This week's literary fiction offerings include three novels that examine dysfunctional family relationships against varied backdrops. Seamas O’Reilly’s "Prestige Drama," Brodie Crellin’s "A Sense of Occasion," and Y. M. Abdel-Magied’s "At Sea" each present unique narratives exploring personal and societal conflicts.
"Prestige Drama" by Seamas O’Reilly is set in the present but centers on the production of a lavish American TV series about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The novel follows Diarmuid, a blocked screenwriter, and the city's reaction when a star actress goes missing during filming. The narrative is driven by the voices of local characters who offer a cynical and satirical perspective on how their recent past is being packaged for entertainment, challenging the clichés that have emerged.
Brodie Crellin’s debut novel, "A Sense of Occasion," begins with the funeral of Jude’s aunt Mary and concludes with Jude’s cousin, Patch, driving away. The intervening days reveal shocking and seismic events as sexual boundaries blur between the two. Described as a dark domestic comedy, the novel explores themes of class, neuroses, and passive aggression. It features characters ranging from the put-upon outsider Patch to the more overtly toxic Jude and her mother. While the pacing may falter in its final stages, the book is noted as an impressive and sharp first outing.
"At Sea" by Y. M. Abdel-Magied is inspired by the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The story follows Zainab, an experienced driller tasked with ensuring the safety of a rig crew. The novel touches upon Zainab's experiences as a hijab-wearing woman navigating a prejudiced environment. While a personal backstory is sketched in, the novel's strength lies in its depiction of the constant tension associated with Zainab's work.
