Read as part P of the “Along the Library
Shelf” reading journey
Chosen because
I had mentally reserved “Stone’s Fall” by Iain
Pears for my “p” book, but at the time of choosing that paperback looked a bit
thick and gothic. Adjacent was this slim hardback with a contemporary and
seasonal setting, and a prologue that drew me in.
The Review
The narrator, Theo, describes a watershed
Christmas spent at his paternal grandparents’ farmhouse. Although the events took
place when he was 13, they are contemporary, complete with I-pods and smart
phones, but are related from his middle aged future. Cleverly this gives the
narrative a mixture of innocence and maturity as Theo’s adolescent perceptions
are presented and reviewed with adult hindsight.
The grandparents have brought the family
together – their three children along with their
partners and offspring - for a purpose that soon becomes apparent. Sibling
rivalry, old sores and perceived favouritism quickly re-emerges. Young Theo
tries to make sense of it all while at the same time dealing with the changing
nature of his own relationship with his attractive young cousin Holly.
The backdrop is the timeless Shropshire
countryside – the disputed land between England and Wales of which Theo’s
grandfather is writing a history. But the title equally refers to the eventual
disposition of the farm to the next generation.
The prose is elegiac and stylish; and the
family relationships ring true; together providing a very pleasurable read.
Read another?
Probably – favourable review snippets for
his previous book “Landed” are prominent on the back cover of this volume.
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