The Alcoholic's Daughter

Brilliant book. Excellent main characters and plot. I would recommend this book.

The Alcoholics Daughter is a debut novel of psychological intrigue combined with relationship dysfunction related to disturbing aspects of behavior/ personality disorders and other pathology. The quandary to stay in or leave a relationship that isn’t working is usually obvious to everyone except the partner who suffers the most. Canadian journalist/novelist David Sherman is also a musician, filmmaker, playwright, and has worked at the CBC in radio production. Sherman lives in Montreal.

Evan, a Canadian editor for The Gazette Newspaper, was teaching a writing workshop in an unnamed faded downtown library. Both he and the other students in attendance were in awe of Annie, a 50-ish French writer and former celebrity radio host seeking advice in writing her screenplay. Evan and Annie became involved in a “late–in-life adventure”, he was smitten by her small shapely body maintained by constant running and cycling. While visiting his elderly father in Nova Scotia with his devoted partner Danielle, Evan could think only of Annie and how he and Danielle could sell their nice home in Mile End so he could pursue Annie.

After moving into Annie’s home, Evan soon became aware that Annie had to maintain complete and total control over every single aspect of their lives. To explain herself, she blamed her quirky disordered personality on childhood: being raised by an alcoholic father who drank himself to death. It was odd, she had never been married or maintained a steady stable relationship— Evan discovered there were serious reasons for this, he couldn’t believe anything she said, she lied about her past. Further, Annie’s need for control and drama were endless, she always criticized, found fault, threatened, her verbal abuse escalated into hysterics where she hit, kicked and punched him on numerous occasions. Later, with “perfunctory sex” she would reassure him: “We’ll heal each other”. The moments of understanding and kindness seldom lasted long.

Evan loved this woman more than his own life, and mounted “a rescue effort” to save Annie. It was easy to spot his own emerging pattern of co-dependency and dysfunction related to his own mother: “the poster girl for valium”-- who was a shrill, volatile person with temper tantrums, attacked others and threw things when insulted. The valium led to severe lifelong “lethargy and depression” she died at a nursing care facility following a tragic accident caused by her own carelessness. Evan sought therapy throughout the novel, his therapist offered excellent insight and advice, as did many of his friends. Evan seemed to prefer to escape his problems early on by drink or occasional drug use, later he would find solace in his writing and music, staying in inexpensive motels or with sympathetic friends. Evan earned a comfortable living performing music, writing short stories and magazine articles after being laid off his job of 18 years at the Gazette.

The difficulty with this book is that Evan, though a highly successful creative artist-- simply never got it with Annie! He continued to return to her repeatedly despite her severe problems and abuse. The novel is an excellent portrayal of abnormal psychology, and also the life and world of a writer and performing musician. The story became unrealistic and too repetitious, way before Evan faced domestic felony assault charges. Would Evan ever leave this wretched psycho woman? I couldn’t resist reading to discover the answer. Special thanks and appreciation to Guernica Editions Inc. via NetGalley for the e-DRC for the purpose of review.