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lisa_kissane 's review for:
Such a Fun Age
by Kiley Reid
This was Reese Witherspooon's #hellosunshine Book Club pick for January 2020, and as always she has chosen an absolutely outstanding book.
The story starts with a black woman who, whilst babysitting for a white family, encounters some racial tension, and continues with an exploration of both families and how their lives intertwine and shape each of them. The contrasts of perspective of each character are wonderfully woven together and inspire much thought about the world we live in and how our own subconscious values, experiences and awareness play out in real life scenarios.
All of the characters were brilliantly shaped and I felt truly engaged in their experiences, but for me the stand out character in the book was the child Briar; I found myself laughing out loud frequently at her nuances and foibles and felt the author did a spectacular job of not only bringing her to life but making me fall in love with her.
There are many sociological and psychological points within the book and Kiley Reid has a true talent for dissecting the human psyche. I found myself questioning my own values and experiences throughout, and I personally believe that a book that can achieve this deserves 5 stars and a place in history.
The only critisicm I have of the book is that there were some Americanisms that I didn't understand (Bumbo? Malecs?) but this is as much my own ignorance of our neighbours across the pond as anything else.
From reading other reviews and participating in discussions about the book, I can see that there are some insecurities about how the book ended, which I would only agree with to a small degree. I was truly awed by the whole thing and finished it in just two days! I will wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who shows the slightest interest in the written word.
The story starts with a black woman who, whilst babysitting for a white family, encounters some racial tension, and continues with an exploration of both families and how their lives intertwine and shape each of them. The contrasts of perspective of each character are wonderfully woven together and inspire much thought about the world we live in and how our own subconscious values, experiences and awareness play out in real life scenarios.
All of the characters were brilliantly shaped and I felt truly engaged in their experiences, but for me the stand out character in the book was the child Briar; I found myself laughing out loud frequently at her nuances and foibles and felt the author did a spectacular job of not only bringing her to life but making me fall in love with her.
There are many sociological and psychological points within the book and Kiley Reid has a true talent for dissecting the human psyche. I found myself questioning my own values and experiences throughout, and I personally believe that a book that can achieve this deserves 5 stars and a place in history.
The only critisicm I have of the book is that there were some Americanisms that I didn't understand (Bumbo? Malecs?) but this is as much my own ignorance of our neighbours across the pond as anything else.
From reading other reviews and participating in discussions about the book, I can see that there are some insecurities about how the book ended, which I would only agree with to a small degree. I was truly awed by the whole thing and finished it in just two days! I will wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who shows the slightest interest in the written word.