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A review by nd2712
On Hampstead Heath by Marika Cobbold
3.0
I was very kindly given an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley and Quercus Audio.
3.5/5
I feel a little bit conflicted. Because I really enjoyed this book. However - I don't think I can give it more than 3 stars.
'On Hampstead Heath' follows Thorn, a journalist in a dying medium who has just been 'removed' from her position in the news desk and sent down to pen a column about the lighter side of life. In amongst this change, part of many, she is given a photograph of a mysterious man jumping into a pond on the Heath to save a woman's life. It goes viral. Except it's all a lie...
I loved the writing style of this book. It is delightfully sharp and witty, as the tagline suggests. The first half is caustic and surprisingly heartfelt in moments - I didn't want to put it down. It's the kind of writing that I like to think I could one day produce. And the plot set-up is fascinating too - a 'series of funny misunderstandings' in the world of print journalism with a wholesome tinge that gives it an odd Richard Curtis vibe, just without the romance clogging up the arteries.
Where I began to lose interest was the second half. The story evolves into a different narrative after the 50% mark and whilst I can understand the pay-off it had for the character; I was far more interested in the plot than I was our protagonist. Things get revealed and sort of solved quite quickly and then there's another half of a book where we have to keep reading. I wanted things to get crazier, to get more complicated. There were sparks, but I sort of wish it had kept on one narrative path, rather than switching to the other.
To try and be as spoiler free as possible - I wish he'd stayed unconscious a bit longer. If you read the book, it makes sense.
Read this book for the writing. Because that's it's biggest selling point. I loved the first part, didn't get on so well with the second half, but there is no denying the prose is funny and sharp and rather sweet at certain moments. Dare I call this novel heartwarming? I think I just might.
'On Hampstead Heath' is available now.
3.5/5
I feel a little bit conflicted. Because I really enjoyed this book. However - I don't think I can give it more than 3 stars.
'On Hampstead Heath' follows Thorn, a journalist in a dying medium who has just been 'removed' from her position in the news desk and sent down to pen a column about the lighter side of life. In amongst this change, part of many, she is given a photograph of a mysterious man jumping into a pond on the Heath to save a woman's life. It goes viral. Except it's all a lie...
I loved the writing style of this book. It is delightfully sharp and witty, as the tagline suggests. The first half is caustic and surprisingly heartfelt in moments - I didn't want to put it down. It's the kind of writing that I like to think I could one day produce. And the plot set-up is fascinating too - a 'series of funny misunderstandings' in the world of print journalism with a wholesome tinge that gives it an odd Richard Curtis vibe, just without the romance clogging up the arteries.
Where I began to lose interest was the second half. The story evolves into a different narrative after the 50% mark and whilst I can understand the pay-off it had for the character; I was far more interested in the plot than I was our protagonist. Things get revealed and sort of solved quite quickly and then there's another half of a book where we have to keep reading. I wanted things to get crazier, to get more complicated. There were sparks, but I sort of wish it had kept on one narrative path, rather than switching to the other.
To try and be as spoiler free as possible - I wish he'd stayed unconscious a bit longer. If you read the book, it makes sense.
Read this book for the writing. Because that's it's biggest selling point. I loved the first part, didn't get on so well with the second half, but there is no denying the prose is funny and sharp and rather sweet at certain moments. Dare I call this novel heartwarming? I think I just might.
'On Hampstead Heath' is available now.