With themes of jealousy, loss, widowhood, female friendship, and obsession this novel kept me riveted throughout. It is one of those books that I loathe to say too much about for fear it will ruin the reading experience for others. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed it to the extent that I will be keeping an eagle eye out for this author’s second novel.
A clever and very compelling psychological thriller which I highly recommended!
A clever and very compelling psychological thriller which I highly recommended!
"Missing, Presumed" is a novel about the myriad permutations of 'family'. A book about parenthood, loneliness, desperation, and shame. Part crime/mystery novel, part psychological study, the book fairly screams for a sequel and the author has stated that another novel featuring Manon Bradshaw is in the works.
This crime novel, with its intriguing missing person's case, coupled with its very rich characterization is one of my personal favorites.
This crime novel, with its intriguing missing person's case, coupled with its very rich characterization is one of my personal favorites.
A fast-paced, gritty crime thriller with a protagonist you'll remember for a long while.
If I had to give this novel a label, it would be Southern Rural Noir.
In addition to being a ‘heist’ crime novel, “Blacktop Wasteland” examines the situation that people who are living in poverty experience. Particularly black Americans. The rural south, where poverty breeds desperation and racial profiling is a grim reality. Where folks think a double-wide mobile home is the epitome of what life will provide them. A place where poverty and sometimes avarice guide the actions of its inhabitants. The characters that people this novel want more choices that will get them out from the low expectations of others. They want a better life for themselves and those they love.
Potential readers should be warned that this novel contains quite a bit of graphic violence within its very fast-paced story. I was fully immersed in the book throughout. The ending was realistic – as in life, you’ll find no ‘happy ever afters’ here.
Wow! What a great movie this story would make! Highly recommended!
If I had to give this novel a label, it would be Southern Rural Noir.
In addition to being a ‘heist’ crime novel, “Blacktop Wasteland” examines the situation that people who are living in poverty experience. Particularly black Americans. The rural south, where poverty breeds desperation and racial profiling is a grim reality. Where folks think a double-wide mobile home is the epitome of what life will provide them. A place where poverty and sometimes avarice guide the actions of its inhabitants. The characters that people this novel want more choices that will get them out from the low expectations of others. They want a better life for themselves and those they love.
Potential readers should be warned that this novel contains quite a bit of graphic violence within its very fast-paced story. I was fully immersed in the book throughout. The ending was realistic – as in life, you’ll find no ‘happy ever afters’ here.
Wow! What a great movie this story would make! Highly recommended!
This is a novel which will make you laugh aloud most of the time, yet once in a while you may shed a tear or two...
This is a novel about cherishing life, finding joy in the most astounding of places, and most of all it is a story about true friendship.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy eccentric characters learning to like themselves, and their world, just a little bit better. Well-rendered, literary, humorous, 'uplit'.
This is a novel about cherishing life, finding joy in the most astounding of places, and most of all it is a story about true friendship.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy eccentric characters learning to like themselves, and their world, just a little bit better. Well-rendered, literary, humorous, 'uplit'.
Fredrik Backman’s writing displays such profound empathy for humankind that he must be an ‘old soul’ in a young man’s body. His writing elevates a quirky and sometimes farcical little story into something that moves you and makes you think.
Once again he delves deeply into the parent child relationship while at the same time exploring the themes of loss, loneliness, anxiety, happiness, economics, suicide, how one person's life affects another persons, and doing the best you can...
Highly, highly, recommended!
Once again he delves deeply into the parent child relationship while at the same time exploring the themes of loss, loneliness, anxiety, happiness, economics, suicide, how one person's life affects another persons, and doing the best you can...
Highly, highly, recommended!
“Where the Crawdads Sing” is written in beautiful prose that is very hard to read. I found myself having little reading ‘rests’, especially during the first chapters. My heart broke for little Kya in her solitary plight. She was such a forgotten soul. During this time there were very few social agencies that would help – a time when segregation was still practiced, a time before ‘welfare’ checks, a time when a tiny girl could get lost right in front of everyone’s noses.
Not many readers could even imagine Kya’s life. She was socially isolated. Completely self-reliant from the age of six. She lived her life with no instruction, no telephone, no electricity. She never had a birthday party, never had a Christmas tree, dinner, or gifts.
I was very surprised to learn that this is a first novel. The author has published a few non-fiction books before this, so obviously she has honed her writing skills before her fiction debut. The characterization and imagery were nothing short of outstanding.
This novel highlights the strength and resiliency of the human spirit as well as the more negative aspects of prejudice and bigotry. It is a book about loss, hope, friendship, and human kindness. It clearly demonstrates the profound impact of social isolation.
This literary fiction novel was as much of a treasure as Kya’s beloved feathers. A rare treat for fans of the genre. A masterpiece. Highly recommended!
Not many readers could even imagine Kya’s life. She was socially isolated. Completely self-reliant from the age of six. She lived her life with no instruction, no telephone, no electricity. She never had a birthday party, never had a Christmas tree, dinner, or gifts.
I was very surprised to learn that this is a first novel. The author has published a few non-fiction books before this, so obviously she has honed her writing skills before her fiction debut. The characterization and imagery were nothing short of outstanding.
This novel highlights the strength and resiliency of the human spirit as well as the more negative aspects of prejudice and bigotry. It is a book about loss, hope, friendship, and human kindness. It clearly demonstrates the profound impact of social isolation.
This literary fiction novel was as much of a treasure as Kya’s beloved feathers. A rare treat for fans of the genre. A masterpiece. Highly recommended!
The first thing that struck me while reading this novel was the absolutely beautiful descriptive prose. His writing elevates this novel from being a run of the mill detective story to something… more. And when I say detective story, I mean just that. This is an old-fashioned detective story with the feel of the classic works of Christie, Sayers and the like.
The characters were almost characterizations, though it seemed to work here. The manor house with the eccentric inhabitants sounded as though they had just jumped off a ‘Clue’ board game. The body was even found in the ‘library’.
The only standout was the main character himself, whom I found to be quite unique. He was a Protestant in Catholic Ireland. He was born with a silver spoon, though over the years this has been dreadfully tarnished… He lost his mother at a very young age and was sent to boarding school by his father. He was a loner who eschewed alcohol in a country known for its drinkers. His decision to join the Gardaí is a mystery to his family and yes… even to himself. Solitary, without friend nor even foe, he presents as a detective who doesn’t look like one, working in a profession that he feels himself unsuited for.
The time period set the prevailing look and feel of this novel. It is 1957 and Catholic Protestant relations are strained to say the least. Also, this was a time of great sexual inequality and social class stratification. The upper class held certain privileges that the ordinary man wouldn’t dream of. The Catholic Church is a law unto itself.
I was not a bit surprised when the murderer was revealed, even the twist at the end was somehow not wholly unexpected. Still… it was a fine novel.
Highly recommended to those readers who prefer a slow paced, literary mystery. I for one, thoroughly enjoyed the read.
The characters were almost characterizations, though it seemed to work here. The manor house with the eccentric inhabitants sounded as though they had just jumped off a ‘Clue’ board game. The body was even found in the ‘library’.
The only standout was the main character himself, whom I found to be quite unique. He was a Protestant in Catholic Ireland. He was born with a silver spoon, though over the years this has been dreadfully tarnished… He lost his mother at a very young age and was sent to boarding school by his father. He was a loner who eschewed alcohol in a country known for its drinkers. His decision to join the Gardaí is a mystery to his family and yes… even to himself. Solitary, without friend nor even foe, he presents as a detective who doesn’t look like one, working in a profession that he feels himself unsuited for.
The time period set the prevailing look and feel of this novel. It is 1957 and Catholic Protestant relations are strained to say the least. Also, this was a time of great sexual inequality and social class stratification. The upper class held certain privileges that the ordinary man wouldn’t dream of. The Catholic Church is a law unto itself.
I was not a bit surprised when the murderer was revealed, even the twist at the end was somehow not wholly unexpected. Still… it was a fine novel.
Highly recommended to those readers who prefer a slow paced, literary mystery. I for one, thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Shocking, disturbing, mesmerizing, and compelling are all words I would use to describe this debut novel. Wow! Highly recommended! Definitely a contender for this year's "Top Ten List". Enthralling and unsettling in equal measure.