Lucy Apps' Debut Novel Explores a Vulnerable Teen's Inner World in East London
Longlisted for the prestigious Women's Prize, Lucy Apps' ambitious debut novel, Gloria Don't Speak, journeys into the inner world of a vulnerable teenager left traumatised by a toxic friendship. This tender portrait of a woman with a learning disability offers a unique and compelling narrative that brings the wider world into sharp focus through small, intimate details.
A Summer in East London: Gloria's Story
The novel tells the story of 19-year-old Gloria, living in east London with her mother during the summer of 1999. Gloria has a learning disability and has passed the age when the state might offer her support. Often, she finds contentment in simple pleasures, happy enough "to stop outdoors where it is nice and busy, and watch things happen and be part of it."
However, Gloria's world is not without challenges. She sometimes faces theft or verbal abuse, leaving her with a "heavy feeling inside her" as she walks through parks and streets alone, trying not to attract attention. Her life takes a turn when she develops a friendship with Jack, finding solace in their connection: "He has no one to talk to and she has no one to listen to, so they can fit with each other."
The Complexity of Friendship and Control
While Gloria merely wants to enjoy simple activities like eating chips or drinking a coke in a pub, Jack often rants about the end of the world, "waiting the summer out, waiting the city out, counting down to zero." For Jack, the attraction to Gloria lies in his ability to do what he likes with her. Though not obviously motivated by sex, he certainly craves control, creating a dynamic that is both tender and troubling.
Apps has not set herself an easy task in writing this novel. The challenge of showing Gloria's limited view of the world without making the book itself simplistic is masterfully handled. Initially, the text feels slightly jarring, with short sentences and simple structures. Apps chooses the third person, but the narrative often pushes towards first person, creating a unique voice.
Language and Perception: Gloria's World
The consistent use of "don't" in place of "doesn't" might be distracting at first, and readers may struggle to differentiate between the narrator's voice and Gloria's free, indirect speech. However, as the narrative develops, these initial stumbling blocks drop away. We come to understand that for Gloria, language is less about meaning and more about finding comfort in rhythm and pattern, as seen in phrases like "Wrongwi that wrongwi that wrongwi that."
Moments of beauty elevate Gloria's experience, giving readers a wonderful sense of the streetscapes of east London. Gloria perceives much of the world as sensation and pattern, and Apps cleverly uses this lens to pick out small details that bring the wider world into sharp focus, showcasing her skill as a writer.
Engaging Secondary Characters and Social Commentary
Despite the narrow viewpoint, the secondary characters are engaging and well-developed. Gloria's mother is doing her best, but when she is at work all day, how can she adequately supervise her daughter? Tyrone, Gloria's carer in the later part of the book, is resolute and patient. He wants and deserves time and a half for spending a dire night searching for her, but is also motivated by real concern and compassion.
When Jack commits a terrible crime, Gloria is asked to give evidence in court. Assured that she won't encounter Jack, the tragedy is that she actually wants to see him because, although she understands his crime, she still just wants to have a friend. Memories of violence have left her traumatised, but the talking therapies that might help others are of no use to her, highlighting the gaps in support systems.
A Carefully Structured and Heartbreaking Narrative
This is a carefully structured novel that grows in impact and tension. Gentle, tender, and troubling, it takes readers inside the life of a person whose world would generally be closed to us. The end of the book is heartbreaking as it reinforces how small Gloria's needs are—she merely seeks a little kindness and company.
Apps purposely avoids making any wider societal point within the close focus of this novel. However, readers are inevitably led to ask why our society is so fast and fragmented that no one has time for Gloria. This subtle commentary on social neglect and the need for compassion resonates deeply, making Gloria Don't Speak a powerful and memorable debut.
Gloria Don't Speak by Lucy Apps is published by Weatherglass (£12.99), offering a poignant exploration of vulnerability, friendship, and the human need for connection in a complex world.
