Orchid and The Wasp by Caoilinn Hughes

I read a few critical reviews of this debut novel by Caoilinn Hughes and decided to give it a whirl. Described as “Kick-Ass and Whip-Smart”, “Dazzling, Heady Fiction”, “Urgent, Funny, Painstaking”. In fact the publisher’s own blurb followed with similar hyperbole: “Written in electric, heart-stopping prose, Orchid and The Wasp is a dazzlingly original novel about gigantic ambitions and social upheaval, chewing through sexuality, class and politics with joyful, anarchic fury, announcing Caoilinn Hughes as a rising star of literary fiction.”

And then I wondered, have I actually read the same book?

The characters are extremely well formed. I completely disliked Jarleth, the father in the story. He embodied that Alpha male, cynically Catholic, banker who used his daughter to try to ‘man up’ his sensitive son. Sive, the mother, is completely self-absorbed; focused entirely on her musical career and not remotely cut out for parenthood – but then she is damaged.

The grown-ups relationship is strained from the start and completely breaks down early in the story, leaving the young Gael to pick up the slack and support her brother, Guthrie. There is ambition, social and personal upheaval and lots of sex, mostly quite brutal and devoid of love.

Rather than ‘anarchic fury’ I found the story as it rolled out very emotional and sad. It reminded me of my late husband’s entirely dysfunctional, histrionic Irish parents who spent all their efforts on creating a façade of the perfect family unit rather than nurturing their children.

I agree with others that Caoilinn Hughes has a bright writing future ahead and I look forward to reading her next book when it comes out in 2020. I suggest you read Orchid and The Wasp without much attention to the quotes on the cover – you may find a deeper connection than is suggested.

I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Orchid and The Wasp by Caoilinn Hughes is available to buy on Amazon.