H: Faith by Jennifer HAIGH

Chosen because

Need to recuperate from the violence of the last book and this seems a bit more reflective. A public scandal – did something really happen – whether it did or not the effect on relationships within the family could be profound. Opening the book and reading a page or two, and wanting to read more, is a good sign.

The Review

This is a very well written book which uses an allegation against a priest to unpick the relationships within a family. It is narrated by the accused’s half-sister who pieces together what she knows and what she’s told.

Set in the Irish-American community of modern day Boston, there are three main strands to the narrative: the family history; the build up to the recent allegation; and the unfolding consequences. Within these, time is taken to explore the back stories of each character, enhancing rather than detracting from the narrative flow.

As new facts and insights emerge, the book gathers pace and thankfully provides a resolution by the final pages. 

All is skilfully weaved into a tapestry to give a rounded picture of how a family interacts: what is said and what does not need to be said; how what happens in one generation can impact on another; how as we get older we shed new light and new understandings on the events of our childhood.

Read another?

I liked her writing style and will keep an eye out for Mrs Kimble, Baker Towers or The Condition