The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn

this is all (without capitals), or The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn is written by Aiden Chambers. A surprising author, because here Chambers writes as a pregnant woman, looking back on her teenage life. He does it impeccably.

The novel tells the story of Cordelia Kenn in first person, it consists of her writing from the age of 13 to 19. Hard to place in a genre, this is all could be considered a book exploring teenage angst, but that title seems far too crude for a book of this consideration. Throughout the novel, Chambers explores ideas of belonging, love, loss, spirituality etc, with an ease in writing. These passages are intertwined with the story of Cordelia’s teenage years; her first love, losing him, learning about herself, falling into depression... It is written in retrospect in some places, in others conserving the original writing of her teenage self.

The depth of language used in the novel is formidable. Cordelia has an obsession with Shakespeare, which allows the book to explore some of his incredible vocabulary. Throughout the novel, Cordelia is advised by her English teacher, who often refers her to various novels, old and new, in order to explore some of the themes she questions. Having read this is all, I now wish to read it again in order to note down each reference, so that I might consult each book in turn.

The book is 808 pages long, a dreadful length for most teenage readers, but like most of our great literature, the novel sweeps you up into a tide of irreversible obsession. The narrator becomes another part of your mind, speaking to you. The extent of how many times Cordelia broached subjects I have often thought about was amazing. It was as if she was in tune with my thoughts, and though this may simply have been human nature talking, it felt as if it was exclusive to me.

Though this is all stands alone as a novel, it is part of a sequence which started with Breaktime in 1978, followed by Dance on my Grave, Now I Know, The Toll Bridge and Postcards From No Man’s Land, each exploring a different aspect of contemporary adolescence.

I would thoroughly advise reading it, and though I haven’t read the others, they surely deserve as much acclaim.