Author spotlight - This year, I set out to explore more books written by women and decided to immerse myself in the world of a different female author each month, discovering her voice and perspective through several of her books.
In February, I deep dived into the world of Scottish author Ali Smith. Her Seasonal Quartet had caught my eye repeatedly in bookstores and I was very eager to finally discover her work.
Ali Smith was born in Inverness in 1962 and studied English Literature at Aberdeen University. She published her first book of short stories in 1995 and has since then published many more novels and short story collections. She has been four times shortlisted for the Booker Prize, has won the Goldsmiths Prize, Orwell Prize, Costa Best Novel Award and the Women’s Prize.
To delve into her universe, I decided to read the Seasonal Quartet—Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer—along with How to Be Both, which appeared to be a few of her most well known works.
I started with How to Be Both, not knowing that the book was actually split between two completely separate stories. In this novel, Ali Smith plays with the idea of “bothness” —past and present, male and female, life and death, art and reality which I thought was very interesting.
One half follows George, a modern-day teenage girl grieving the loss of her mother, who was deeply interested in art and activism. The other half tells the story of Francesco del Cossa, a real-life 15th-century Italian painter.
What I found interesting is that the order in which the two stories appear in the book depends on the edition you read. My version of the book started with the story of George and by the time I got to the second story, I actually found myself wanting to continue the first one instead of focusing on someone else’s. If anything, I would like a follow up on George’s story.
I then began reading the Seasonal Quartet. I had assumed that the books had to be read in order—starting with Autumn and ending with Summer but the first three books follow different stories so there’s no real set order. That said, it's best to finish with Summer, as a few characters make a return in that final instalment..
The Seasonal Quartet explores contemporary Britain through the lens of changing seasons. It captures the political, cultural, and emotional climate of the UK, especially in the aftermath of Brexit. If you're seeking stories driven by a strong plot, these may not be what you're looking for. The pace is slow. The thoughts are deep. But if you're open to it, this journey will lead you through the complexities of the human experience—its hopes, doubts, struggles, and the beauty that lies within.
Autumn follows the friendship between Elisabeth, a young art historian, and Daniel, an elderly refugee and former songwriter. As Daniel drifts between dreams and memories in his hospital bed, Elisabeth reflects on political uncertainty, nostalgia, and the role of art in turbulent times.
Winter explores family tensions through the story of Sophia, a former businesswoman who has isolated herself. Her son, Art, comes to visit for Christmas, bringing with him a stranger pretending to be his girlfriend. Sophia’s estranged sister Iris, an outspoken activist, completes the picture as she joins them for the holidays. Of the four seasonal books, I think this one was my favourite. I really enjoyed the character of Lux, the "fake" girlfriend, and how she unexpectedly helps bring this fractured family together, even if just for a moment.
Spring follows Richard, a grieving filmmaker struggling with his career, and Brit, a cynical worker at an immigration detention center. Their lives are transformed when they encounter Florence, a mysterious young girl with an uncanny ability to break through barriers.
Summer serves as the grand finale, tying together threads from the previous books. The story follows siblings Sacha and Robert as they navigate the Covid-19 lockdown. In this book, we also learn more about the life of Daniel (from Autumn) and his experience as a Jewish refugee fleeing Nazi Germany. The story consistently refers back to historical events, especially through Daniel’s experiences and the lessons he passes on to the younger characters.
Overall, these novels blend personal stories with broader societal issues, such as migration, social justice, and environmental concern, while also exploring the intricacies of intergenerational relationships and the impact of memory and history.
I am really glad I read these books as they touch on very important topics and it has given me a lot to think about but I also want to be honest and say these were not easy to read for me.
One article I read about Ali Smith’s work described her as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Anglo-Saxon literature, and I can easily see why. Her writing style is quite unconventional, sometimes shifting unexpectedly, which occasionally made it challenging for me to fully immerse myself in the stories.
If you'd like to discover her work yourself, I would personally recommend Winter as an introduction to her universe.
I hope you enjoyed reading this review as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Love,
