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A review by book_beat
Call of the Curlew by Elizabeth Brooks
3.0
ELIZABETH BROOKS WRITES HAUNTING DEBUT
“The Orphan of Salt Winds” starts with 86 year-old Virginia ruminating about her past, contemplating her life’s end on New Years Eve. Virginia lives on the edge of an English marshland in an old homestead named “Salt Winds.” Her story flashes back to 1939/40s when she was a newly adopted orphan arriving at Salt Winds. The dual timeline continues through the story to show the progression of Virginia’s character.
.
The story is bleak, the setting is haunting, and the characters are unsettling. It is part historical fiction (discussing WW2), thriller (the chapters quickly propel its reader), and mystery. I think the author does a good job of defining the two different Virginias (1940s/2015); there is a definite change in her character as the weight of her past crushes her present.
.
While the concept was intriguing, I did have some hangups with the book. The author jumps into the conflict with very little development between the characters, making it hard to invest in them, and some characters feel very one-demential. Sexual tension and hints of abuse detract from the story. Unfortunately, I found the book unclear in its purpose. Characters act, things happen, but I didn’t understand why. The book has good bones and a gothic noir vibe, but the characters develop predictably and were a little forgettable.
.
This is Elizabeth’s debut novel, and I see a lot of talent. Honestly, I believe the book has so many popular elements and clear prose that many will find this story to be a 4-5 star read.
Thank you, Tin House for a free review copy.
Out Jan 15, 2019.
“The Orphan of Salt Winds” starts with 86 year-old Virginia ruminating about her past, contemplating her life’s end on New Years Eve. Virginia lives on the edge of an English marshland in an old homestead named “Salt Winds.” Her story flashes back to 1939/40s when she was a newly adopted orphan arriving at Salt Winds. The dual timeline continues through the story to show the progression of Virginia’s character.
.
The story is bleak, the setting is haunting, and the characters are unsettling. It is part historical fiction (discussing WW2), thriller (the chapters quickly propel its reader), and mystery. I think the author does a good job of defining the two different Virginias (1940s/2015); there is a definite change in her character as the weight of her past crushes her present.
.
While the concept was intriguing, I did have some hangups with the book. The author jumps into the conflict with very little development between the characters, making it hard to invest in them, and some characters feel very one-demential. Sexual tension and hints of abuse detract from the story. Unfortunately, I found the book unclear in its purpose. Characters act, things happen, but I didn’t understand why. The book has good bones and a gothic noir vibe, but the characters develop predictably and were a little forgettable.
.
This is Elizabeth’s debut novel, and I see a lot of talent. Honestly, I believe the book has so many popular elements and clear prose that many will find this story to be a 4-5 star read.
Thank you, Tin House for a free review copy.
Out Jan 15, 2019.