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mrstephenconnor 's review for:
The Closest Thing to Flying
by Gill Lewis
Semira and her mum are from Eritrea, but seeking refuge in England. They are under the control of Robel, a man whose temper flashes and flares at regular intervals, and who denies both women any sense of freedom.
When Semira stumbles upon a diary dates over a hundred years old, the entries she reads mirror her own experiences of a struggle with equality. The diary writer, Henrietta, inspires Semira to develop an interest in cycling, which, in turn, leads her to find out more about her family’s past.
Somehow Gill Lewis seams together a modern story about refugees, domestic violence and misogyny with another voice from the past: Henrietta’s story of rallying for a cause (women’s rights and the protection of animals) is authentically written and thought-provoking.
When Semira stumbles upon a diary dates over a hundred years old, the entries she reads mirror her own experiences of a struggle with equality. The diary writer, Henrietta, inspires Semira to develop an interest in cycling, which, in turn, leads her to find out more about her family’s past.
Somehow Gill Lewis seams together a modern story about refugees, domestic violence and misogyny with another voice from the past: Henrietta’s story of rallying for a cause (women’s rights and the protection of animals) is authentically written and thought-provoking.