Equilibrium
- Andy Bracken
- Jul 1, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 30
At 90, Alisha (also known as Ally Mac) has achieved complete equilibrium in her life. Ally likes equilibrium. Zero on her life-balance sheet is what she strives for.
Since lockdown began, a new caregiver, Sue, has come to visit her each day. They talk. They don't have a choice. It's 2020, and the world has changed. Mostly, Alisha talks about her past life, and Sue listens. As Alisha’s story unfolds, Sue finds herself more accepting and admiring of this uncompromising, violent, pathologically honest, and self-described ‘woman trapped in a man’s body’. Sue would love to be as fearless, self-assured, and unassailable.
Over time, Alisha starts asking questions of her own about Sue’s life. Uncomfortable questions that Sue is reluctant to answer. Questions that eventually lead to Sue revealing long-suppressed events that haunt her.
Sue’s disclosures threaten to break even the coldest and hardest of people - even the seemingly unbreakable Ally Mac.
Author Notes
A friend of mine worked with violent criminals. He told me that I got this spot on.
I wanted to write something both brutal and brutally honest. Something that, despite the violence, you couldn’t really argue with the logic that led to each act. To the protagonist, Ally Mac, it all makes perfect sense.
Published in July of 2020, I wrote it at the start of the Covid lockdown. It was hard to ignore what was going on in the world, and, as it turned out, that event provided an ideal setting for nonagenarian Ally, to interact with middle-aged carer, Sue.
If you pinned me to the floor, and forced me to pick, I would probably have this novel in my Top 3 of the 15 I’ve published to date. Why? It’s different. I like the pace of it, and the energy between the two key characters. There’s a moment, about 60% of the way through, where the book changes direction as Sue finds her feet, having been pushed there by Ally Mac. After that point, it becomes more her story.
Several people have told me that they have an inner Ally Mac, but they’re afraid to act on it. They think it, but don’t do it. Others have said they’d like Ally as an ally, if you’ll pardon the wordplay.
Good. Then I did my job when I penned that character.
One reviewer, David E Carter, said, “I think that this book is a brilliant study into the chemistry of two very different personalities and it probes into the possibility of a person with a seemingly unlikable & intensely chilling facade actually possessing the virtues of loyalty, fairness and kindness towards others who deserve it.”
Exactly. Talk about ‘getting it’.
Yes, I am pretty pleased with ‘Equilibrium’. It should be a best-seller, all things being equal…
Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another winner from Andy Bracken
"I raced through Equilibrium in three sittings, and for someone who is a notoriously slow reader that probably says more about this book and why you too should read it than any words can.
Equilibrium comes from the same lineage as Andy's most recent works, Worldly Goods and Folklorist, in that some of the characters will be familiar to readers of those books, but Equilibrium stands alone as a exploration through the hearts and minds of its two central protagonists, Alisha and Sue.
As their backstory develops we get to see the complexity behind two outwardly simple and ordered lives, two souls who have fought to achieve equilibrium in their own worlds, often against the odds.
Andy doesn't pull his punches, or sugar coat his characters either. This is no simple relationship and achieving equilibrium has meant using violence, coercion and sometimes relying on other people, a trait that doesn't necessarily come easy, especially to Alisha.
The author handles the conflicts and turmoil with aplomb though, leading the reader into their world but never spoon feeding them. This is a mature book that assumes the reader has a degree of emotional literacy and insight and will pick up on the clues.
And not forgetting Andy's trademark trail of references to bands and songs woven into the text for a bit of added fun.
If you are new to Andy Bracken's work I'd recommend this as a good starting point. Ir you fancy something a bit tamer to begin with try Worldly Goods, but I warn you, you'll soon be reaching for Equilibrium too."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Warm lipstick for a cold looking mouth
Meet Alisha. She is 90 years old and tells a story of her incredible life, highlighting her ruthlessness, her casual ease & confidence in the situation of a stand-off or even if prompted to use brutal violence.
You see, Alisha was born male ( as Alistair MacIntyre or more commonly known as 'Ally Mac') but it quickly became known locally to be an unwise thing to refer to her as anything but a woman. Her life story is told over a period of time during Lockdown to Sue, a middle-aged caregiver who is unhappy with her empty life.
Sue finds sanctuary & refuge in the company of Alisha but there are problems......She finds it difficult to bond with her, feeling frustrated at Alisha's apparent indifference and emotionally impenetrable persona but worst of all, feeling appalled & disgust by her tales of violence & retribution. Sue also has a secret in her heart which has darkened her life, adding to her current depression and she is desperate to discuss it with Alisha .......but can she find the courage to open up to her?
I think that this book is a brilliant study into the chemistry of two very different personalities and it probes into the possibility of a person with a seemingly unlikable & intensely chilling facade actually possessing the virtues of loyalty, fairness and kindness towards others who deserve it.
An excellent book.
Buy it!!"
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