Renata

by Caroline Blackwood

First published 1992

Renata arrives like a force of nature, beautiful and unpredictable. She draws people into her orbit with magnetic charm, then leaves chaos in her wake. Those who encounter her find their carefully ordered lives suddenly upended. Her presence exposes the fragilities and pretenses of everyone around her. Some are captivated by her spontaneity and passion. Others recoil from the destruction she seems to carry with her. As relationships fracture and loyalties shift, the people in Renata's world must confront uncomfortable truths about themselves. The novel explores how one person's refusal to conform can illuminate the compromises others have made. At its heart, this is a story about the price of authenticity and the courage required to live without apology.

Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, psychological-thriller

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: character-study, unreliable-narrator

Period: 20th-century, 21st-century

256 pages · Paperback · FLAMMARION

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