Magical Tome

The outer archives are busy
"In Secretary, Cummins deconstructs the life and death-by-suicide of her mother, Dolores Bodkin, an aspiring artist who was forcibly committed in 1963 after attempting to leave her violent and abusive husband. Using language that is factual and at times chilling, the artist plays upon the original meaning of the word secretary--"secret-keeper"--to allude to the secrecy and shame that existed in her household, as well as the cultural silencing of women around the experience of sexualized violence. Cummins uses several layers of information to tell this story: her own memories; excerpts from a diary her mother kept for two years before her suicide; a list of roles that Bodkin embodied, all crossed on her final page; and most dramatic of all--photographs taken by her father that span the period 1956 to 1975."--Prospectus.
Create a free account to see Match Scores on books the community has marked — once you’ve set your preferences.
Create free accountMarks left by readers of this tome
No community marks yet — be the first to inscribe this tome.
Pacing
Horror / Dark Elements
Romance
Spice Level
LGBTQ+ Representation
Social & Political Themes in Stories