I was worried that I
didn't actually have enough books to keep me going on our recent
holiday and so a picked up a few, largely at random, from the Oxfam
bookshop – it was entirely a case of judging books by their covers!
This is a vivid
novel, the writing gives you a strong sense of place and of person.
But does it go deeper than that, I am not sure? The arrival at a
house populated by a collection of characters with complex back
stories has an air of Iris Murdoch, but I feel that it has only the
air and unfortunately lacks the substance.
This is a first
novel, and so one does not want to push too hard, but there were a
few points that jarred – for example, there are some anonymous
letters being send and one of the characters reflecting on this finds
it hard to imagine who would do such a thing because “this is not a
novel” - and it was one of the moment and almost shouting at the
book “yes it bloody is...”. More famous writers than Perry have
erred in the same way, so while I count it unforgivable I don't judge
her too harshly.
If you need a
holiday read you will be well served.
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