Review
Kabak's debut is set in Wales (which, just in case you're
not familiar with the geography of Britain, is the bulge on the West side of the
country
surrounded on three sides by sea) - Kate Cadogan is a typical
desperate housewife who is triggered to take stock of her life when she comes
home to find her teenage son has trashed the house and her husband couldn't care
less. As she starts to take a close look at her life we travel back with
her to her teenage years in the 1970s which were dominated by her controlling
mother, and Kate's unplanned pregnancy, which landed her married to Rodney.
Luckily for Kate, she has two supportive friends, Ingrid and Moira, who stick
with her through the years, and the support and sympathy of her grandparents and
aunt (to the point that one can't help wondering how things managed to spiral to
such a low point for...
Beyond the Book
Carrie Kabak assures us that
Cover The Butter is not
autobiographical. However, it would seem that she has much in
common with her protagonist. Like Kate, she was discouraged from following
her artistic talent and desires and instead was directed firmly towards a "real
job". She says, "At eighteen, it was time to line up for career advice at
school. The Head Teacher studied our exam results. She pointed to each girl,
teacher, bank, nurse, teacher, bank, nurse. I was labelled 'teacher' and
encouraged to train for a real job.... So I went to Cardiff University to train
as a French, English and Art teacher. At college, an English professor pulled me
to one side. Why was I teaching, he asked. Why wasn't I writing? Because it's
not a proper job, I...
