Thoughts: The Outcast by Sadie Jones

The Outcast is Sadie Jones' debut novel. And it's a strong one. It is 1957, after two years in prison Lewis Aldridge comes back home. Nobody is keen on having Lewis back, except for Kit. Rewind to 1945. Lewis father Gilbert returns from second world war. Slowly Lewiss adjusts to have a man in the house, being only accustomed to live with his mother and the maid. Gilbert is sure that his wife spoiled the child, that Lewis is a mother's boy. Due to a terrible accident Lewis suffers great loss from which he does not seem to recover.

Lewis' life moves in a downward spiral. He makes one bad decision after bad decision. Nobody helps, but nobody wants to help either. Only Kit, a girl, a little younger than Lewis, living in the neighborhood, attempts to include Lewis in their small town life. Only he already became the outcast, living in an isolation which seems to be easily suspended.

Reading this book felt like watching a bad car accident. You know it's going to happen but you can't do anything to stop it. Sadie Jones dissected community life, in which one became the chosen outlaw and nobody wants to reach out a helping hand. Her writing is unique and catered the sad tone of the book. Add a dysfunctional family, British setting and literary praise and you'll have this book. Sounds appealing?

Further reading:
The Uninvited Guest by Sadie Jones, published March 2012