A Family Matter by Claire Lynch review – powerful debut about lesbian mothers in the 80s

A woman is forced to rethink her childhood after she learns that her mother was denied custody, in a decade blighted by homophobiaFor a writer, the 1980s bear rich, dark fruit. The social and political turbulence of the decade provides the perfect landscape for Claire Lynch’s dual-timeline debut novel A Family Matter, which alternates between 1982 and the present day. On the surface, it is the story of a father-daughter relationship. Heron – an elderly man deeply fond of rules and routine – has recently received a terminal cancer diagnosis, but rather than share it with his grownup daughter, Maggie, who now has a family of her own, he chooses to bear the burden alone. As we learn that Heron raised Maggie by himself, it’s clear this urge to shield his only child from harm is a continuous theme. There is no mention of another parent, just that Heron was divorced many decades ago; it’s only when Lynch takes us back to 1982 that we discover the true story.When Maggie was a toddler, her 23-year-old mother, Dawn, met another woman at a jumble sale. It was a chance encounter, and they clicked. Hazel, a newly qualified primary school teacher, had recently moved to the town, and Dawn was flustered by Hazel’s obvious life experience, feeling that “her mouth was full of all the things she would say if she wasn’t too embarrassed to put herself into words”. Hazel is equally smitten, and as the intensity between the two women grows, it isn’t long before their friendship develops into a romance. A secret romance to begin with, not just because Dawn is married to Heron and her life is dedicated to their beloved Maggie, but because 1980s provincial Britain was far more attached to the idea of a nuclear family than it was to the concept of true love. “You wanted to collect the set, the wedding, the house, the baby?” Hazel asks. “I didn’t know you were allowed not to,” Dawn replies. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

All the easter eggs fans have spotted in the Wicked: For Good trailer

Metro

Comments

Culture

All the easter eggs fans have spotted in the Wicked: For Good trailer

Jonathan Bailey reveals big way Wicked 2 differs from stage show

'A head-scratching evening': Review: Morrissey's Glasgow gig was a mixed blessing

How the power of music brings communities together

Story of crook who wanted to sell Scottish tea to China is like an Ealing comedy

Box office bomb set to hit streamers after major controversy and scandal

Tony Hadley reflects on ‘bloody difficult’ Spandau Ballet reunion after Gary Kemp feud

Michelle Collins says she’s ‘exhausted’ after starring in EastEnders for 13 years

Beyonce brings the Cowboy Carter Tour to London

Race Across The World fans moved as episode honours Sam Gardiner after death aged 24

First glimpse of Wicked: For Good as trailer for smash-hit musical sequel released

Rod Stewart shares health update after cancelling second show weeks before Glastonbury

Wes Anderson names actor he’s tried and failed to cast the most: ‘It used to be every movie’

The 'Great Edinburgh poem' and a makar's search for the heart of a city

The stunning Edinburgh concert venue big-name rock bands have been banished from

Edinburgh's Makar: 'I still feel Scott Hutchinson's gargantuan absence'

What shall we do with the losers? Is captivity too harsh?

Nebraska governor signs bill barring biological males from female sports

Wicked: For Good trailer released with new songs and first glimpse of Dorothy

On ‘More’, Pulp pick up precisely where their imperial phase left off

Friends star reveals why she left Hollywood for unusual new career

SNL superstar bringing Eurovision to Broadway

The Lottery Winners’ Thom Rylance: ‘Robbie Williams said my biggest talent is bravery’

First trailer for Wicked sequel released

Witness testifies that Diddy dangled her over apartment balcony

Stores open at midnight as fans rush to buy Nintendo Switch 2

Ginny and Georgia is my favourite hate watch

Little Simz’ Lotus is a great achievement from the UK’s Lauryn Hill

Tony Hadley: ‘The Spandau Ballet reunion was bloody difficult’

Ncuti Gatwa makes claim about his sudden Doctor Who exit after fan backlash

Watch here - First glimpse of Wicked: For Good

Wicked director confirms Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will each have a brand new song in Part 2

Walton Goggins finally addresses rumours of a feud with Aimee Lou Wood and why he unfollowed her on Instagram

Netflix series Adolescence hits massive new milestone surpassing Stranger Things

Congressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America

Google partners with Chile to deploy a trans-Pacific submarine cable

Jeremy Clarkson’s pub opening under threat in season finale of Clarkson’s Farm

Huey Lewis says he ‘can’t hear music’ after severe hearing loss

A high schooler shares the story of her 80-year-old pen pal in podcast project

John Wick fans needn’t have worried – Ballerina is brilliant fun

Plans for 'AI Fight Club' of defense, tech companies brewing in Washington

All-electric aircraft completes flight with passengers from Long Island to New York City

Attacks on Jews in U.S. heighten concerns about security in and around synagogues

The imperfect John Wick spin-off Ballerina didn’t need the Keanu cameo

Masters of the House: Trump and Vance set to attend ‘Les Miserables’ opening at the Kennedy Center

DDG seeks restraining order against Halle Bailey and asks court to prevent her taking son out of the country

Netflix fans rush to binge Italian crime thriller with John Wick star

Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins address feud rumours together: ‘I adore this woman’

President Trump is attending the musical 'Les Mis' – why is this a big deal?

Maryland is officially crushing on Orange Crush cocktail

Morten Harket, a-ha’s Lead Singer, Has Parkinson’s Disease

Hollywood legend unrecognisable after dramatic transformation for new true story film

What is Fusarium graminearum, the fungus U.S. authorities say was smuggled in from China?

Texas hospital that discharged woman with doomed pregnancy violated the law, a federal inquiry finds

A woman testifies Sean 'Diddy' Combs gave her night terrors by dangling her from a high-rise balcony

From 'Tudo bem?' to 'Gracias,' a growing share of U.S. residents speak a language other than English

'Grey's Anatomy' star Ellen Pompeo says TSA detained her over sunflower seeds

Measles vaccination rates drop after COVID-19 pandemic in counties across the U.S.

Carrie Fisher told Mark Hamill to ‘get over himself’ after he omitted Star Wars from Broadway bio

Friends star reveals why she left Hollywood for unusual new career