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The Snakes

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The novel 'The Snakes' by Sadie Jones delves into the complex dynamics of a young London couple, Bea and Dan, as they navigate their relationship amidst the backdrop of Bea's wealthy family. Bea's principled objection to accepting financial help from her affluent parents strains her marriage with Dan, who aspires to be an artist but is stuck in a soul-crushing job as an Estate Agent. The story unfolds in a dark and tension-filled narrative, exploring themes of class, race, wealth, power, greed, and familial abuse. As they travel through Europe and visit Bea's troubled brother Alex in France, the couple's lives are further entangled in a web of secrets, toxic family relationships, and unexpected violence.

The narrative in 'The Snakes' is characterized by a lyrical quality that seamlessly weaves together the exploration of deep-rooted family relationships, the impact of wealth on individuals, and the sinister atmosphere created by the metaphorical presence of snakes. The author, Sadie Jones, skillfully crafts a story that keeps readers on edge, blending elements of a family drama, murder mystery, and psychological thriller to create a compelling and thought-provoking tale that challenges societal norms and expectations.

Characters:

The characters exhibit typical stereotypes and archetypes, such as the conflicted protagonist and the dysfunctional family dynamics.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging, with a lyrical quality, though it can be overly detailed and sometimes repetitive.

Plot/Storyline:

The story explores complex themes of wealth and familial relationships, leading to a tragic conclusion that starkly contrasts with the narrative.

Setting:

The setting traverses urban and rural landscapes, effectively enhancing the thematic tension surrounding wealth and familial issues.

Pacing:

The pace varies, with gripping parts overshadowed by lengthy passages that lead to a rushed and unsatisfactory ending.

Notes:

The main character, Bea, is a psychotherapist married to Dan, a struggling mixed-race artist.
Bea comes from a wealthy family, but she refuses financial help, causing strain in her marriage.
The story takes place partly in a hotel in the French countryside, run by Bea's brother Alex, who is recovering from drug addiction.
The novel explores themes of class, race, wealth, power, and family dysfunction.
Dan becomes resentful as he learns about Bea's hidden wealth and her family dynamics.
Many characters are seen as stereotypes, which some readers found unoriginal.
The book combines elements of family drama, murder mystery, and psychological thriller.
The ending received mixed reviews, with several readers finding it unsatisfactory and shocking.
There are metaphorical references to snakes, reflecting the characters' traits and the story's darker themes.
The narrative shows the impact of wealth on family relationships and personal identity.
Some readers felt the novel was overly long and included repetitive themes without new insights.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of addiction, family dysfunction, and violence.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance present, primarily centered around the relationship between Bea and Dan.

From The Publisher:

"The Snakes is many things-a parable and an ancient drama where a father's greed devours his children, a police procedural, an avid take on tabloid venality, and a bitter comedy, superbly observed, where behind a woman's eyes she is 'all movement inside herself, like a wasp in a glass.' I admit that I'm still shaken by parts of this novel. Sadie Jones writes with pitiless aplomb and corrosive intelligence."-Louise Erdrich

A chilling page-turner and impossible to put down, THE SNAKES is Sadie Jones at her best: breathtakingly powerful, brilliantly incisive, and utterly devastating.

The new novel by Sadie Jones tells the tense and violent story of the Adamsons, a dysfunctional English family, with exceptional wealth, whose darkest secrets come back to bite them. Set mostly in rural France during contemporary times, THE SNAKES is an all-consuming read and a devastating portrait of how money corrupts, and how chance can deal a deadly hand.

THE SNAKES exposes the damage wreaked by parents on children as observed by a new member of the family, Dan, a mixed-race man from Peckham who marries Bea, the daughter who refuses to take any of her father's filthy money. But when Bea's brother Alex (who runs a shabby hotel in Paligny, France) dies suddenly in unexplained circumstances, the confusion and suspicion which arise bring other dark family secrets-and violence-to the surface. And none of the family, even the good members, go untouched.

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