Review: Precise - depiction of a toxic relationship
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 29, 2012
Mental illness is never pretty, and Precise does not gloss over it. The story moves along slowly as it draws out scenes that depict the toxic attitude that a mother has on her only child.The author skillfully makes the reader feel disjointed by the stream of consciousness style and the episodic nature of the chapters. She takes common scenarios, a Scrabble game, a trip to the park, and imbues horror elements into it with the stalking mother.Kate tries to resolve her issues, but as in parental abuse cases, the parent's power is too strong. The father is ineffective in reining in his wife, and everyone else is perplexed because her mother seems so calm on the surface. Yet she undermines Kate's spirit so much I'm not sure Kate can ever break free. I don't expect her problems to be solved in such a short novella. That would have been a cheap way out.This story was not meant to be enjoyed, but meant to make you think. Kudos to Rebecca Berto on a successful debut.