Read an Excerpt

Why is it that the most sensitive, intelligent children often end
up with selfish, ineffective parents? Whatever the reason, it
provides fodder for many an interesting novel. ALL THE FINEST GIRLS
by Alexandra Styron (yes, she is William Styron's daughter) stands
firmly in this category, enlivened by skillful writing and a lack
of whining.

Adelaide Kane Abraham grows up wealthy and neglected by her
self-absorbed parents, Hank and "Baby." Hank is a well-known
political essayist and scholar. Baby is an heiress and actress.
Their sarcastic, often drunken fighting leaves their daughter
alienated and subject to fearsome visits from "Cat." This feline
bogeyman torments the young Addy, reducing her to screaming rages.
She becomes practically unmanageable, wild haired and
unpredictable.

Security and comfort arrive for Addy in the form of Louise, a black
live-in nanny from the Caribbean island of St. Clair. Louise takes
Addy to movies and defends her from the taunts of classmates. Addy
grows up feeling that Louise saved her from a loveless, terrifying
existence, so when she learns as an adult that Louise has died, she
impulsively flies to St. Clair for the funeral.

Under the blistering sun, horning in on Louise's real family, Addy
confronts some painful truths about her own past as well as
Louise's. She searches her old nanny's room in vain for a picture
of herself. Louise's two grown sons by turns shun and tease Addy.
Louise's sister Marva takes the time to relate the details of
Louise's love life, imparting wisdom to the shell-shocked Addy
along the way. "People are nevah perfect," says Marva. "Love is a
mortal pain, but yah gots to love or yah aren't wort yah flesh on
de open market."

In the end, the knowledge Addy gains in St. Clair seems to free her
to become more of an adult, to begin to forgive herself and others
for their failures. She visits her mother, long divorced from her
father, with a new perspective; and while Addy will always be
sensitive and perhaps fragile, we are left with hope that she can
build a happier life.

Ms. Styron's prose is immediate and affecting. Adelaide the adult
is telling the tale, but her memories of childhood are clear and
direct. Throughout the book we get fresh, compelling images that
keep us sympathetic with Addy. "My feelings crept up my neck like
an allergic reaction, making me want to remove my own skin." The
author isn't afraid to experiment with form, using italics and
incomplete sentences to create the intensity of the younger Addy's
fear and confusion. ALL THE FINEST GIRLS is interesting, original,
and well worth reading.