A Heart of Stone – Renate Dorrestein

In A Heart of Stone, Renate Dorrestein presents a premise that has long captivated me: the evil that can occur within a family, hidden away behind closed doors. Children must trust and depend upon their parents for their survival, but what happens when one of those parents becomes dangerously unstable? The transition in the Van Bemmel family occurs when our narrator, Ellen, is twelve. After the birth of Ellen’s sister, Ida, their happy, attentive mother begins to exhibit disturbing personality changes. These changes are small at first. Slowly, however, the severity of Ellen’s mother’s psychosis becomes clear, ultimately resulting in the murder of her family.

Dorrenstein’s prose is sparse. She builds suspense by carefully parceling out information and mixing memory with dream. Adult Ellen, pregnant and haunted by the ghosts of her dead siblings, returns to her childhood home and reflects through flashback on the tragedy that occurred within its walls. Ellen is a woman at war with the past and at war with herself. She will not find peace until she obtains understanding. And when that understanding finally comes, the truth is both unbearable and lifesaving.

Dorrenstein names Ian McEwan as an influence, and I was reminded of The Cement Garden as I read this novel. Both make your skin crawl in the very best way.