parents are totally weak when they should STAND UP TO THEIR DANG DAUGHTER. They won't tell her that it's wrong to air the secrets of, and bully, your family. They won't contradict her at all because they are completely "helpless" and in major denial. It was painful to read. Also, they basically refuse to acknowledge any faults within said snowflake (as pure as the driven snow, amiright) because they can't face the truth that they raised a monster (woah! It's like "truth" should be in the title, or something!).
The family's lives literally revolve around one kid at everyone in the family's expense. Norm's parents give up a social life, dignity, and being able to make noise in their own home, and give up one daughter in favor of the other.
I'm still so ticked off about it. I'm not sure I'm as long suffering and loving as Norm. Or as inclined to "not murder people..."
Anyway - other characters to love include Neil and Dusk (who are the other two thirds of the Truth Commission) and their truth victims. I call them victims because they are. Attacked by the Truth Commission's confrontation, which forces them to confront themselves.
Watching the Truth Commission in action is just an amazing reminder of how much we lie to ourselves on a day to day basis. Avoiding certain truths about ourselves has become a part of most all of us. Even the most upfront and brash person likely has some dirty personality-laundry.
The truth victims in this novel are the people you here vague whispers about in hallways or offices. People who have actually been through some degree of fire, and, once confronted about their experiences, are able to air out their dirty attics and assess the damage.
In this novel, truth does set you free, sorta. It mostly frees you up to make a decision. You can either stay where you are, or face your problem. Action is called for, but I suppose you could be like two of the truth victims and stay put - retreat further.
Anyway - a good book. I enjoyed Normandy immensely and will miss her, her friends, and their lovely school.
...and i'm grateful I do not have a sister....
That is all