Review: Gemma by Meg Tilly
by Jenners • 01/04/2010 • 3.5 Stars, Contemporary, Fiction, G Titles, T Authors • 39 Comments
Title: GemmaAuthor: Meg Tilly
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin, February 2010
ISBN: 978-0-312-60529-2
Pages: 210
Genre: Fiction
Story Overview
Gemma Sullivan is a 12-year-old girl who hides her interest in school but secretly loves learning. She does her best to make a life for herself, despite her neglectful, alcoholic mother and the unwanted attentions of her mother’s boyfriend Buddy. Buddy has been forcing Gemma to have sex with him since she was 7 years old and has convinced her that it must be kept secret or she will go to jail. Withdrawn and friendless, Gemma dreams of having a normal life with a normal mother and a clean home. But that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Gemma, especially when Buddy decides to pimp her out to his friend Hazen Woods for $100.
Hazen Wood is 36-years-old and, once he experiences sex with Gemma, begins to fantasize having her all to himself and living with her as man and wife. Increasingly plagued by his twisted desires, Hazen kidnaps Gemma—forcing her to ride in the trunk of his car because she refuses to “play nice” and keeps trying to escape. They travel across the country, with the dynamics of their relationship evolving over time as Gemma learns to tolerate Hazen’s depravity and violence by cultivating a rich inner life and imagination.
Eventually, they end up in Chicago where fate intervenes and offers Gemma a chance to escape from Hazen. But will Gemma be able to rebuild her life and overcome the horror of her childhood? Will she be able to undo the damage of a lifetime of sexual abuse, violence, and neglect? Is there a chance for Gemma?
My Thoughts
On the back of the review copy that I received, author Meg Tilly talks about what inspired her to write this novel, including her own childhood experiences with sexual abuse by various family members. She writes that the voice of Hazen came to her first, and when she wrote as him: “…I was shaking and nauseous. I felt like I was coated in him somehow. The writer in me was a mix of things; terrified, but relieved too, excited even, because I knew I had touched something true.” She didn’t hear the voice of Gemma for a long time. “And then one day, a miracle happened. Gemma started talking to me in her quiet and shy voice and I thought, ‘Ah…Now I can finally write this book.’”
I think it takes guts for Meg Tilly to reveal her own experiences with sexual abuse, but knowing this adds so much credibility to the character’s voices. This isn’t an easy book to read. Alternating between narration by Gemma and Hazen, the book was often so disturbing that I had to put it aside. Hearing Hazen’s twisted logic and justification for what he does to Gemma made me sick. Unfortunately, I did feel like Meg Tilly took me into the mind of a pedophile—and it was a very disturbing place to visit. But, at the same time, getting to know Gemma and learning how she manages to survive and even thrive in a horrible environment and situation helped to offset the disgust I felt when reading Hazen’s sections. As a reader, you root for Gemma and ache inside when she believes Hazen’s threat and lies. Gemma thinks like a 12-year-old and not an adult, and you begin to understand how easily pedophiles can manipulate children in these situations.
I am very thankful that Meg Tilly provided Gemma with a way to escape from Hazen and have another shot at life. I don’t think I could have finished this book if there hadn’t been a glimmer of hope at the end—that Gemma was finally exposed to adults who weren’t out to abuse or take advantage of her. I know that not all abused children get a “happy” ending, but I’m glad the author chose to provide one for Gemma.
My Final Recommendation
I always struggle giving a “recommendation” for a book like this. This isn’t a book you enjoy or read for pleasure. It is disturbing and shockingly graphic in many sections. The writing is good—almost too good in parts. I was really disturbed reading the sections narrated by Hazen; I didn’t want to hear what was in his head. But, at the same time, perhaps there is value in being taken inside the mind of a pedophile. I’m glad the book ended with a chance for Gemma to reclaim her life; it would have been entirely too depressing if she hadn’t. If the premise of this book interests you, I would recommend it as it was well-written and you won’t soon forget it. As far as my ranking, I’m giving it 3.5 stars. I think it was a worthwhile book, but I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone due to the subject matter.
Whys and Wheres: I received an Advanced Readers’ Edition of this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program. (The book will be published in February 2010.) I originally requested the book because Meg Tilly is an actress who I remembered from Agnes of God and The Big Chill, and I was curious to see how she wrote. As far as I can tell, she isn’t acting anymore and had devoted herself to writing and raising her family. I hope that this book was therapeutic to her as a survivor of sexual abuse.
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What a powerful review. Thanks for stopping by my post and giving me this recommendation…I agree, books like this are hard to read.
When I got the book and saw her story, I did a little more digging and one
of her sisters has corroborated all the stuff that happened to them. The
other sister doesn't want to talk about it … which I completely get. I
think it takes guts to speak out like that.
This really does sound powerful. Tilly was indeed brave to write this.
I'm not saying HH isn't so bad …they are both vile … but this book is
extremely graphic and crude in a way that HH isn't and it made reading
"Lolita" a little easier to stomach. I think a side by side case study would
be interesting!!!
You don't really want this in your head before going to sleep — I agree. It
was a difficult book to read but it felt like an important one to read at
the same time.
Isn't it funny how a persons voice and language can effect the way we feel about them- is Humbert Humbert of "Lolita" not so a bad a pedophile because his speaks with an educated tongue, or is it that he makes it all sound so poetic, as disturbing as his actions may be?
I think I might read this book and do a comparitive piece between it and "Lolita", might make for an interesting study…?
wow…sounds a bit heavy for me right now. as i started reading your review, i was wondering if the author was the actress. thanks for clarifying.
i know that things like this happen in our world but i'm not sure i want to invite it into my head before i go to bed. thanks for an honest review of a book that must have been quite a challenge to get through. and kudos to tilly for writing it. hope it was cathartic for her.
It was really powerful … and I was so thankful for the "happy" ending (of sorts). It is one of those books that sticks with you.
I totally hear you … once I realized exactly what this book entailed, I was a bit hesitant to read it. There are only so many books I'm willing to read on this kind of topic … it is just too depressing. That said, this was really well done and because of the author's experiences, I believe what she wrote.
wow, that sounds like a real powerful book. I don't know if I could read it but then again I probably could, since, while my story is a lot different, I too have had to struggle through life and "thrive" (there's that word again!) I'm glad the girl gets away in the end.
Yes, I agree with all you said. Brave and strong of Tilly to write this, a subject that must be explore and yet one very difficult, for the writer and the reader, to do.
I know terrible things happen to people. There are evil people doing terrible things in the world every day. Am I a shallow person for having a limit on how much of that I want to explore? I don't really think so, but maybe…
I do admire Meg Tilly for tackling a subject that must be so full of pain and horror for it. I hope it was helpful to her and might help others in similar situations. Thanks for your kind words.
I'm sure that is why she wrote it and confronted the demons from her past. I read that this book is the first time she has openly discussed her abusive past. I can't imagine what strength that took.
I"m sure the story is just all too familiar and common unfortunately. It was a story I won't soon forget.
I'm so sorry to hear that you have a small experience in this area .. I couldn't even imagine. I could see why you wouldn't want to read about it.
I read Lolita ages ago and this shares some similarities but none of the poetry or writing. Hazen's voice is crude, uneducated, and sick. You feel coated in slime when you read his parts.
I agree … it is an important topic but a disturbing one that is so hard to read about. Not a fun read, to say the least.
She is a good writer. This is her second or third book I think. I might check out some of her others.
Thanks for your kind comments … and this was a horribly difficult book to read. I totally get why you wouldn't want to read it. Part of me could have done without reading it too.
As you say, a difficult job to 'recommend' a book like this. Very brave of the author to write it, I'm sure it must have been a very emotional journey for her just as it must be for the reader. Well done in reviewing it.
This book will probably help a lot of victims of abuse. I applaud Ms. Tilly for sharing all this pain in her book. Great review Jenners.
Unfortunately that story sounds like it was snatched right out of the headlines. It's amazing to think of what some children are forced to survive. The book sounds like it would take your breath away.
Be sure to enter the giveaway then. Good luck!
I agree … you can only take so many depressing icky books at a time.
If you had problems with my review, this book is not for you. It is really really disgusting and graphic when you are in Hazen's mind.
It was disturbing… very disturbing. One of those books you don't LOVE but it gets under your skin.
Well, if you like disturbing stories, this will be a perfect book for you. Good luck in the giveaway.
It was a very uncomfortable book to read … felt so icky during so much of it. And I think I started "Lucky" and just didn't finish it.
Thanks for sharing all the nitty gritty because now I know to steer clear. I have a 12yo daughter and some small experience in this subject matter. Just reading your review made my stomach ache. It's unimaginable that this type of thing happens and often. Bleck! I just couldn't handle it.
This sounds as though it may stir similar emotions as Lolita.
Lolita had some distressing and confronting events, but it was a good read.
What made me think of Lolita, apart from the obvious young girl/older man idea, is the not wanting to get into the man's head comment you made Jenners. In Lolita I didn't really want to hear all the personal thoughts of Humbert, with his grotesque references to his "nymphets".
I have signed up for the give away, I think this would be an intriguing book, even if it is a little disturbing.
http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/
Holy crow, this sounds like some powerful stuff. I'm glad you reviewed it….it's a topic that shouldn't be hidden away.
Great review. I just watched a sad, but worthwhile movie and this sounds a little like that. It's nice to hear Meg Tilly's got writing chops.
I can tell from your review that this is not a book I would want to read. I have a hard time reading about this topic even when it's not graphic. Your review was very thorough though, and well written.
I think I'd love to read this!
Makes me think of Liars' Club. I think I'll pass on this one.
I so not think I could read this! I could hardly make it through your review! (which was good, it was just, you know, vivid)
Wow. That sounds disturbing but amazing. I'll definitely look it up.
OMG your review is amazing, I totally want to read this book and will enter the contest hoping. I enjoy reading disturbing stories that are also sad, don't know why really.
This sounds like a tough one, and probably too disturbing for some people. Alice Sebold's Lucky was disturbingly similar to this book I am guessing .