Welcome to Litsy!

Told over the course of a single day, we follow Winona on her day, medical appointments, grocery trips, school pick up, preparing for a dinner party of her husband‘s friends. Told via stream of consciousness, tension builds as the picture of her home life crystallises - all leading to a single moment, a tipping point that will define her future.

CW : coercive control of spouse, escalating family violence

6-7 June 24
I devoured this. It was utterly absorbing, quite disturbing and somewhat funny.
Essentially Thunderhead is a day in the head of Winona Dalloway as she deals with daily chores, small children and preparing to entertain her husband‘s guests.
I do worry how much I recognise in the inner dialogues of characters such as Winona. Somehow reminiscent of Ducks, Newburyport albeit much shorter, more dramatic and with more punctuation! Brilliant.

A small gem, described as a black comedy and it is that, but it packs a real punch. Short enough to read in one sitting, the tension builds relentlessly and the impact is forceful by the end. One of those books that you have to think about for a while before picking up the next one. Winona is a smart, wounded narrator & there is much unspoken between the lines. The homage to Mrs Dalliway is masterfully done. Strong, poetic writing. 5 stars.