A bit like Muriel Spark.

Into the short fiction box

Taken from the Short Fiction Bookbox

A short but strangely compelling read about amateur writer Bonnie. Bonnie seems unable to complete anything & with an abandoned degree behind her, takes a flat where she is sort of befriended by her new landlady. Landlady Sylvia takes a particular interest in one of Bonnie's unfinished stories about a young woman experiencing strange events while living at the seaside. Sylvia is very enthusiastic in her encouragement to get Bonnie to finish the tale, going to the extent of suggesting the pair visit the seaside in the hope it gives her the inspiration she needs to complete her work.

There's a story within a story here & there are similarities between Bonnie's life & the fictional character she's created. Despite things being fairly slow paced, a rather strong sense of unease is created, made more unsettling because you know something isn't right about the situation but it's hard to put your finger on what it is actually wrong. Once you realise what's going on, little things that have happened take on a new significance & you can't help but wonder just how things are going to conclude for the parties involved.

Overall an intriguing read of suggestibility & manipulation.

To be added to a future round of the Short Fiction Bookbox