Relationships among sisters can be loving, distant, hostile, or anything in between. Perhaps that’s why there are so many stories about sisters from female writers. Here are a few that you may like to try.
First there’s “The Good Sister” by Sally Hepworth (2020), whose specialty seems to be “domestic mystery.” I just made that up, but I’m using it to mean an exploration of family relationships and a revelation of why various characters are impacted. And boy is she full of surprises. She’ll literally have you guessing about which twin — Rose or Fern — is the “good” one, right up to the end. Each twin tells her life story. Fern probably has Asperger’s syndrome, as she is uncomfortable with most human interaction like touching and looking into someone’s eyes. She’s also hyper-sensitive to crowds, noises and confusion. Rose is more grounded and organized and a total caretaker who’s very protective of her sister. A tragic accident from their childhood is a huge influence on how each lives her life as an adult. Don’t assume you know anything as you let this plot unfold.
On a much lighter note, try “Bless Her Dead Little Heart” (2014) by Miranda James. This is part of James’ Southern Ladies series. It follows wealthy sisters Angel and Dickce Ducote of Athena, Mississippi. Although in their eighties, Angel and Dickce are sharp as tacks. They realize something is amiss when a former college acquaintance comes to visit out of the blue, with a tale that someone in her family is trying to murder her. Of course money — inheritances or lack thereof — is at the root of all the conflict, which plays out rather like an old-time locked room mystery inside the sisters’ huge antebellum mansion. Although the plot is far-fetched, the pleasure comes in seeing how the octogenarians try to figure out who’s a murderer and who’s merely a money grubber.
“My Sisters” (2008) by Ann Roth is a good example of the family-dynamics drama. Three thirty-something sisters come back to their hometown for the funeral of their difficult and emotionally distant mother. The sisters can’t be more different. Margaret, the oldest, buries herself in her work and has no social life. Middle child Rose desperately wants a child but is going through a bad patch in her marriage. Youngest sister Quincy jumps from job to job and man to man. What they find out about their mother as they get her house ready to sell will cause them to question everything they thought they knew about her. More importantly, they slowly come to realize they have a lot more in common than they ever knew. This story shows how buried secrets and memories can cause us to sabotage ourselves and block our happiness.
“The Sister” by Poppy Adams (2008) contains all the elements of an old-fashioned gothic, including a huge and crumbling estate, eccentric parents, and accidental death. It’s narrated by older sibling Ginny, an antisocial recluse. Her younger sister, the colorful and headstrong Vivi, leaves home to pursue a different life. After 50 years of living on her own Vivi decides to return home. What are the secrets that each sister keeps from the other, and why are their views on their childhood so different? When a murder occurs, we begin to understand what isolation and buried guilt can lead to. If this story reminds you of the old movie “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” you won’t be alone.
Need a little magic in your life? Probably my favorite book about sisters is “Garden Spells” (2007) by Sarah Addison Allen. It revolves around the small town of Bascom, North Carolina and one unusual family, the Waverleys. Older sister Claire lives in the family home and runs a catering service featuring the fruits and herbs from her seemingly-magical garden. Younger sister Sydney and her daughter Bay come back home, fleeing an abusive husband and father. They have an older cousin, Evanelle, who has a special gift: giving people some exact item that they will need in the future. Sydney herself learns about the special talent
that she possesses, and that her small daughter Bay also has a gift. Although there are plenty of supernatural elements here, the author never lets that part of her narrative overshadow the simple story of a family that comes through a crisis to become stronger and more successful. If you like this story as much as I did, then follow these characters through Allen’s sequel, “First Frost.”
Comedy, tragedy, or somewhere in between, stories about sisters are endlessly fascinating. Do you have a favorite? Happy reading!
Kaye West retired from the Henry County Library System. She enjoys reading, taking daily walks, and spending time with friends. She lives in McDonough with her husband.
