The unnamed protagonist in ‘tennis lessons’ by Susannah Dickey is a likeable misfit, and because the story is told in the second person, you really feel close to her - the constant ‘you’ breaks down the barrier between reader and character. She’s not perfect, and there were times when I found her passive and frustrating, but many occasions when you wanted to give her a hug.

Momments

I liked the structure of this book - rather than the traditional chapters, you read about momments in her life, from childhood until the age of 28. Some are short, and only minutes apart, whilst at other times a year may pass.

I enjoyed the connection with Rachel. So many friendships are based on a strong shared sense of humour and that really comes across in this book. I really enjoyed the banter between the two, it felt real and affectionate. I especially liked the reference to her being an alien just arrived, as she did seem so out of kilter with the world.

Teenage years

It’s definately not a sugar-coated account of a young girls teenage years. There is an event that takes place about half way through which shocked me, it’s traumatic and has an impact on the rest of the book. Parts of it are not for the faint of heart, but it is raw and painfully honest, and at times funny.

I think the longest sequence in the book involves a history exam, a Wetherspoons pub and a roundabout. It results in a climax to a number of things that have happened to her and I thought it was just an amazing piece of writing - chaotic and on the edge.

Misfit

It’s about low self esteem and feeling you don’t belong anywhere, a misfit. And then it’s about shame and trauma, burying yourself deep. About stumbling between alcohol fuelled sexual encounters that generally don’t end well.

I twigged at one stage that it was set in the North of Ireland but I never felt the book had a strong sense of place. (The only reason was because of a reference to punishment beatings). It really could have been set anywhere.

I’ve read and reviewed a number of ‘coming of age’ debuts recently by Tish Delaney and Olivia Fitzsimmons and this is another one by Susannah Dickey. What also impressed me was the prose, which had such a lyrical flow to it.

Summary

‘Tennis lessons’ is a well written book, and for a debut writer it’s very accomplished and has a distinctive voice, and I think the second person brought you close to the skin of this troubled girl. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for Susannah Dickey to see what she does next.

Tennis Lessons by Susannah Dickey

256 pages

11, 2020 by Doubleday

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