There’s a lot going on in Madeline Cash’s debut novel, Lost Lambs (Dua’s Monthly Read For August). There’s a family on the brink of collapse, parents trialling an open marriage, teenagers going through peak rebellion, and some conspiracy theories and corruption thrown in for good measure.
In her interview with Dua for the Service95 Book Club, Madeline shares how she came up with the intricate, intertwining plot through meticulous planning and a good dose of imagination. “They are my characters,” she says. “They are chained to the radiator in my brain until I release them.”
Here are the books that shaped Lost Lamb’s characters, fuelled its plotlines and inspired Madeline to write it, along with a couple of creative references that helped her paint the Flynn’s world.
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
“I read several 1930-1950s noirs to learn how to pace a mystery. Though I have been advised not to call Lost Lambs a mystery – that categorisation lands it on a different shelf.”
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
“Franzen owns the modern family novel. I can only hope to pay homage.”
A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet
“This book taught me that my suspicions were correct! The children are our future.”
White Noise by Don DeLillo
Seamlessly blending the absurd into reality.
The Quick & The Dead by Joy Williams
“A reminder that novels don't have to explain themselves to tell the truth.”
Eyes Wide Shut
“An honourable film mention. What can I say? I wasn’t the first to like a masked ball.”
Henry Darger’s Vivian Girls artworks at MoMA
“The patron saint of elaborate imaginary worlds.”
There’s More – Delve Deeper Into Lost Lambs With The Service95 Book Club...
WATCH Dua’s interview with its author Madeline Cash
LISTEN to a soundtrack from Madeline Cash that follows the book's twists and turns
EXPLORE a therapist's guide to Lost Lamb's complex central characters
BOOKMARK a reading list defined by dysfunctional family dynamics
