Beautyland
By Marie-Helene Bertino
Review by Alex A
Adina is an all-too-relatable alien, sent to Earth by her superiors in the form of a human girl born in Philadelphia in 1977. She is ‘activated’ at age four when a fax machine, saved from the garbage, is installed in her bedroom.
Her early life is guided by her indomitable, imperfect mother, but, as she grows, the cast of her life widens to include friends, bullies, lovers, coworkers and pets. Throughout, she faxes reports back to her home planet, and finds herself torn between longing for her ‘real’ home, and her increasing attachment to the humans around her, despite their flaws.
Bertino’s writing is wry, tightly observed, darkly funny and devastatingly honest, particularly her descriptions of human foibles and idiosyncrasies.
Adina’s life experiences in late-20th century America are both pedestrian and extraordinary, and she matter-of-factly observes all the wonderful, brutal, commonplace, life-making moments of her existence on earth.
Recommended for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
