A Review of the Book “The Poison Tree”
The book “The Poison Tree” is the first novel of the British writer, Erin Kelly. The story of the novel unfolds with Karen, a young woman, who drives out with her nine year old daughter, Alice to pick up her husband, Rex who has just been released from prison after serving ten years of imprisonment for murder. The story revolves around the relationship between Karen, Rex, and his sister, Biba, a woman who is outspoken and has a bohemian lifestyle.
The first few pages of the novel dwell on the delicate family relationship, difficult reunion and parenting responsibilities. The relationship between Karen and Rex slowly regains normalcy after the many years of separation. One feature of the novel is that the story is being told by Karen, as a first person narrator, who slowly unfolds the reason behind the imprisonment of Rex. Karen speaks about her student years in the mid 1990s when she was in Queen Charlotte’s College, where she met Biba, who was then an upcoming and budding actress, full of free spirit and intriguing ideas, and her meeting with Rex.
Karen during her student days was an introverted person and hated the rooming arrangements in the college. She was dumped by her boyfriend, Simon, but her room mates knew about it earlier than her, which was rather a humiliating experience for her. As she was introverted and shy, she could not do better in the university, and spent her days in daydreams and the unreal world. Her meeting with Biba changed her life as she was introduced to the bohemian lifestyle of parties and drugs. She moved into share rooms with Biba and Rex.
In comparison to Biba, Karen is just like a blank screen that can be impressed by anyone and easily led astray. The character of Karen is not particularly interesting, though there is some romanticism in her, but it fails to draw the interest of the readers.
The characters of the story, Karen, Biba and Rex seem to be conjoined by circumstances and fate and seem splintered and disastrous. The relationship between the three people is unhealthy and gives a feeling that something evil, that is inevitable, will happen.
The story has tension and suspense and offers enjoyable reading. In fact, it will even hold the attention of non readers who would rather spend their time on researching the price of cars for sale in Lebanon, Las Vegas or for that matter anywhere in the world.
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