Lothian Books 2007
(Age 15+) At a first glimpse of the beautiful young woman on the cover
of The truth about Emma, the
reader would expect this book to be a teenage romance, but that is not
Gary Crew's style. He delivers an involved, disturbing and memorable
story that has quite a punch about the power of the press and the
complexity of human relations.
Emma Burden has been the target of international media, with headlines
about an affair with a university professor while she was still at
school and accusations of murder. Journalist Rafaelo Innocenti, hoping
to get his big break, interviews her to see if he can find out the
truth.
Told in a series of thirteen interviews, Crew leads the reader through
the convoluted details of the life of Emma Burden. The story is told
with an intellectual quality that demands the reader's commitment. From
the very beginning when Innocenti states that for a man and woman to
fall in love, they must 'both understand and practise the meaning of
two words: compliance and antagonism', Crew insists that his reader
think about relationships much more deeply than a mere newspaper or
magazine story demands. References to Emma by Jane Austen, Madame
Bovary and Lolita also move the reader into a higher level of thinking.
At the same time, the issues are ones that are of intense interest to
young people. Popular media emphasises fame, clothing, and appearance
and Crew spends time setting a scene where beauty is all-important and
wearing the right designer apparel essential. The casual approach to
sexual relationships is also a sub plot. One can't help being reminded
of the stories about Paris Hilton and other celebrities.
Crew maintains a high interest level as the reader is swept along, avid
to follow the story of Emma and for younger readers this may be enough.
More discerning readers will want to pursue the many threads in this
story
and will find themselves pondering questions of morality and celebrity.
Pat Pledger
© Pledger
Consulting, 2007