Status
Available
Description
Recently married, psychologist Bea and Dan, a mixed-race artist, rent out their tiny flat to escape London for a few precious months. Driving through France they visit Bea's dropout brother Alex at the hotel he runs in Burgundy. Disturbingly, they find him all alone and the ramshackle hotel deserted, apart from the nest of snakes in the attic. When Alex and Bea's parents make a surprise visit, Dan can't understand why Bea is so appalled, or why she's never wanted him to know them; Liv and Griff Adamson are charming and rich. They are the richest people he has ever met. Maybe Bea's ashamed of him, or maybe she regrets the secrets she's been keeping. Tragedy strikes suddenly, brutally, and in its aftermath the family is stripped back to its heart, and then its rotten core, and even Bea with all her strength and goodness can't escape. --… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Berly
Just finished [The Snakes] and it was gripping. A daughter tries to honorably make her way in life without giving in to the easy money of her inheritance. Truly a novel about power corrupting and the web of family and how both can try to pull you under. The ending was unforgettable.
LibraryThing member auntmarge64
An extraordinary novel about the damage and unintended consequences there can be with unlimited power and ego. Touted as commentary on the English upper class, I found it to give me my first real inkling of what growing up as a child of Donald Trump must have been like, and I finally managed to
On the surface, this is a story about a young married couple in London, she from a well-off family she can't abide and he from a loving, though poor, single-parent family. Bea is a psychotherapist and makes the salary of a typical public servant. Dan wants to be an artist but his drive has been lost in the endless pointless days he spends as a run-of-the-mill real estate agent. He knows Bea has a trust fund of some sort that could help them, but she won't touch it. He's met her parents only once, and they weren't invited to the wedding.
Bea decides they should take their meager savings, rent out the flat, and travel in Europe for a few months to see if Dan can get back his artist self. Their first stop is a French country inn run by the only relative with whom she has voluntary relations: her brother Alex, older but always fragile, a drug addict who's fairly unstable. The inn is a shambles, and although Alex has great intentions of fixing it up, in two years he's gotten nowhere. Dan is appalled, Bea is just loving, understanding that this is way past anything Alex can handle. Dan doesn't understand, and neither does the reader - yet.
And then the parents arrive. The mother is addicted to pills and alcohol and has a long-term unhealthy, shall we say, relationship with Alex. The father is Donald Trump personified: bombastic, bullying, greedy, completely selfish, unconcerned with others' feelings, a billionaire with no need to ever think about consequences. He's bought himself out of all legal tangles and court cases and feels invincible. He does whatever it takes for the people around him to do what he wants: if necessary, soul-scarring emotional blackmail, especially with Bea and Alex. He preys on her insecurities and preys on his son-in-law's shock at how wealthy the family really is and the constant financial worries he's faced all his life. It's simply stunning. The father can't tolerate "no" for an answer on anything, not even from his kids.
And then tragedy strikes, and the family must cope with a burgeoning death inquiry by opaque French police. Without answers, the family begins to fall apart. And all those big and little emotional scars work together to bring the family to a shocking finale that definitely was NOT one that I had among my list of possibilities.
Days later, I still can't get it out of my head, especially when I see those Trump kids.
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identify the expression I see on each of his kids whenever they're shown: shock. That vacancy they show, those uncertain eyes: trapped animals with no hope of escape. There were moments in this when I thought I wouldn't be able to continue, it produced so much anxiety in me. On the surface, this is a story about a young married couple in London, she from a well-off family she can't abide and he from a loving, though poor, single-parent family. Bea is a psychotherapist and makes the salary of a typical public servant. Dan wants to be an artist but his drive has been lost in the endless pointless days he spends as a run-of-the-mill real estate agent. He knows Bea has a trust fund of some sort that could help them, but she won't touch it. He's met her parents only once, and they weren't invited to the wedding.
Bea decides they should take their meager savings, rent out the flat, and travel in Europe for a few months to see if Dan can get back his artist self. Their first stop is a French country inn run by the only relative with whom she has voluntary relations: her brother Alex, older but always fragile, a drug addict who's fairly unstable. The inn is a shambles, and although Alex has great intentions of fixing it up, in two years he's gotten nowhere. Dan is appalled, Bea is just loving, understanding that this is way past anything Alex can handle. Dan doesn't understand, and neither does the reader - yet.
And then the parents arrive. The mother is addicted to pills and alcohol and has a long-term unhealthy, shall we say, relationship with Alex. The father is Donald Trump personified: bombastic, bullying, greedy, completely selfish, unconcerned with others' feelings, a billionaire with no need to ever think about consequences. He's bought himself out of all legal tangles and court cases and feels invincible. He does whatever it takes for the people around him to do what he wants: if necessary, soul-scarring emotional blackmail, especially with Bea and Alex. He preys on her insecurities and preys on his son-in-law's shock at how wealthy the family really is and the constant financial worries he's faced all his life. It's simply stunning. The father can't tolerate "no" for an answer on anything, not even from his kids.
And then tragedy strikes, and the family must cope with a burgeoning death inquiry by opaque French police. Without answers, the family begins to fall apart. And all those big and little emotional scars work together to bring the family to a shocking finale that definitely was NOT one that I had among my list of possibilities.
Days later, I still can't get it out of my head, especially when I see those Trump kids.
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LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
Bea and Dan are frustrated with their London life and jobs and therefore decide to take a couple of months off. They start their tour across Europe in France where Bea’s brother Alex runs a hotel. Yet, when they arrive in the Burgundy village, it seems completely deserted. The hotel has never
It’s the third novel by Sadie Jones that I have read and just like the other two before, again I really enjoyed her style of writing. The full extent of the story only slowly reveals and even though it is not a classic suspense novel, you know that there is a lot buried that will be uncovered sooner or later and you eagerly wait for it to show.
The strongest aspect were the complicated family ties. It is not clear at the beginning why Bea resents her parents so much, only when these two characters show up you start to understand her hatred and why she tried to cut all bonds. It is clearly a dysfunctional family in all respects: a strong and stubborn father who, self-centred as he is, just ignores the needs of the other family members and egoistically subordinates all to his wishes. The mother, however, is rather weak and clearly has a very unhealthy relationship with her children, even though they vary a lot. Alex and Bea seem to get along quite well even though there is a big gap in their age, yet, their different attitude towards the parents makes it impossible for them to really unite.
And the novel is about money. It is difficult to talk about it without revealing too much of the plot, thus, quite obviously, it doesn’t really help to make you happy. Even if you got masses of it. All in all, a very compelling read that I enjoyed a lot.
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seen any guests and the house is completely run down. However, Alex is happy with the way things are. Bea is all but close to her family and when her parents announce to visit their children, she is all but amused. Dan cannot understand his wife’s hostility towards her parents, but there is a lot more that he doesn’t know and when they are hit by a major incident, he finally gets to know his real in-laws.It’s the third novel by Sadie Jones that I have read and just like the other two before, again I really enjoyed her style of writing. The full extent of the story only slowly reveals and even though it is not a classic suspense novel, you know that there is a lot buried that will be uncovered sooner or later and you eagerly wait for it to show.
The strongest aspect were the complicated family ties. It is not clear at the beginning why Bea resents her parents so much, only when these two characters show up you start to understand her hatred and why she tried to cut all bonds. It is clearly a dysfunctional family in all respects: a strong and stubborn father who, self-centred as he is, just ignores the needs of the other family members and egoistically subordinates all to his wishes. The mother, however, is rather weak and clearly has a very unhealthy relationship with her children, even though they vary a lot. Alex and Bea seem to get along quite well even though there is a big gap in their age, yet, their different attitude towards the parents makes it impossible for them to really unite.
And the novel is about money. It is difficult to talk about it without revealing too much of the plot, thus, quite obviously, it doesn’t really help to make you happy. Even if you got masses of it. All in all, a very compelling read that I enjoyed a lot.
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LibraryThing member Cherylk
I had mixed feelings about this book. It is one that you kind of have to ponder on what you just read. Not that I am saying that this is a bad book but that the whole concept of the story is more then just skin deep. It has many layers like an onion.
There are the characters, their relationships,
The metamorphic aspect of the "snakes" was a good one. It really fit with the story and getting the point across. Also, there is the seven deadly sins aspect as well. Woven within the pages of this book is the dynamics of family.
While, I liked this book; I struggled some with finding anything that engaging about any of the characters. They were just "fine" for me. However, if I had established a stronger bond with the, this story would have come alive more for me. There is a downfall that I will point out to this book. This is the ending. I was not a fan of it. In fact, I was disappointed by it.
There are the characters, their relationships,
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roles in the story, and the metaphysical aspect. Bea and her brother's relationship with their parents is what shaped them to be who their were now. Dan learned this the longer that he was around Bea's parents. The metamorphic aspect of the "snakes" was a good one. It really fit with the story and getting the point across. Also, there is the seven deadly sins aspect as well. Woven within the pages of this book is the dynamics of family.
While, I liked this book; I struggled some with finding anything that engaging about any of the characters. They were just "fine" for me. However, if I had established a stronger bond with the, this story would have come alive more for me. There is a downfall that I will point out to this book. This is the ending. I was not a fan of it. In fact, I was disappointed by it.
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LibraryThing member bgknighton
A dysfunctional family i gotten together at a rundown hotel in Burgundy. Their secrets are revealed. A little slow and wordy for my taste.
LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
The Snakes by author Sadie Jones starts like literary fiction, the story of a dysfunctional family. Bea and Dan are a young married couple. She's a social worker, he's an artist. She's from a wealthy family but has rejected their money, he's mixed race from a very poor single mother family. Due to
However, half way through it becomes a psychological thriller, the pace picked up significantly and I couldn't put it down. And then the ending happened. Suddenly, what started out compelling just seemed to go completely off the tracks. It was like the author was trying to tell two different stories and, in the attempt, lost the plot.
Still, it's well-written and, if you ignore the ending and just read it for it's depiction of how money can hide some very dark secrets, it's worth a read. I'd give most of the book 4 stars and the ending 2 so, overall, it gets 3 stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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expenses, Dan is forced to take a job as an estate agent and is dissatisfied. Bea suggests that they take a vacation in Europe. He reluctantly agrees. She suggests that they stop at her brother's hotel in France. Again, he reluctantly agrees. It becomes clear that her brother, Alex is a bit of a screw up and the hotel has never opened. What's worse, the attic is full of snakes. Dan wants to leave but Bea wants to stay to help her brother especially when she learns that their parents are coming because she knows Alex' secret and she wants to protect him. I can't say that all of this kept me glued to the page but it was definitely interesting and made me want to see where it was going. However, half way through it becomes a psychological thriller, the pace picked up significantly and I couldn't put it down. And then the ending happened. Suddenly, what started out compelling just seemed to go completely off the tracks. It was like the author was trying to tell two different stories and, in the attempt, lost the plot.
Still, it's well-written and, if you ignore the ending and just read it for it's depiction of how money can hide some very dark secrets, it's worth a read. I'd give most of the book 4 stars and the ending 2 so, overall, it gets 3 stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member nicx27
I'd heard quite a bit about The Snakes before I decided to read it, so much so that I was really intrigued to see what I thought of it myself.
It's a fairly simple story on the face of it, but with so much going on underneath the surface, like a writhing ball of snakes I guess. Bea and Dan are
Having read another of this author's books I was expecting challenging and often unpleasant characters. No surprises here then that there isn't a single character who I could like in this book. Bea is probably the most likeable but even then I wouldn't go so far as to say that I actually did like her. However, I don't need to like the characters to enjoy a story and for the most part I found this an utterly fascinating look at family dynamics, how you cannot escape your past, and the effect of growing up around rich, domineering and powerful men. It's a messed up story in many ways, uncomfortable to read at times, at others quite perplexing as to where the story was going. Ultimately I look upon The Snakes as a slice of life story, albeit rather a distressing slice of life, one which brings to a head matters that have been bubbling away for a while.
Sadie Jones is a talented writer. She is able to burrow down into the heart of feelings and yet does so in a matter of fact way. The ending shocked me. I knew it would as I'd heard other people say it, but I didn't expect that! The book is full of a sense of foreboding and honestly, it's left me feeling quite unsettled. It's the sort of read I could spend ages thinking about what lies beneath the story of greed, wealth, jealousy and flawed family relationships.
It's a fairly simple story on the face of it, but with so much going on underneath the surface, like a writhing ball of snakes I guess. Bea and Dan are
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living, not quite hand to mouth but not far off, in London. I loved the first chapter as they decide, quite rashly actually, to spend the summer travelling using their 'Cushion' of money. Their first stop is the hotel in France run by Bea's chaotic brother, Alex. The short time the three of them spend together is pleasant enough but all that changes when their parents, Griff and Liv, arrive. Suddenly the atmosphere is tense and conflict abounds.Having read another of this author's books I was expecting challenging and often unpleasant characters. No surprises here then that there isn't a single character who I could like in this book. Bea is probably the most likeable but even then I wouldn't go so far as to say that I actually did like her. However, I don't need to like the characters to enjoy a story and for the most part I found this an utterly fascinating look at family dynamics, how you cannot escape your past, and the effect of growing up around rich, domineering and powerful men. It's a messed up story in many ways, uncomfortable to read at times, at others quite perplexing as to where the story was going. Ultimately I look upon The Snakes as a slice of life story, albeit rather a distressing slice of life, one which brings to a head matters that have been bubbling away for a while.
Sadie Jones is a talented writer. She is able to burrow down into the heart of feelings and yet does so in a matter of fact way. The ending shocked me. I knew it would as I'd heard other people say it, but I didn't expect that! The book is full of a sense of foreboding and honestly, it's left me feeling quite unsettled. It's the sort of read I could spend ages thinking about what lies beneath the story of greed, wealth, jealousy and flawed family relationships.
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LibraryThing member davidroche
The Snakes (Chatto & Windus) is my first Sadie Jones book and it won’t be my last. A creeping suspense novel that blends the corruption and distortion of the rich, the seduction that wealth brings and the suspicion of those who don’t have it. All wrapped up in a genuine thriller - A Year in
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Provence meets Deliverance. Show Less
LibraryThing member DebTat2
A novel that shed’s it’s skin taking it from 3 star to 4 star read that has readers as divided over its controversial ending as they are over their love of snakes themselves!
With some dark themes, this is an in-depth look into an anything but typical dysfunctional family as they come together
Beatrice Temple and husband Dan live a fairly run of the mill life in their little flat in London, money is tight but things are good. Dan knew that his wife’s family have money but the topic of her family has always been out of bounds. The only member of her family that she actually likes is her deeply troubled brother, Alex.
After a stint in rehab Alex is now the proud owner of a run down hotel in rural France and after renting out their flat, Bea and Dan each pack a suitcase, jump into their beat up car and decided to make Alex’s hotel their first stop on their extended holiday.
Not knowing what to expect their first sights on the hotel is more than either could have imagined. They are the sole occupants of the building, unless you count the nest of snakes residing in the attic. That is until the unexpected arrival of Bea and Alex’s parents. And so begins the beginning of the end for our troubled family as this holiday getaway ends with one member of the family dead and the other members of the family with more questions than answers, pulling them further apart and more deeply divided than before.
This book delves into some dark and emotional topics and shows that money cannot buy happiness and isn’t the answer to everything. As I said earlier, this is a real slow burner and is a more character exploration as opposed to a murder mystery, interspersed with metaphorical as well as the physical snakes and is an utterly stark take on society and the evils that inhabit peoples lives.
This book has divided its readers so it is definitely one of those books that you have to read and decided for yourself and although it is a slow burner it is 100% worth sticking with it and seeing it through, right up to its bitter end!
The Snakes was published back on March 7 2019 and was published in paperback on 20 Feb 2020 so no matter what your preferred format, all formats are now available for you to grab your own copy and decided for yourself.
With some dark themes, this is an in-depth look into an anything but typical dysfunctional family as they come together
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for a holiday getaway in the hills of rural France. This is a slow burner that will slither under your skin and nest in your brain as it leaves you with a huge pause for thought.Beatrice Temple and husband Dan live a fairly run of the mill life in their little flat in London, money is tight but things are good. Dan knew that his wife’s family have money but the topic of her family has always been out of bounds. The only member of her family that she actually likes is her deeply troubled brother, Alex.
After a stint in rehab Alex is now the proud owner of a run down hotel in rural France and after renting out their flat, Bea and Dan each pack a suitcase, jump into their beat up car and decided to make Alex’s hotel their first stop on their extended holiday.
Not knowing what to expect their first sights on the hotel is more than either could have imagined. They are the sole occupants of the building, unless you count the nest of snakes residing in the attic. That is until the unexpected arrival of Bea and Alex’s parents. And so begins the beginning of the end for our troubled family as this holiday getaway ends with one member of the family dead and the other members of the family with more questions than answers, pulling them further apart and more deeply divided than before.
This book delves into some dark and emotional topics and shows that money cannot buy happiness and isn’t the answer to everything. As I said earlier, this is a real slow burner and is a more character exploration as opposed to a murder mystery, interspersed with metaphorical as well as the physical snakes and is an utterly stark take on society and the evils that inhabit peoples lives.
This book has divided its readers so it is definitely one of those books that you have to read and decided for yourself and although it is a slow burner it is 100% worth sticking with it and seeing it through, right up to its bitter end!
The Snakes was published back on March 7 2019 and was published in paperback on 20 Feb 2020 so no matter what your preferred format, all formats are now available for you to grab your own copy and decided for yourself.
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