Audrey a young professional woman returns to rural Canada from England after the unexpected death of her brother James. Audrey re-visits the town full of ghosts from her fraught past… her distant father, two unsatisfactory stepmothers, her dark and dangerous cousin Struan and her childhood mate, Frank.
During a terrible storm Audrey crashes through the old town bridge. Audrey is pulled from the wreck and is transported to the local hospital where she weaves the threads of her tortured childhood with the trials and triumphs of her new life. Audrey presents this blended fabric in a fitful and imagined conversation.
She tells him of the successful documentary film company that James and she created in London, and their home away from home in exotic and bustling Cairo. Audrey also confronts her troubled home life, where after the mysterious death of their mother, James and Audrey endure an emotionally void home.
She also remembers happier moments of lazy summers by the river, or snuggling in the hayloft with Frank who becomes an invisible vessel for her ravings, to find peace in her tumultuous life.
Yet Audrey must remember her unspeakably horrific relationship with Struan.
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Jill
After starting reading I could not put this book down and I sat curled under a blanket until I was done. In the weeks that followed memories popped into my head as if they were my own but I realized that they were fleeting images from A Snake at My Shoulder. I have now read this book again and recommend it as a thoroughly good read filled with vivid images and believable characters. Places I want to see and people I want to know!
Unknown
I have had a car crash and been in hospital for over 2 months. I could really identify with Audrey. The descriptive locations, some of which I have visited also allowed me to travel back to the times in my own life. I have not had the same personal experiences as Audrey but Ms Kenny's gentle and careful way showed me how we are so influenced by our past, how we can so easily become someone else's collateral damage without realizing it.
Thank you Ms Kenny for exposing that understanding and bringing it to the fore. You are a wise woman.
Karry
Joan Kenny’s, A Snake At My Shoulder is beautifully raw and well written. Her novel takes you through the journey of a young woman’s life, from despair to a place of gratitude. The power of her words took me through a range of emotions, from happy, sad, shock and grief. The main character, Audrey offers up truths in life that really hit home. I found myself laughing out loud as she navigates her way through life’s adventures. These kept me turning the pages with anticipation of what life would bring her and where her next adventure would take her.
Hollywood Book Reviews
Reviewed by: Aly Avina
Every now and then a book comes along that feels as though it changes you just by having read it. It makes you think about how one’s inner psyche and life experiences can change them into the individual you see before you today. This was that book for me. Throughout this novel, we see that to move on from your past and become your best, truest self, you have to look inward. You need to face your inner demons head-on and learn not only why they are there, but what they are trying to teach you going forward. This is one of the biggest themes in A Snake At My Shoulder by Joan Kenny.
In this book, we meet Audrey, a young professional who, upon her return to rural Canada from England after the sudden death of her brother, James, finds herself in the hospital after a car accident. The plot then follows her journey to figure out the events which led up to the accident that ultimately led her to her stay in the hospital. In doing so, she begins to recall earlier memories from her life which reveals the harsh and ugly truth of the root of her inner torment. The roads begin to lead back to her dangerous cousin Straun, as well as the trials and tribulations she faced in her childhood due to her troubled home life.
The symbolism throughout this book is truly inspired and brought a level of depth to the book which immediately draws the reader in and makes them fully invested in Audrey’s life and where it goes from here. Particularly the accident itself, because it is what jumpstarts the process of Audrey’s healing process, not just physically but emotionally as well. The duality of the tender, happier moments contrasting with the heartbreaking memories Audrey is facing perfectly mimics her beginnings contrasting with who she has become as a woman.
The truth is trauma sustained during childhood has a direct effect on who we become as people. The way the author seamlessly illustrates this with a well-paced flow of the plot itself is truly remarkable. I also enjoyed the show of strength that it takes for one to face their inner demons once and for all and how it, in the end, can help you begin to truly heal. Kenny’s way of creating a sympathetic and genuine character in this emotionally-charged novel such as this was incredible to experience first-hand.