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A review by ladyk23
Dear Lina by Jess Glaisher
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Much like I mentioned in my review of Natalie Fergie's brilliant book 'The Sewing Machine', I also met the author of this book a few years ago under the same circumstances. We had again both done the same writing course and were attending a convention that ran alongside it. I think I also got to know Jess a little more courtesy of a Christmas party organised by the same people - but the less said about that amazingly messy night is probably for the better. It also has no bearing on what I thought of her fantastic debut novel, but gives a little insight maybe in why I was so keen to read it.
As I said about The Sewing Machine - I always want to show support not only for female writers, not only for first time female writers, but also people who have sat where I've sat and learned the things that I have learned too. I have a kinship for these women and you best believe I want to read the things that they are putting on the page - or in this instance, on the airwaves, as this story is only available through Audible.
It's crazy to think that a year ago I probably wouldn't have got Jess' book because I hadn't yet discovered how amazing Audible is. My bestie Donna had tried to bestow its virtues to me several times, but I liked a physical book, always have. Even though I have a kindle I never use it. But then lockdown happened and I found myself unable to concentrate on physical books anymore. My love of reading physical books is slowly coming back thanks to some corkers I've read recently - from Paddling with Nick Offerman's Own Canoe to classics Rebecca and Brighton Rock and more recently The Five (which I will review shortly) - but it's been a long slog.
And a welcome one if I am honest, because without it I don't think I would have ever got on board with Audible, but it's been a life saver. With the addition of being able to work from home and listen to audiobooks for the majority of my work day I'm getting through books/stories like there's no tomorrow. And if Dear Lina is to be believed, maybe there won't be a tomorrow. Or at least one that looks very different to today.
Dear Lina is a story about a possible dystopian future that looks more and more each day like it could very much be a reality. Although maybe not now Trump has been booted out of office. Maybe that should give us a little bit of hope that this potential future won't actually come to pass.
In the story our heroine Lina is an artist for the government, making propaganda posters by day, and hiding her true self away by night. She goes to see her mum one night, not long after moving out of their cosy flat that they've shared for all of Lina's life up to now, and she finds her mum gone - leaving only a notebook to clue Lina in on her whereabouts. Lina must make a decision to stay in the only life she's ever known, albeit one where she isn't happy and can't see how she could ever truly be happy when she can't be the person she was born to be, or to follow in her mum's footsteps and flee to Scotland - a potential safe haven but by no means guaranteed to take her in.
The story is told from the duel perspective of Lina and her mum - via the notebook - and honestly it's beautiful. It's scary as hell because you can see so clearly how easily our own government could do the things Jess' book talks about, but the story of Lina and her mum Eve's relationship, Lina's struggles to get to Scotland, and what she finds on her arrival at the boarder are lovingly crafted, and I'm not ashamed to say I cried a couple of times on listening to this story. I found the characters all so easy to like, or hate, depending on the situation, so relatable in their struggles, and I loved being in their world - even though their world is a bloody scary place.
If you're on the fence about Audible I highly recommend getting the free trial and having a listen to Jess' book. Who knows, you might fall in love with the format and be converted, and if not you'll have at least listened to this amazing book and lost nothing.
I can't wait to read/hear whatever Jess does next. I will be waiting patiently in the mean time for more goodies like Lina.
As I said about The Sewing Machine - I always want to show support not only for female writers, not only for first time female writers, but also people who have sat where I've sat and learned the things that I have learned too. I have a kinship for these women and you best believe I want to read the things that they are putting on the page - or in this instance, on the airwaves, as this story is only available through Audible.
It's crazy to think that a year ago I probably wouldn't have got Jess' book because I hadn't yet discovered how amazing Audible is. My bestie Donna had tried to bestow its virtues to me several times, but I liked a physical book, always have. Even though I have a kindle I never use it. But then lockdown happened and I found myself unable to concentrate on physical books anymore. My love of reading physical books is slowly coming back thanks to some corkers I've read recently - from Paddling with Nick Offerman's Own Canoe to classics Rebecca and Brighton Rock and more recently The Five (which I will review shortly) - but it's been a long slog.
And a welcome one if I am honest, because without it I don't think I would have ever got on board with Audible, but it's been a life saver. With the addition of being able to work from home and listen to audiobooks for the majority of my work day I'm getting through books/stories like there's no tomorrow. And if Dear Lina is to be believed, maybe there won't be a tomorrow. Or at least one that looks very different to today.
Dear Lina is a story about a possible dystopian future that looks more and more each day like it could very much be a reality. Although maybe not now Trump has been booted out of office. Maybe that should give us a little bit of hope that this potential future won't actually come to pass.
In the story our heroine Lina is an artist for the government, making propaganda posters by day, and hiding her true self away by night. She goes to see her mum one night, not long after moving out of their cosy flat that they've shared for all of Lina's life up to now, and she finds her mum gone - leaving only a notebook to clue Lina in on her whereabouts. Lina must make a decision to stay in the only life she's ever known, albeit one where she isn't happy and can't see how she could ever truly be happy when she can't be the person she was born to be, or to follow in her mum's footsteps and flee to Scotland - a potential safe haven but by no means guaranteed to take her in.
The story is told from the duel perspective of Lina and her mum - via the notebook - and honestly it's beautiful. It's scary as hell because you can see so clearly how easily our own government could do the things Jess' book talks about, but the story of Lina and her mum Eve's relationship, Lina's struggles to get to Scotland, and what she finds on her arrival at the boarder are lovingly crafted, and I'm not ashamed to say I cried a couple of times on listening to this story. I found the characters all so easy to like, or hate, depending on the situation, so relatable in their struggles, and I loved being in their world - even though their world is a bloody scary place.
If you're on the fence about Audible I highly recommend getting the free trial and having a listen to Jess' book. Who knows, you might fall in love with the format and be converted, and if not you'll have at least listened to this amazing book and lost nothing.
I can't wait to read/hear whatever Jess does next. I will be waiting patiently in the mean time for more goodies like Lina.