and an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia, where she was awarded the Curtis Brown Prize.
Owen applied the Page 69 Test to Small Angels and reported the following:
Page 69 opens in the middle of a ghost story. Selena, matriarch of the Gonne family, is telling her troublesome granddaughter Lucia about the childhood of their ancestor, Harry Child.Visit Lauren Owen's website.
A poor and neglected child, Harry grows up on the outskirts of society, in the shadow of the mysterious and magical Mockbeggar woods. The trees of the wood watch him get older and grow to love him.
Unfortunately, Harry comes to the attention of local farmer Mr Hart – who happens to be his father. Mr Hart’s decision to take his illegitimate son to live with him and his family will have unforeseen and tragic consequences.
I was pleased with how well the test worked on Small Angels! The novel is about storytelling – and I think you definitely get a sense of that from this page. I’m interested in the power which narratives hold over our lives (past, present and future), and the role that storytelling plays in our relationships with others (and with ourselves).
I’m also happy that page 69 shows us a dialogue between Lucia and Selena. These characters are central to Small Angels, and their relationship is very complex. Selena sees a resemblance between herself and Lucia. She cares deeply for her but also treats her with great harshness. Long after Selena’s death, Lucia is tormented by her influence.
It’s also nice that the woods make an appearance here, as they’re absolutely integral to the novel. Mockbeggar is an enchanting place, where strange things become possible. The trees are – in their own, un-human way – conscious and capable of feeling joy, love, and resentment. This can make them a wonderful place to visit, but also makes them very dangerous.
--Marshal Zeringue
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