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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Elmet by Fiona Mozley is brilliant debut novel, taking a place in rural Yorkshire, following a small family of two children, Daniel and Cathy, and father that they call Daddy. Daddy is a violent, passionate man who builds a home for the family in a land that he doesn't own. This starts problems that spiral into unhappiness and distress. Elmet is such a beautifully written, such an atmospheric novel and perfect for autumn. It is definitely one of the strongest ones in the Man Booker shortlist and I can't wait to see what she comes up next as her debut is as brilliant as it is. I loved the family dynamics and found myself deeply invested in the story. Definitely worth of reading, especially if you enjoy slow burning and character based novel filled with beautiful nature descriptions.
Engaging and atmospheric I would have liked more back story but it was a good read
What an incredibly atmospheric story. A perfect book to read during the colder months for sure. I loved reading about Daniel and Cathy and how they were the ones really holding the fort down and looking after them selves. And their relationship with “daddy” was beautiful but also quite dry and was so interesting to read about.
And boy oh boy what and ending.
And boy oh boy what and ending.
Hardy-esque, atmospheric tale of an isolated enclave in rural Yorkshire where the young narrator lives with his father and sister. Daddy is an enormous, almost super-human man who has made his living with his fists and is determined to build his children a home - but on lands to which he owns no deed, leading to trouble with the local landowner. Loved the descriptive writing, the sense of menace, and the combination of a feeling of timelessness with intimations of more modern troubles (mine closures, sell offs of public housing). Amazing debut novel and I'm happy I came across it courtesy of it having been shortlisted for the Booker.
A real slow burner of a book but one which often say so much between its seeming silent passages. There is much in here about violence and when and if there is ever a just cause for it. It also looks at nature and the ownership of land. Oh and it looks at family. So brimming. On top of this there is also this dark brooding sense of dread as we make our way to the denoument.
Evocative, subtle, and poetic is how I would describe this beautiful piece of writing. Mozley has accomplished the rare feat of perfect balance: everything here is just right, from the descriptions of the stark yet bountiful landscape to Daniel's innocent retelling of his family's plight. I was particularly captivated by the fact that the narrative is so controlled - it approaches many things, yet subtly retreats while leaving a haunting impression of what is left unwritten.
Where it takes me is old world, english folk traditions and traveller codes. Globalisation, social media and Wetherspoons make it easy to forget the lawless and isolated nature of the UK's rural communities. I don't particularly celebrate this way of life but I have never seen it portrayed in fiction before- children having to fend for themselves and an anti hero father figure is not original but together with this backdrop of violence and ideas around land rights I loved it.