Hideous Kinky door Esther Freud

A REVIEW of ’Hidious Kinky’ by Ester Freud:

freedom and self-discovery

Esther Freud was born in 1963 in London, but grew up mostly in Sussex. She trained at the drama centre as an actress and has since worked in television and theatre as both an actress and a writer. In 1993 she was chosen by Granta as one of the Best of Young British Novelists. Penguin also publish ‘Peerles Flats‘, ’Gaglow’, and her most recent novel, ’The Wild’. ’Hidious Kinky’ was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize.
‘Hidious Kinky’ is a search for freedom and self-discovery with a five-years-old girl, her sister Bea and their mum as the main characters. The five-years-old girl is very nice and funny just like her mum, but Bea is a little bit mean. for example; “A terrible mistake had been made over the pyjamas. One pair was pale blue and obviously meant for Bea, the other, smaller pair were the colour of honeycomb and scattered with teddy bears, running, jumping and standing on their heads. I reached eagerly for them, but Aunty Rose stopped me, saying, ’Bea, seeing as you’re the eldest would you like to choose which pyjamas you’d prefer?I stood still, willing her under my breath, ’The blue ones, the blue ones,’until I saw Bea slip her caftan over her head and take up the wrong pair. The trousers hung high above her ankles and the sleeves were ridiculously short. She buttoned up the shirt and beamed. ’I’ll take these’. She even said, ’thank you’.” (page 112) Bea don’t like the pyjama which she choose more, but she only choose it, because she know that her younger sister like that one more! That’s mean!
This story is written from the youngest daughter point of view. She is five-years-old and hasn’t got a name in this book. Bea is her older sister, she is +/- eight.
The story begins when a mother and her two daughters are going to Marrakech. They are English, but the hippie mother likes to live in another country, meet people and becomes a Sufi. In Marrakech their mum is looking for work, but that’s not easy to find, but it’s necessary, because their money on the bank isn’t arrive yet. Then they meet Bilal, his work is attracting people on the street. Bilal becomes a part of the family, and he learns the girls acrobatic truces. In Marrakech they live in a Hotel and two ladies had stolen clothes so they decide to go to the Barage: a big lake in the mountains. They live in the open air but after a week of good live, there is no food anymore so they had to go back. Their Mum decides to became a Sufi and she prays six times a day. Bilal is going away, looking for some work. Their mum wants to a famous mosque, but Bea doesn’t want to go and asks if she may stay there and get some school lessons. Bea is very surprises when Mum says it’s okay. The next day Mum is leaving Marrakech, but only with her younger daughter. In the mosque she hears she isn’t welcome and then she’s very angry and they go back. When they want to pick up Bea, she is gone. After they find her Bea doesn’t want to live like a hippie anymore. A couple of days later in Marrakech, Bilal is back again. Bea and her sister are very happy and they want Bilal for Dad. Is that possible…..?
Esther Freud is a fantastic writer and you should read the book. Sometimes it’s a little bit difficult, but that doesn’t matter. It’s written in the past. There are many characters in the story, so you’re able to identify with one ore more of them, which is good.