Literary Fiction Annotation

 

Sisters by Daisy Johnson

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publication Date: August 25, 2020

Number of Pages: 224

Synopsis: A haunting, gothic-inspired novel about the close yet turbulent relationship between two teenage sisters, July and September. The girls, along with their mother Sheela, seek a fresh start and move to an old family home. After their move, the home and the lives of those who reside within it are permeated with an inexplicable sense of dread which hangs over the family like a dark cloud. As the girls play a game called “September Says,” in which the elder sister chooses ever more dangerous tasks for the younger sister to complete, we learn more about the troublesome dynamic between these two. The novel is told in parts which alternate among the points-of-view of July, September, and Sheela. Though it is at times dense and slow-paced, this book features multifaceted characters and a thoughtful examination of serious themes such as mental illness and bullying.

Literary Fiction Elements:

“Words…are woven together through elegant, often poetic language” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 74)

The majority of the language, especially the descriptions, in this novel is very poetic. Johnson’s lyrical use of language places the reader into the setting of the story: “A house. Slices of it through the hedge, across the fields. Dirty white, windows sunk into the brick” (Johnson, 2020, p. 13). In literary fiction, there is an emphasis on literary style and language. Oftentimes, these elements, along with the structure of the novel, “may be more complex, even experimental” and works of literary fiction “may play with the conventions of other genres” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 74). Johnson’s use of poetic language throughout the novel and her choice to tell July and September’s story from alternating points-of-view make this work characteristically reflective of the genre of literary fiction.

Dark tone that reflects the “seriousness of the issues considered” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 74)

There is a sense of dread throughout the novel, which begins with the mystery of why July, September, and Sheela are moving to an old family home. The novel begins with phrases like “[t]his the year we are haunted…we are friendless, necessary only to ourselves” and “[t]his the year something else is the terror” (Johnson, 2020, p. 13). Without any further explanation, we as readers are pulled into the strange world of these characters. The tone is dark, moody, and mysterious—reflective of more serious issues such as the bullying and other unhealthy behaviors which occur between the sisters and the poor mental health of all three family members.

“[d]istinct and memorable” characters; “dimensional figures;” sometimes “unlikeable characters” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 76)

The characters in Johnson’s novel are, in one word, strange. July, September, and Sheela are enigmatic and, at times, unlikeable—most notably September, who bosses her younger sister around and makes her do terrible things. At first, when the sisters play the game “September Says,” September tells July to do things like “write your name on the wall in permanent marker” (Johnson, 2020, p. 34). However, her commands grow increasingly troublesome: “cut off your fingernails and put them in the milk,” [r]un into the road,” “swallow this tiny battery” (Johnson, 2020, p. 35, 145). Her manipulation of July is worrisome as she has no regard for the safety of her younger sister. The sisters are unforgettable as characters and Johnson does not shy away from creating multi-faceted yet potentially unlikeable characters.

Read-Alikes:

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews

The Beloveds by Maureen Lindley

 

References

Johnson, D. (2020). Sisters. Riverhead Books.

Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd ed.). ALA Editions.