The Finish Line
Gail Schimmel
Pan Macmillan
Gail Schimmel’s novels are categorised as “domestic noir”, stories that appear to be set in a cosy, familiar world but give that world a sharp and sinister twist. The Finish Line fits those criteria perfectly.
Here the central characters are Brenda and Denver, who, when we first meet them, are growing up in the Johannesburg of the 1970s.
Brenda is from the wrong side of the tracks, but she is clever and a star athlete. Her parents are somewhat odd and liberal, and care nothing about fitting in, which makes life tricky for Brenda, though they love their child.
Denver’s family are firmly entrenched in the smart and snobbish set, but they have a meanness which rubs off on their daughter.
The girls are at school together, where they are athletics champions, but Brenda is a bit faster and cleverer, something that will rankle Denver for the rest of their lives.
Brenda, because of her upbringing, never feels she entirely belongs, despite having a circle of friends and plenty of success. She goes on to meet and marry the perfect husband, and have a successful career, despite Denver’s efforts to put her down at every opportunity and derail her life wherever she can, carrying on way beyond their school days. The reader comes to wonder why Brenda doesn’t assert herself and simply ditch the relationship, but then there would be no story.
We follow the two into adulthood, marriage and motherhood, with all the vicissitudes they bring. Generally Brenda manages to deal with Denver’s rather inept plotting against her, but as time passes, Denver spreads her net a bit wider, targeting Brenda’s family as well, and that is something Brenda cannot forgive.
The ending is sharp and ultimately chilling, though it has been signalled, perhaps a little too obviously, before we get there. Schimmel has created an entertaining story, and if at times there is too much telling and not enough showing to make her characters entirely believable — the villains are very villainous and the goodies a little too good to be true — it all makes for a lively, local tale which might make readers ponder their friendships more closely, looking carefully at some of their soulmates.
Gail Schimmel’s ‘The Finish Line’ is a lively local tale about a twisted friendship
Image: Supplied
The Finish Line
Gail Schimmel
Pan Macmillan
Gail Schimmel’s novels are categorised as “domestic noir”, stories that appear to be set in a cosy, familiar world but give that world a sharp and sinister twist. The Finish Line fits those criteria perfectly.
Here the central characters are Brenda and Denver, who, when we first meet them, are growing up in the Johannesburg of the 1970s.
Brenda is from the wrong side of the tracks, but she is clever and a star athlete. Her parents are somewhat odd and liberal, and care nothing about fitting in, which makes life tricky for Brenda, though they love their child.
Denver’s family are firmly entrenched in the smart and snobbish set, but they have a meanness which rubs off on their daughter.
The girls are at school together, where they are athletics champions, but Brenda is a bit faster and cleverer, something that will rankle Denver for the rest of their lives.
Brenda, because of her upbringing, never feels she entirely belongs, despite having a circle of friends and plenty of success. She goes on to meet and marry the perfect husband, and have a successful career, despite Denver’s efforts to put her down at every opportunity and derail her life wherever she can, carrying on way beyond their school days. The reader comes to wonder why Brenda doesn’t assert herself and simply ditch the relationship, but then there would be no story.
We follow the two into adulthood, marriage and motherhood, with all the vicissitudes they bring. Generally Brenda manages to deal with Denver’s rather inept plotting against her, but as time passes, Denver spreads her net a bit wider, targeting Brenda’s family as well, and that is something Brenda cannot forgive.
The ending is sharp and ultimately chilling, though it has been signalled, perhaps a little too obviously, before we get there. Schimmel has created an entertaining story, and if at times there is too much telling and not enough showing to make her characters entirely believable — the villains are very villainous and the goodies a little too good to be true — it all makes for a lively, local tale which might make readers ponder their friendships more closely, looking carefully at some of their soulmates.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
Barbara Boswell: Growing into her power, one word at a time
Nicky Greenwall writes about the origins of her novel ‘A Short Life’
Sanet Oberholzer reviews ‘God’s Pocket’ by Sven Axelrad
June’s Mauritius jaunt got her back on track
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos