The Day Jack Sacked His Therapist by Marie Gameson

When your therapist is your sister, what happens when you sack her? This is the intriguing question posed by Marie Gameson’s witty tale of City broker Jack, whose tragic childhood has turned him into an all-purpose scapegoat. Because of a mystery connected with his mother’s early death, Jack shows all the signs of being cursed, causing others to see their own demons in him. Although Jill, his well-meaning sibling, assures Jack that nobody blames him for what happened to their mother, it is obvious from the start of the novel that he feels weighed down by guilt. Following Jack’s eccentric adventures, from a charity quiz night organised by Jill to a dramatic climax involving a siege, this novel is written in ‘picaresque’ style. On the journey that Jack and Jill share, the true circumstances surrounding their mother’s death are eventually uncovered.

We first meet seven-year-old Jack in 1981, in an East London cemetery, where he is fascinated by a carved gravestone depicting ‘a man’s face, drowning in leaves’, as well as a floral tribute left on his mother’s grave. This introduces a fantasy theme that surfaces in the book from time to time, when the forces of nature reflect human emotions. Big sister Jill concludes that Jack is suffering from ‘refused pain’. As an adult, she bases her career as a therapist on the principle that everyone she meets is not only conflicted, but must also be addicted to something. This approach is expressed in her trademark greeting, ‘Poor you,’ and a tendency to clutch people by the upper arms. Jill’s attitude is irritating, but she is not short of clients, so it must be good for business.

Much of the humour in the story comes from Gameson’s lively depiction of a wide range of engaging characters. Marion, the pretty Irish teacher with whom Jack sets up home, has a charmingly humorous outlook on life, while Pendragon, Jill’s novelist husband, lives in a rib-tickling literary world of his own. Larry, a stoic Cumbrian farmer, provides a counterpoint to the weird goings-on of his townee neighbours. Many of the funniest scenes are based on the interaction of personalities within groups: Jack’s work colleagues, Marion’s fellow teachers, the three old aunties who suddenly appear out of nowhere. The unexpected juxtaposition of unconnected objects and events provides an element of farce: a massive wooden figure, known as the Green Man, is stuffed into the back of a car; a confused old lady tries to buy bullets from a shopping channel; Buddhist monks dominate a City funeral.

I laughed out loud when I read about Marion and Jill bickering over a holiday home in the country. Ornaments are moved around like chess pieces, to mark out territory. Furniture is bought without permission. Larry may or may not be able to drive his cows past, depending on who is in occupation. This situation was never going to end well, and the eventual outcome is astonishing.

The action is a little hard to follow at times, but Gameson’s flowing prose, satirical ability and dry humour ensure an enjoyable read. There are some terrific one-liners and, ultimately, a feel-good factor when Jack experiences ‘purification’. I recommend this novel to readers who can go with the flow and sympathise with the characters, while enjoying a good laugh at their antics.