Review by Peter Syslo
NATURE OF THE DAUGHTERS (2008 Deth Pub. www.scarycheerleader.com) is a novel by Elizadeth Hetherington. I will begin by saying that she is one of the reasons that I am thankful for the internet. Ten or fifteen years ago, I would have had little chance of discovering her amazing writing talent - and that would be a shame. Hetherington has penned an incredible novel and I urge people to go to her site and buy this book. It is beyond being just "a book/novel"; it is literature and it holds just as much merit, if not more merit, than anything I read in high school or in college. It is one of the most honest, introspective, and entertaining stories that I have encountered and it is a testament to the fact that women are soon going to have their day, in the horror genre.
NATURE OF THE DAUGHTERS is about a 13/14 year-old girl named Renata Savannah (it is told from her perspective). She is sort of an "outcast from the outcasts", meaning that she is her own entity and isn’t even accepted in the traditional "outcast" group in school (the group that is often just as bad and judgmental as the popular group of kids). She is a "darker" soul, meaning that she loves brutal death metal, she is fascinated with death/dying, she experiences murderous/violent impulses, and she has a raging Elektra complex (she lusts after her father and wishes to dispose of her mother). However, Renata shares a common quality with most "monsters" - she is lonely and just wants to experience unconditional love and acceptance. She has a great, albeit twisted, relationship with her father, Glen (who is basically a decent guy with a d ark history) and her relationship with her twin sister, Renee, is strained but they become closer as they begin communicating with one another (Renee is the polar opposite of Renata). The main source of Renata’s pain and conflict is her mother; her relationship with her mother is a "mommie dearest" type of situation where the mother often locks her in the basement, beats her, and wishes her dead (she often says, "Glen, your daughter Renata…"). It is the familial interaction which drives this story and it is basically a blueprint for the type of upbringing that will create a maniac.
Most of the novel is about Renata’s self-discovery and maturation process over the span of a few weeks, around her 14th birthday, on Halloween. Hetherington provides a detailed account of Renata’s thought process and behavior, which gives a person much insight into the kind of formula/ingredients that produce a serial killer. Renata, herself, speaks of "nature versus nurture", the effects of which are demonstrated by what she endures, on a daily basis. Seriously, any parent/adult who denies that parental behavior can warp a child - read this book! Anyway, back to my synopsis. As the novel progresses, Renata has an "awakening" moment in the middle of a swamp, which opens her to new experiences - some good and some bad. Her relationship with everyone in her family grows stronger and she branches out; like a butterfly from a cocoon she becomes a more popular girl and gains a strange sort of acceptance. But, as she gains new friends, interests, and a sexual awareness, her dark past and her family’s dark past still haunts her and causes her pain. Just as she seems to reach a level of normalcy, events occur that speed her on the road to embracing her true "nature" and her seemingly predetermined path.
There’s really not much else that I can say - the novel was incredible. Hetherington has skillfully created a compelling, disturbing, and very perceptive story with which I easily connected. Renata embodies that spirit and presence of "nothingness" or "rejection" that I have and all of us have experienced at one time or another (if you don’t think you have, then you are seriously deluded and don’t know yourself one bit). Renata has that persevering strength within her that all wounded people seem to possess and she is wildly intelligent on top of all of that. In an interesting contrast, Renee is written as an opposite; Renata personifies the world of reality and Renee personifies the world of appearances. It is interesting to see the story play out, as Renee and Renata cross over one another’s boundaries and delve into each other’s worlds.
Aside from the twins, there is also a larger back story regarding Glen and the mother - I don’t want to spoil it, but it was perfectly crafted to fit in with the dysfunction of the entire household and it added such depth and depravity to the tale. Believe me, you are reading along and you don’t think that their lives can get any more complicated and then, hey… that’s something I haven’t read before! In short, Hetherington explores many taboos and unspeakable acts with such confidence and conviction that she makes a compelling, honest, and unbiased connection with the reader - it does get you involved in the story.
Along with the detailed and engaging storyline, Hetherington also creates a very tangible world with much texture. Whether it’s describing a bowel movement that involves tapeworms or the appearance of Renata’s vomit on a car, Hetherington paints the picture so well, that you get an immediate visual image and I truly think that she has the knack for creating a whole "other world" with her words. Some of my favorite parts of the novel included: Renata spending her birthday at the "Gorefest" concert, with her beloved father, Glen; Glen’s description of his turbid family past and the "nature"; Renata and Renee’s FREAKY FRIDAY/ role reversal game; and the very end of the novel, which hits you like a carefully placed fist in the solar plexus. Those are just some moments which stood out and there are many more; like I said, the novel is a great read and it is something that everyone should experience.
Cutting to the chase: Elizadeth Hetherington is a name that you should get to know. Go to her site, buy her book, and help to keep her writing. I hope that she eventually gets involved in writing scripts or even adapts her novels to film (NATURE OF THE DAUGHTERS would translate very well to film) - this is the kind of writing that the horror genre needs and I think that we should support it. She also gives us gore, blood, and thrills - it’s not all just beautifully written character interaction; she provides us with enough of "the ugliness" to capture the attention of any horror fan. As for criticism, I really have nothing adverse to say about it; actually, the only thing that I found was that sometimes Renata’s descriptive insults of her mother were a little confusing. They were hilarious (and I have some great material to yell at drivers the next time I experience road rage - I will cite you as a source Elizadeth, don’t worry) but at times it was slightly confusing as to whom Renata was referring. Maybe if just one or two descriptive phrases were used, it may have been a little easier to follow in places. But, that is just minor nitpicking. Well, I’ve said all that I’ve wanted to say - NATURE OF THE DAUGHTERS is a great experience and I highly recommend it. Elizadeth Hetherington has inspired me and I give her novel a 10/10.