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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Kitty Hawke is a solitary woman. She has lived alone on Wolfe Island for many years with her trusty wolfdog as her only company. Her days are spent traversing the rough and ever-changing landscape of her island, and using her findings to make art. While not completely disconnected from the happenings of the world, you get a sense that she is far removed from the lives of the mainlanders. But that all changes with the approach of a boat containing her Granddaughter Cat, her partner, and a brother and sister that are fleeing persecution. Threats from both the mainland, and the encroaching water that will one day swallow the island, set them on a journey to freedom in the north. It is a journey fraught with danger, loss, and hard decisions, but also of hope and understanding. Kitty will discover how far she would go for those that she loves. What price freedom? What lengths would one go to to protect the young?
This book is classified as a dystopian tale, and while this is true, it feels more like a background element. It is not obvious or extreme in it’s apocalyptic nature.
The natural elements of the island are so descriptive. The imagery evocative with a haunting quality. The plight of the island is immediately relatable as it is something that many islands have faced and will face again in the future. It is an extremely plausible future that the author gives us as the backdrop for this beautiful work.
The characters are layered and complex enough to capture the imagination and I found myself easily drawn to a number of them.Although I was a little upset at the outcome for one in particular. The pace of the book is somewhat languid, but it is in such a way that holds your attention and interest throughout. The writing is beautifully descriptive. It transports the reader to this unforgiving landscape with ease and a sense of grace.
It is a work of beauty and complexity. I love the conflict between isolation and belonging. How fragile and mutable family connections can be. I would have loved to have seen a little more of Hart, and heard his voice a little more, but this is not his story. Kitty is a strong and tenacious female lead. A truly lovely and moving piece.
This book is classified as a dystopian tale, and while this is true, it feels more like a background element. It is not obvious or extreme in it’s apocalyptic nature.
The natural elements of the island are so descriptive. The imagery evocative with a haunting quality. The plight of the island is immediately relatable as it is something that many islands have faced and will face again in the future. It is an extremely plausible future that the author gives us as the backdrop for this beautiful work.
The characters are layered and complex enough to capture the imagination and I found myself easily drawn to a number of them.Although I was a little upset at the outcome for one in particular. The pace of the book is somewhat languid, but it is in such a way that holds your attention and interest throughout. The writing is beautifully descriptive. It transports the reader to this unforgiving landscape with ease and a sense of grace.
It is a work of beauty and complexity. I love the conflict between isolation and belonging. How fragile and mutable family connections can be. I would have loved to have seen a little more of Hart, and heard his voice a little more, but this is not his story. Kitty is a strong and tenacious female lead. A truly lovely and moving piece.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Five star writing, but found the story a bit slow to begin and slow to end.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kitty Hawke is the last inhabitant of a sinking island. The waves bring the encroaching sea closer everyday. But this is home and Kitty can’t leave. The world outside is dangerous and unfamiliar, Kitty is safe here
This is a superb novel, set in a horrifyingly plausible near-future in which rising sea levels have started to inundate small island communities while bringing out the best and worst in wider society. Treloar focuses in on a handful of key characters - primarily complicated, prickly Kitty Hawke. Kitty's life on Wolfe Island changes forever when her estranged grandaughter arrives with a handful of other people fleeing from various challenges on the mainland. The book creates a grim future - a society dealing with the impacts of climate change by withdrawing into conservatism, authoritarianism and small-mindedness. But Treloar also illustrates the best of humanity - love, courage and selflessness. It's a beautiful, sad, anxiety-inducing book that should win a whole bunch of prizes.
If you are reading this book and trying to work out how it keeps getting 4 and 5 star reviews, you haven't read long enough.
And think about islands, actual and literal.
And think about islands, actual and literal.
Lucy Treloar captures and creates both voice and setting perfectly in this novel. These are her 'makings'. The reader of the audio book also performs the voice of the protagonist superbly, with the distinct dialect and drawl of a woman on an island, the last of her kind. As Kitty Hawke nurtures and protects her kin, as they escape north, the wolf that is in each of us, emerges in the struggle to survive amid ever increasing destruction of habitat.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book has some lovely writing, nice imagery, an interesting setting, and a handful of good quality doggos...but I just didn’t get into this story.
The plot ambled along slowly, but I still found myself getting confused about what was happening and why.
Perhaps I would have enjoyed reading a sad, quiet story about a reclusive woman in the Time-Before-Covid. In these weird isolated times, the story just felt dreary and bleak.
I might try it again one day, in print next time. The audiobook just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The plot ambled along slowly, but I still found myself getting confused about what was happening and why.
Perhaps I would have enjoyed reading a sad, quiet story about a reclusive woman in the Time-Before-Covid. In these weird isolated times, the story just felt dreary and bleak.
I might try it again one day, in print next time. The audiobook just wasn’t my cup of tea.