Friday 26 November 2021

The Broken Pane - Charlie Roy

The Broken Pane examines the concept that our lives is a sum of our experiences and challenges it - does our past define or do we define our past in a certain way? 

This debut novel by Charlie Roy is about memories, relationships and a reconciliation with the past. All these themes are well woven in a compelling story narraited by the protagnist Tam who turns to family secrets as she tries to overcome grief and guilt.  

 Gist:

Tam is a young woman with a troubled childhood who finds her brother's body and as means of coming to terms with the loss, embarks on a journey to set the past straight. 

As her mind goes back in time, it opens doors to a turbulent childhood filled with an alcoholic father, a suddenly disappearing mother and a grandma, Nana who inadequately fills the gap for the kids. Will Tam find the answers she seeks or will she be stuck in the past forever?

My thoughts:
  • As the story unfolds, our hearts go out to the constantly cleaning Tam and the deviant little Nick as they battle their father’s unpredictable behaviour and short bursts of their grandma’s affection. It is heart breaking to see these young children grow up in an atmosphere that reflects on how not every child gets the love it deserves. The reader feels empathy for them and credit to Roy for telling the story through  different perspective and unreliable memories.
  • The characters are beautifully drawn and although some of their actions are questionable - Mick's behaviour as a manifestation of wrong choices or Nana, who deals with the situation in the only way she knows, the story unravels beautifully oscillating between the past and the present.
  • It is atmospheric in the way that the reader can almost feel the children's dread when they hear their dad walk in, bracing for what could possibly happen.
  • Just when the narrative begins to get predictable, the focus shifts to a new direction. It turns into a reflection of how a certain time period influences choices and also the tendency to remember people as we perceive them and not as they are. It is an incisive insight and the ending makes for a satiating experience.

Summing it up:

  An evocative narrative with relatable characters. Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. 

  

 

Wednesday 17 November 2021

Not A Happy Family - Shari Lapena

 A satisfying read - that is how it felt after I turned the last page. I turn to Lapena's books whenever I want something fast paced, high on setting and a plot that gets me tearing through the pages. This book did all of that and more, showing why it is no wonder that Lapena is on top of her game when it comes to racy whodunnits.

Gist:

Fred and Sheila are hosting an Easter dinner for their three adult children, something by their children. The next morning, the cleaner finds the couple brutally murdered and the police have to step in to figure who could have done such a heinous deed. 

What I liked:
  •  I  was going through a reading slump where I was finding it hard to carry on reading. This time I had no trouble finishing it off quickly. Lapena really is the queen of the one-sit read!
  • Lapena's settings are always strong - where it is a drinks party next door, or a hotel on a snowladen night. In this case, a fractious family dinner is the base of the story which is a perfect platform for the story to unfold. 
  • The characters are distinct and their behaviour well in keeping with the personas. They are strong and well moulded as potential suspects. The backstories are convincing giving each of them a motive to be the killer. It is amazing how Lapena skilfully creates characters with a few words, ones that instantly stick in mind. 
  • There are liberal doses of clues and Lapena is good at shining spotlight on each suspect, keeping the reader guessing about the killer till the end.
  • The reader feels not only invested in the story but also the conclusion, as the story leaves behind a satiated reader to join the dots. 

A superbly paced read, thoroughly enjoyed it!