Krishna
This was also one of the novels made into a movie which became a blockbuster in 1945 and starred Joan Crawford.
The contrast with the other book is interesting. While the other book feels like reading a Dick Tracy novel in words, this one attempts to add a little more gravitas to the situation, attempting to follow the life of Mildred Pierce, who is a housewife dependent on her husband Bert. But this being Iain M. Banks, do not expect too much seriousness. The style is recognizably his, with easygoing conversations and simple descriptions, but the tone of the book is recognizably different.
The book opens with Mildred catching her husband cheating, and he walks out on her after an argument. Mildred’s elder child, Veda, bears a huge grudge on Mildred for causing the `loss‘ of her father in her life, but Mildred has bigger worries – like how to make a living. She thinks of expanding her small hobby-like business of growing pies, but lacks the money for capital.
She decides to take up a job as a waitress, hiding the fact from the snobbish Veda who scorns her every move while happily living off her income. She also has a series of affairs with men, one with a Polo playing celebrity called Marty Bergon, without realizing that he is a celebrity.
She takes all initiatives that come her way, starting a restaurant and growing it to a chain of restaurants, but loses her younger child Ray to illness, made doubly bitter as she was away having an affair at that time – she arrives only just in time to watch her die.
Veda tries out her dream of being a piano player only to be rudely rejected as hopeless by her teacher.
Fortunes change – Veda grows more and more bitter, obdurate and obstructive that Mildred has no choice but to throw her out. She is amazed to find that Veda is a famous singer, and is a celebrity in her own right. She yearns to be reunited with her, and watches Marty go down in flames, consumed by crushing debt.
The book ends rather abruptly. The story is easygoing, and is told in a lightweight style. Even the twists, surprises and turns do not amaze you.
The book is fairly interesting, but since neither the narration nor the story-line is weighty, and since this has the feel of a two penny novel of old times, I can award it no more than a 4/10
–Krishna