I was pleasantly surprised by this self-published novel by Ginnetta Correli. The back cover states that it is an “experimental novel written as a hybrid of a bizarre television script.” I’m not sure that it succeeds as a bizarre television script, but it does come across as an engaging postmodern novel about a young girl who finds herself surrounded by madness and indifference.
Beatie Scareli’s mother is schizophrenic. She thinks she’s Lucille Ball and Beatie’s father is Ricky Ricardo. What seems slightly amusing at first quickly becomes a very twisted reality for Beatie. Her mother is in and out of the asylum. Her father is unsympathetic. Beatie is forced to go back and forth between her mother and father once her parents divorce. She pretends that nothing is wrong at school. She has imaginary friends, one of which happpens to be the reader. And Beatie handles it all the way I imagine most young people who know no other reality would handle it- nonchalantly looking for help, desperately trying to keep her childhood, and ultimately trying to escape from the situation.
Ginnetta Correli captures Beatie’s voice in short, minimalist sentences. Beatie’s character and voice draw the reader into this novel. The vignettes capture Beatie’s childlike perspective perfectly and frame the scenes of madness that make up her life. The combination of these elements make this novel hard to put down. I wanted to know what craziness could possibly happen to this girl next and how she was going to survive it all.
I only have a few complaints about the book. Correli thanks an friend and “editor” in the end notes, but I think the book could use a professional editor to help emphasize elements of theme and character development, while at the same time eliminate some unnecessary repetitiveness. For example, in one section of the book, Beatie mentions going to the bathroom repeatedly over several pages and several scenes. The character even mentions that she goes to the bathroom a lot. It doesn’t move the action or give any insight into her character besides the fact that she is presumably human and uses the bathroom. An editor would help focus the book and accentuate the elements that make it a good read to being with.
I think this book has something to say about the human condition, which is what defines good literature. Some scenes contain things some may find offensive, but Correli’s writing and Beatie’s character give those disturbing scenes validity and poignancy.