Scan barcode
thechemicaldetective's review
5.0
“She’s going to kill her mother today…it’s a beautiful day for it.”
The mystery in the novel is not just the how and why but also the who. Who is the soon-to-be-deceased mother of Tamara in relation to two other characters – Claire and Ada?
I confess that the structure disoriented me at first. Shuttling between Tamara, Ada and Claire means that just as you start to settle into one story, you are wrenched out and plunged into another.
But the story is so beautifully crafted, it more than rewards the initial effort, and everything is synthesised by the end.
This is a carefully constructed puzzle with a very simple key.
What more can a reader wish for than a great big satisfying….aaah at the end.
The mystery in the novel is not just the how and why but also the who. Who is the soon-to-be-deceased mother of Tamara in relation to two other characters – Claire and Ada?
I confess that the structure disoriented me at first. Shuttling between Tamara, Ada and Claire means that just as you start to settle into one story, you are wrenched out and plunged into another.
But the story is so beautifully crafted, it more than rewards the initial effort, and everything is synthesised by the end.
This is a carefully constructed puzzle with a very simple key.
What more can a reader wish for than a great big satisfying….aaah at the end.
thebobsphere's review
5.0
In the Sound Mirror, one of the characters, Tamara encounters one on a beach. Up until then I had no idea what one was. When I was doing some research on sound mirrors (they were devices set up during the 1920’s to reflect sound), I discovered that the only one outside the U.K. is located in Malta. Incidentally Malta also gets a mention in the book.
The book is divided into three interlinked narratives. There’s Tamara who is on a mission to get revenge against her mother , Claire whose narrative takes places in post war Britain and is the daughter of Italian emigrants and Ada, a half caste who moves from India to England with her family.
All three characters are related to each other but their connection goes much deeper. All three women are oppressed by men: Ada’s father does not want her to go to university and her husband is a narcissist, Claire’s husband regards her as a device to procreate, Tamara’s ex-husband is a bully.
There are other connections, these characters experience harsh treatment from their mothers, are abused, are treated in an unjust manner by society. It transpires that no matter the era, women will always suffer in some way or another. As a result each of these characters think of ways they can break free. In my opinion I think they manage but in unconventional ways.
The three narratives are split up into two page long chapters and are not in chronological order so it is up to the reader to piece the order of the timelines. However this not confusing in the least as we get the basic storyline in the first few pages. Heidi James also uses different narrative voices so each section is distinct, and yet like a sound mirror these three character’s lives echo each other.
The Sound Mirror is quite a powerful book. I liked the way Heidi James portrayed the treatment of women in different historical contexts. I thought the varied writing styles was done brilliantly. I also had fun seeing all the connections and how each character was linked to each other. I found The Sound Mirror to be a fantastic read and in the process opens one’s eyes to how some attitudes improve but never really disappear.
The book is divided into three interlinked narratives. There’s Tamara who is on a mission to get revenge against her mother , Claire whose narrative takes places in post war Britain and is the daughter of Italian emigrants and Ada, a half caste who moves from India to England with her family.
All three characters are related to each other but their connection goes much deeper. All three women are oppressed by men: Ada’s father does not want her to go to university and her husband is a narcissist, Claire’s husband regards her as a device to procreate, Tamara’s ex-husband is a bully.
There are other connections, these characters experience harsh treatment from their mothers, are abused, are treated in an unjust manner by society. It transpires that no matter the era, women will always suffer in some way or another. As a result each of these characters think of ways they can break free. In my opinion I think they manage but in unconventional ways.
The three narratives are split up into two page long chapters and are not in chronological order so it is up to the reader to piece the order of the timelines. However this not confusing in the least as we get the basic storyline in the first few pages. Heidi James also uses different narrative voices so each section is distinct, and yet like a sound mirror these three character’s lives echo each other.
The Sound Mirror is quite a powerful book. I liked the way Heidi James portrayed the treatment of women in different historical contexts. I thought the varied writing styles was done brilliantly. I also had fun seeing all the connections and how each character was linked to each other. I found The Sound Mirror to be a fantastic read and in the process opens one’s eyes to how some attitudes improve but never really disappear.
sazmachine's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
Very slow at the beginning, and some confusing narrative, but a thoughtful and powerful read regarding family and womanhood.
thereadingparamedic's review
5.0
This book is EXCELLENT! Heidi James is an absolutely brilliant writer & I am absolutely in awe of her writing style. This is just the kind of book I love. I actually knew nothing about this book before I read it (I hadn’t even read a synopsis) & I think I enjoyed it even more for that reason because the way the story unfolded came as a total surprise. Highly recommended.
tales_from_absurdia's review
5.0
The Sound Mirror is a first-rate piece of fiction.
If you haven't yet read it, do yourself a favour and pick up a copy.
The novel is about three central characters – all women – with distinct histories and voices. Spanning 20th and 21st century Britain, The Sound Mirror is a multi-generational examination of the female experience.
This might sound like a bit of a heavy read, but James is a very talented writer. It's not at all complicated, just thought-provoking.
These three female perspectives are interwoven with stunning prose. It’s a tessellation of the fall of the Indian Raj, gender politics of post-WW2 Britain, and, lastly, a glimpse into the contemporary female experience.
If you would like to find out more detail, please read the full review on Tales from Absurdia.
*Disclaimer: I received a free advance reading copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
If you haven't yet read it, do yourself a favour and pick up a copy.
The novel is about three central characters – all women – with distinct histories and voices. Spanning 20th and 21st century Britain, The Sound Mirror is a multi-generational examination of the female experience.
This might sound like a bit of a heavy read, but James is a very talented writer. It's not at all complicated, just thought-provoking.
These three female perspectives are interwoven with stunning prose. It’s a tessellation of the fall of the Indian Raj, gender politics of post-WW2 Britain, and, lastly, a glimpse into the contemporary female experience.
If you would like to find out more detail, please read the full review on Tales from Absurdia.
*Disclaimer: I received a free advance reading copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
ashak's review
5.0
A superb read about three generations of women in different eras but whose lives are entwined together.
Read my review on
http://onerightword.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-sound-mirror-heidi-james.html
Read my review on
http://onerightword.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-sound-mirror-heidi-james.html
hbreads's review
4.0
A beautiful intergenerational exploration of family, place, class, and race. Clues were drip fed, so you try to untangle and understand the web as you read. I didn't understand the purpose of the collective voice of the ancestors, until I was duped by the first red herring. Thinking you had it all figured out was part of the enjoyment.
petekeeley's review
5.0
This book will stay with me for a long time. The writing is sublime, and the way the story slowly reveals itself to you is just beautiful. So much resonated deeply with me. Heidi James is such a great talent. I won't go into any detail on the book as I don't want to spoil it at all. I doubt I'll read a better book all year. This deserves all the plaudits I'm sure it's going to receive. Simply brilliant.
ladyr's review
4.0
4.5 stars. An easy to read but poetically written, thought provoking novel that totally catches you up in its characters. Would make a brilliant book club choice too.