Into the Wreck by Susannah Dickey
Susannah Dickey's novel Into the Wreck explores the aftermath of a man's death through his remaining family members
With Susannah Dickey’s new novel Into The Wreck, perspective is key. Five individuals with familial connections are coming to terms with the death of a man who means something different to each.
Teenager Gemma is obsessed with sex and social status and a drunken night out, while seen by others as an understandable reaction to her father’s passing, means so much more to her. Older sister Anna is in a relationship where the power balance is not in her favour, and thoughts of how her bereavement could shift that balance occur to her unbidden. Matriarch Yvonne reflects on a relationship which was never as others believed it to be, and latterly only existed for the sake of the children. Aunt Amy has a secret which she knows could destroy everything, while Matthew, the only son, feels overlooked and underappreciated. With the funeral approaching they have to balance their own feelings with those of others, something which is exacting for them all. The ‘wreck’ of the title is the backdrop against which this drama unfolds.
Into The Wreck is a discourse on the nature of grief and how internal reactions often differ greatly to what the rest of the world sees. Susannah Dickey’s use of language, right down to individual choice of words, is carefully and artfully considered, but it is the actions and differing natures which mark each character apart, staying just the right side of stereotype.
