Invisible Threads

The multifarious manifestations of the mother-daughter relationship dominate this novel, determining its very structure. Alternate chapters are narrated by the surprisingly similar voices of 16-year-old Carrie-Anne and her biological mother, Naomi. Carrie-Anne’s  account reflects teenage angst, burgeoning sexuality and the rift between her and her adoptive mother, occasioned by the wish to find Naomi. At the same age Naomi’s youthful circumstances had caused her to flee from her immature and egocentric mother to the security of a loving single mum and her two daughters. Here she was able, in keeping with the book’s theme of woman’s choice, to determine the future of herself and her beloved baby. The structure and theme of the novel are interesting and quite original, but the concerns of the young of both generations are not without their clichés.