First Love story about marriage, love and life choices narrated in a melancholic tone. Gwendolyn Riley found her way on the shortlist of Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction this year with this quiet, pensive novel.
In Brief
First Love is Neve’s story – the story of her relationship with her parents, her marriage, her writing life and her old loves. Neve is facing loneliness and financial anxiety as she stays in her toxic marriage with Edwyn, the tantrum-thrower and attention-seeker. Her father is harsh on her; her mother is never-satisfied and they divorced when Neve was a young girl. She wades through life dragging these imperfect people in her life, trying hard not to sink and disappear.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was short, a quick read and very touching. The book reminded me of The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, one of my favourite books. There is so much conveyed in few words. Riley ‘shows’ us Neve’s life but she doesn’t ‘tell’ her story at all. This is a wonderful experience for a reader. For example, when the younger Neve decides to put aside her veganism and share her dad’s ice cream; the action implies forgiveness, an effort to bond with him and renew their relationship. But her dad is horrified that his portion of the ice cream will be smaller if he shares it instead of embracing the friendly gesture of his daughter. Neve’s mom is chaotic and lives life on her own terms. The relationship between the mother and daughter is shown by the conversations between them.
Edwyn, Neve’s husband, is another interesting character. While he wears the title of being the breadwinner in the family like a badge of honour, he taunts Neve, plays on her vulnerabilities and often becomes the abusive partner. Riley describes the joys of the marriage when the couple whisper sweet-nothings in each other’s ears as well as the explosive fights between them. Edwyn, often tugs Neve by trying to build up forced sympathy in her because of his mental illness but whether this is a reality or an excuse to make her stay is up to the reader to decide.
Loveable heroine drowning in a melancholic life. First Love is tragic & pensive Click To Tweet
The perception of women in the eyes of men is excellently portrayed. Neve is humiliated by her dad for a tiny spot of blood that accidentally fell on the toilet seat because she was on her monthly periods. Edwyn repeatedly accuses her of the time she vomited in the house and on herself when she was drunk. This is a typical ‘men-reaction’ and a good many of them out there still think women have hairless bodies, don’t fart or burp. Somehow such unromantic bodily functions are never associated with femininity. With these two incidents in Neve’s life, Riley paints a realistic picture of men’s expectations of women and the reality.
First Love does not give any advice, not does it make Neve justify her choices. As a reader, I wondered if she would leave her marriage. But the book also made me think of the countless women who stay in a marriage even though they can find a way out. Neve does not complain, she just tells her story. And like the story of every woman in the real world, Neve has her share of happiness and sorrows. She is strong in her own way and she lives with the toxic family circle that she is part of. This makes her a loveable heroine drowning in a melancholic life. Riley takes us on a devastating journey through Neve’s life and may I add she has done this task incredibly well?
I wish the title was something different. What you expect from the book and what you get are very different. I expected something on the lines of butterflies-in-your-stomach-ultimately-not-ending-well, the characteristic first loves we see in books. But the book is much darker and more sorrowful in tone. There is a significant portion dedicated to our heroine’s relationship with her father and mother which according to me does not suit the title at all.
Final Verdict
First Love is a very strong contender in the shortlist of Baileys Prize 2017. It conveys much with so little words and creates an atmosphere that sucks the reader into the world that the protagonist inhabits. If you are a reader who does not judge, who is willing to accept the characters however flawed and imperfect they might be, here is your next great read.
Check out other books in the Bailey’s Women’s Prize shortlist:
1. Stay with me by Ayobami Adebayo – Deception, Marriage and Childlessness
2. The Power by Naomi Alderman – When Girls Rule the World
3. Do not Say We Have Nothing by Madeliene Thien – Ambitious, Musical and Historical
4. The Dark Circle by Linda Grant – An Emotionally Fulfilling Read
5. The Sport of Kings by C. E. Morgan – What is Wrong and Right with the Novel
Title : First Love
Author : Gwendoline Riley
Publisher : Granta Books
Published : 2017
Language : English
Pages : 169
Rating : 4/5
Disclaimer : Much thanks to Granta Books for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own
I’ve heard good things about this one and plan to read it at some point. It sounds quite understated, somehow.
I think the book has got the title wrong. I expected something else when I started reading it. But I am glad I enjoyed the read neverthless. The book is very realistic and I could relate to the characters as well. I will look forward to reading your review if you pick up First Love
I tend to enjoy reading about flawed characters because I find them so realistic, so I think I would probably enjoy this. It sounds like a wonderful read. And yay, your site is back up!
The characters were very well done and their flaws made them seem very realistic. I am so glad the site is back up. I lived through a nightmare when it was down
I would agree with you about the title – it sets the reader up for something entirely different.
I am relieved you felt the same. I would love to see if there are any interviews by Riley where she talks about her thought process in naming the book.
Interesting that you would want to change the title. But I’ve felt that way about many books before. It could be because I primarily read YA lit, as you know, but I haven’t heard of this one either. These quiet but deep books are my favorite so I’ll be adding this to my TBR list as well. Thanks for sharing!
– Summer
And I love your YA recommendations so that I can choose the best ones for my small YA pile. We readers are so picky with books having the right titles. Right?
I agree with you. The title of the book was not suitable at all. Though the book is beautifully written with short and indirect yet direct writing style.
I agree. Some sentences consisted of just two words or so. I really enjoyed reading that
I haven’t read First Love, but am intrigued by your review. I’m adding it to my summer TBR list right now!
I hope you will enjoy it. There is a lot to think about.
Going by the few incidents you’ve described, I think this would be a book I’d enjoy reading.
It is a very good book. Thought provoking. If you like non descriptive books you would like this. Else you will be heavily disappointed
A beautiful review! I must say, that cover is incredibly striking. I would definitely pick that up off a shelf if that was all I saw. But you’re right that the title is a bit misleading. Only in the sense of how society views that phrase “first love”. Do you like the title any more after having read the book? Do you think it is reflective of other aspects of love as well?
Actually no, I don’t. All I could think about after finishing it was what a misfit the title is. There is hardly any talk about love. It is more about relationships. And more about the flaws in relationships than the love in them.