Synopsis: “Warning: A story you won’t be able to forget – no matter how hard you try.”

Review: It is difficult to review this book without giving away the ending, as the plot itself is fairly straightforward. It is the way in which it’s told that makes it such a mesmerising read. Ivy Spirco narrates the story of her youth; a twisted, blackly comic tale of death, taxidermy, identical twins, eternal love, eugenics, rotting branches of the family tree, secrets, and obsession.

“The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs” is a genetic anomaly passed down through generations of Rumbaughs. It causes family members to develop an extremely unhealthy attachment to their mothers, and go to bizarre lengths to keep their mothers with them… no matter what. The central conflict for the afflicted is “nature versus nurture” – whether it is possible to fight one’s genetic fate, or whether to simply give in and pursue new and ever more unthinkable ways in which to indulge the obsession. The reader is asked to consider perceptions of ‘normality’, and how even the strangest situations can come to appear normal over time.

A quick and easy read that is likely to leave the reader more than a little disquieted. Beware that, although well written, this is not a book for younger children, or for the squeamish. There are some disturbing themes, fairly graphic descriptions of taxidermy techniques, death, incest, and a sex scene. ‘Questions for discussion’ are included at the end of the book.

2008-04-04