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Rites
When I was fourteen I did something terrible. At least, that's what some people tell me. Four teenagers make a pact to lose their virginity away from the watchful eyes of parents and priest. Fifteen years later, they reflect on the past and unravel how it all went so horribly wrong. This stunning debut novel from Sophie Coulombeau is a vivid story of growing up, confession and the uncertainty of truth. Winner of the Next Great Novelist Award 2012. ""Terrific. A story that's intriguing, puzzling, and entirely gripping."" -Philip Pullman
- GenresFictionContemporary
192 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2012
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75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 21, 2017
eine Geschichte, die rückwirkend und aus vielen unterschiedlichen Perspektiven erzählt wird. Am Ende muss sich jeder seine eigene Meinung zu den Ereignissen bilden. Ich finde die Story gut aufgebaut und erzählt und gebe deshalb 5 Sterne.
July 7, 2012
Sometimes you come across a new writer who possesses breathtaking originality and verve. Sophie Coulombeau is the genuine article, and in my opinion this novel will come to be seen as her first step on the road to becoming a literary name.
The premise seems deceptively simple; four teenagers strike a pact to lose their virginity together, and despite their best intentions it all goes horribly wrong. Now, many years later, they reflect on the loss of innocence and how it shaped their lives.
Coulombeau uses the mechanism of first person narration throughout, as each of the four main protagonists, along with a supporting cast of eight other key figures, are all asked to recollect the incident. This approach offers the opportunity for a range of narrative reminiscences, some of which may be more reliable than others. Her real skill lies in creating sufficient differentiation between the voices that all twelve characters remain clear and uniquely individual, and not once did I struggle to remember who was who.
The novel came to be published when Route Publishing selected an extract of Coulombeau’s manuscript as the winner of their “Next Great Novelist Award 2012�, the prize being full publication. This came as something of a shock for Coulombeau who apparently hadn’t completed the rest of the book and consequently had to quickly complete her draft. It doesn’t show, which must be a testament to her skill.
I often criticise other reviewers who use lazy comparisons to describe an author’s carefully constructed prose as being just like another writer’s, and so I consciously try not to do that in my reviews. However “Rites� did give me a similar feeling to Stephen May’s “Life! Death! Prizes!�, and that is no lazy comparison; it simply means that they share the same soul. Twinned, but of different parents, if you like.
As I read through the novel, with my opinions being deliberately manipulated by the different first person narrations the question that kept puzzling me was “Who are they telling this to?�. Am I (as the reader) being asked to take on the role of inquisitor or confessor, or is that the role being adopted by the author? Is it actually one of the protagonists themselves who is the inquisitor? The way that Coulombeau chooses to deal with this particular issue is a marker for her confidence and ability as an author. When I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask her about this aspect of the novel she simply replied with an enigmatic face, which indicated that I should draw my own conclusions.
Well the conclusion I have drawn is that Sophie Coulombeau is a very fine novelist indeed and one who does not need to explain her methods or approach. I will certainly be following her career trajectory with genuine appreciation and admiration.
The premise seems deceptively simple; four teenagers strike a pact to lose their virginity together, and despite their best intentions it all goes horribly wrong. Now, many years later, they reflect on the loss of innocence and how it shaped their lives.
Coulombeau uses the mechanism of first person narration throughout, as each of the four main protagonists, along with a supporting cast of eight other key figures, are all asked to recollect the incident. This approach offers the opportunity for a range of narrative reminiscences, some of which may be more reliable than others. Her real skill lies in creating sufficient differentiation between the voices that all twelve characters remain clear and uniquely individual, and not once did I struggle to remember who was who.
The novel came to be published when Route Publishing selected an extract of Coulombeau’s manuscript as the winner of their “Next Great Novelist Award 2012�, the prize being full publication. This came as something of a shock for Coulombeau who apparently hadn’t completed the rest of the book and consequently had to quickly complete her draft. It doesn’t show, which must be a testament to her skill.
I often criticise other reviewers who use lazy comparisons to describe an author’s carefully constructed prose as being just like another writer’s, and so I consciously try not to do that in my reviews. However “Rites� did give me a similar feeling to Stephen May’s “Life! Death! Prizes!�, and that is no lazy comparison; it simply means that they share the same soul. Twinned, but of different parents, if you like.
As I read through the novel, with my opinions being deliberately manipulated by the different first person narrations the question that kept puzzling me was “Who are they telling this to?�. Am I (as the reader) being asked to take on the role of inquisitor or confessor, or is that the role being adopted by the author? Is it actually one of the protagonists themselves who is the inquisitor? The way that Coulombeau chooses to deal with this particular issue is a marker for her confidence and ability as an author. When I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask her about this aspect of the novel she simply replied with an enigmatic face, which indicated that I should draw my own conclusions.
Well the conclusion I have drawn is that Sophie Coulombeau is a very fine novelist indeed and one who does not need to explain her methods or approach. I will certainly be following her career trajectory with genuine appreciation and admiration.
January 31, 2013
In 2011 Route Publishing chose Sophie Coulombeau as the winner of their "Next Great Novelist Award 2012", the prize being that her first book Rites was seen through to publication.
Rites is a story of four adults looking back on a scandal that rocked their teenage worlds back when they were 14 years old and had made a pact to lose their virginities to one another. Ten years later, an unidentified inquisitor is interviewing them and members of the local community to establish what exactly happened. It quickly becomes clear that memories have become blurred with time. What seems solid truth at first is later called into question as we read a variety of different accounts of the same events.
The teenagers in this book are portrayed wonderfully. They are so realistic. Coulombeau has perfectly captured that period of adolescence where you feel like you somehow know everything about life and yet nothing about it at the same time. The years when you have your first taste of independence and are not quite sure what to do with it. The protagonists as teenagers are described with a real naiveté which made me feel quite sympathetic towards them. On the other hand, some of their adult selves are much less likeable and didn't seem to have reflected on their pasts with a very discerning eye. We meet the sneering Damian, who has fashioned himself into some sort of infamous anti-hero. Then there is Nick, who remains somewhat flippant about the whole affair. It really made me think about how we all judge situations slightly differently and about how bad we tend to be at taking a truly critical look at our own actions.
I find that novels with multiple narrators can be hit or miss but it works very well here. There are around 10 different perspectives so it's remarkable that each one has their own distinctive voice and I was never left flicking back the pages trying to remember who was talking, which I often find a problem with this kind of narrative. With so many versions of the same story you will find yourself wondering not only who is telling the truth but even: is there such a thing as an objective truth or does it depend on who you side with? How many situations might you have encountered in your life where the truth has seemed clear cut but might have looked a whole lot different seen from another perspective?
As soon as I finished reading Rites I wanted to go and tell everyone I know to read it, because it would be a great one to discuss and pick over with a group of friends or a book club. Everyone will be left with their own opinions about what exactly went on, and everyone will sympathise with some characters more than others. It has prompted a good dose of self-scrutiny and I think it's a story that will stay with me for a long time.
Rites is a story of four adults looking back on a scandal that rocked their teenage worlds back when they were 14 years old and had made a pact to lose their virginities to one another. Ten years later, an unidentified inquisitor is interviewing them and members of the local community to establish what exactly happened. It quickly becomes clear that memories have become blurred with time. What seems solid truth at first is later called into question as we read a variety of different accounts of the same events.
The teenagers in this book are portrayed wonderfully. They are so realistic. Coulombeau has perfectly captured that period of adolescence where you feel like you somehow know everything about life and yet nothing about it at the same time. The years when you have your first taste of independence and are not quite sure what to do with it. The protagonists as teenagers are described with a real naiveté which made me feel quite sympathetic towards them. On the other hand, some of their adult selves are much less likeable and didn't seem to have reflected on their pasts with a very discerning eye. We meet the sneering Damian, who has fashioned himself into some sort of infamous anti-hero. Then there is Nick, who remains somewhat flippant about the whole affair. It really made me think about how we all judge situations slightly differently and about how bad we tend to be at taking a truly critical look at our own actions.
I find that novels with multiple narrators can be hit or miss but it works very well here. There are around 10 different perspectives so it's remarkable that each one has their own distinctive voice and I was never left flicking back the pages trying to remember who was talking, which I often find a problem with this kind of narrative. With so many versions of the same story you will find yourself wondering not only who is telling the truth but even: is there such a thing as an objective truth or does it depend on who you side with? How many situations might you have encountered in your life where the truth has seemed clear cut but might have looked a whole lot different seen from another perspective?
As soon as I finished reading Rites I wanted to go and tell everyone I know to read it, because it would be a great one to discuss and pick over with a group of friends or a book club. Everyone will be left with their own opinions about what exactly went on, and everyone will sympathise with some characters more than others. It has prompted a good dose of self-scrutiny and I think it's a story that will stay with me for a long time.
October 10, 2012
Last year, the Pontefract-based publisher Route announced its ‘Next Great Novelist� award, which would lead to the publication of a book by a new novelist under the age of 30. Sophie Coulombeau won, and Rites is her winning novel. Told in the form of interview transcripts, it is the story of four Manchester teenagers who made a pact to lose their virginity to each other in 1997, an incident which gained notoriety (for reasons unspecified as the book begins); in the present day, the then-teenagers � and other characters involved � look back on that time, and leave the reader to construct exactly what happened.
Coulombeau’s great strength in Rites is in how she controls the flow of information, and plays with and against readers� expectations. When her opening narrator Damien suggests (in his pitch-perfect, insufferable voice) that only some people think what his teenage self did was ‘terrible�, we’re immediately put in mind that our initial assumptions about events may come to be overturned � and so it proves, but subtly, as ‘blame� passes between the characters, and we realise that everyone has slightly different memories of the past. So there’s a wonderful sense of uncertainty � the feeling that, even when we think we know everything, perhaps we don’t after all. Add to this some insightful observations � on growing up, falling in love, and more besides � and you have a fine debut novel.
Coulombeau’s great strength in Rites is in how she controls the flow of information, and plays with and against readers� expectations. When her opening narrator Damien suggests (in his pitch-perfect, insufferable voice) that only some people think what his teenage self did was ‘terrible�, we’re immediately put in mind that our initial assumptions about events may come to be overturned � and so it proves, but subtly, as ‘blame� passes between the characters, and we realise that everyone has slightly different memories of the past. So there’s a wonderful sense of uncertainty � the feeling that, even when we think we know everything, perhaps we don’t after all. Add to this some insightful observations � on growing up, falling in love, and more besides � and you have a fine debut novel.
April 20, 2013
For some reason Rites took me quite a while to read.
I was attracted to Rites by the narrative style. The story is told from the point of view of the characters, so the narrator is constantly changing.
I wondered if it would work. I wondered if I'd forget who said what. I wondered if I'd actually get a connection with the characters.
The device is very effective. I have formed a clear opinion of each of the characters. Constantly I'm questioning whether I should believe what I'm reading. Coulombeau cleverly asks the reader questions directly and drops in opportunities to recall what other characters have said previously.
This is not a book which I could just read for some nice imagery or turn of phrase or the storyline. I had to actively engage with every part of the story. This I loved, and is probably why it took me so long to read Rites- I couldn't just read it before going to bed. Commitment is required.
I definitely recommend you dive in and meet the characters of Rachel, Nick, Lizzie and Day, and found out what happened one hot English summer.
I was attracted to Rites by the narrative style. The story is told from the point of view of the characters, so the narrator is constantly changing.
I wondered if it would work. I wondered if I'd forget who said what. I wondered if I'd actually get a connection with the characters.
The device is very effective. I have formed a clear opinion of each of the characters. Constantly I'm questioning whether I should believe what I'm reading. Coulombeau cleverly asks the reader questions directly and drops in opportunities to recall what other characters have said previously.
This is not a book which I could just read for some nice imagery or turn of phrase or the storyline. I had to actively engage with every part of the story. This I loved, and is probably why it took me so long to read Rites- I couldn't just read it before going to bed. Commitment is required.
I definitely recommend you dive in and meet the characters of Rachel, Nick, Lizzie and Day, and found out what happened one hot English summer.
September 17, 2012
Bit on the fence on this one... liked the writing, liked the idea and the plot, but did not find the characters eminently likable. Then again, I guess their portrayal was supposed to be ambivalent, but I still would have wished for someone a bit more relatable (Rachel came close, though).
I'll be interested in seeing what the author comes up with in the future, maybe her next subject matter will be better in line with my tastes.
I'll be interested in seeing what the author comes up with in the future, maybe her next subject matter will be better in line with my tastes.
August 5, 2014
I'm not sure I would not have picked this up to read if it hadn't been for book club.
Short and cleverly constructed, the different narratives were well done and made each character as slippery and unreliable as the story required.
Short and cleverly constructed, the different narratives were well done and made each character as slippery and unreliable as the story required.
July 9, 2015
Wirklich interessante Arbeit über die Psychologie der subjektiven Empfindung. Ansonsten recht unspektakulär.
July 27, 2016
Clever, sharp, well-written.
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