The Graffiti Girls by Elissa Soave
Four best friends in their forties, Amy, Susan, Carole and Lenore, have had enough of being second best to men and take direct action through graffiti.
The Graffiti Girls book review & synopsis
The Graffiti Girls is an interesting, thought provoking read that peels back the layers of modern society and discovers that the patriarchy is alive and well. It’s hard to decide if it would have felt more balanced with more positive male characters like Mark, or whether that’s the whole point – even the ‘good’ men are still making decisions for and about the women in their lives.
There’s a strong thread of feminism in the narrative, particularly through the role model of plumber Amy who is, incidentally, gay, but Elissa Soave illustrates perfectly that women in seemingly usual heterosexual relationships still manage to put men ahead of their own needs. Susan in particular, is bringing up her teenage son Fraser to expect her to do everything for him. This makes for fascinating insight, because there’s a real dilemma between being a supportive mother and perpetuating stereotypical expectations.
As the book progresses, there really is a scenario that every woman reading it will have encountered at some point, from the casual sexism of women taking notes in business meetings, through to more aggressive sexual approaches. Again, Elissa Soave tempers the feminism in the story because she shows how Carole is not averse to using her physical beauty to manipulate men.
The story runs deeper than the graffiti art
Whilst the story revolves around the campaign of graffitied slogans in the women’s hometown of Hamilton, the real interest lies in the four individual women and their stories. We meet them in their formative school days so that we understand how they have come to be where they are in their forties. Each woman is distinct and different to the others so that it feels as if they represent the whole of society. There’s an interesting sense of growth and self-awareness by the end of the story and I found the portrayal of Carole and Dennis’s marriage especially effective because they show just how assumption and lack of communication can impact relationships.
The Graffiti Girls doesn’t always make for comfortable reading. And that is its strength. It’s a book that evokes strong feelings. It’s a book that forces the reader to reassess their own life. It’s highly effective in doing both and I really recommend you read it and judge for yourself – but be warned, you might just find yourself with a spray can in your hand!
The Graffiti Girls by Elissa Soave is out now (HarperCollins, £16.99).
Read more fiction reviews by Linda Hill including Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney, A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft, Foster’s Mill by Val Wood, All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan, City of Silk by Glennis Virgo, Things We Lose In Waves by Lucy Ayrton and Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings.
