Hideous Kinky (1992)

In Hideous Kinky, Esther Freud writes a fictionalized version of her childhood in Morocco during the 1960s. I rarely watch movies so have no idea why I was drawn to rent the DVD version of this story, but the film is so stunningly beautiful that I was propelled to purchase the book a few days ago.

I understand most non-adult narrators are either teens or "tweens" because authors want to make use of introspective thought and awareness. This book is written from the perspective of a four-year old. There's a lot an older child would question that Lucy, the narrator, simply accepts. For example, we won't find out why Mum left London for Africa nor do we really know what happened to Lucy's father. We have to accept the story as it is told.

Mum can be viewed as a controversial character. Her warmth and ability to adjust easily to a foreign culture is admirable but she neglects the education of her children and doesn't bother with some of their basic needs. Hideous Kinky would be a difficult read if other women in the story didn't pick up where Mum leaves off. 

To find on amazon: Hideous Kinky: A Novel