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A review by doobyus
Unspeakable by Dilys Rose
2.0
I have to confess to being a bit disappointed in this book. It is built on a series of vignettes throughout Thomas Aikenhead's life and it felt like a series of short stories bolted together to create a novel. This has been used successfully by other authors (notably Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout) but, what was singularly missing from this book was depth to any of the characters, especially Aikenhead.
Given that the book was about him, and how he came to be the last person executed for blasphemy in Britain, the shallow characterisation spoiled it for me. Rrally all we learn of him is that he was a good boy with a penchant for speaking out of turn. The other characters were as flimsy, especially the cause of Aikenhead's demise, Mungo Craig.
The vignettes were well enough written, but the author really missed the opportunity to delve into Thomas's personality and that of his nemesis, and, frankly, every other character in the book.
I enjoyed the writing and some of the scene setting was excellent, but my overall reaction was, what actually happened here?
Sorry...
Actually, when i think about it, the second major issue i had with the book, despite the skill of the writer, it always felt like writing, if you know what i mean?
Given that the book was about him, and how he came to be the last person executed for blasphemy in Britain, the shallow characterisation spoiled it for me. Rrally all we learn of him is that he was a good boy with a penchant for speaking out of turn. The other characters were as flimsy, especially the cause of Aikenhead's demise, Mungo Craig.
The vignettes were well enough written, but the author really missed the opportunity to delve into Thomas's personality and that of his nemesis, and, frankly, every other character in the book.
I enjoyed the writing and some of the scene setting was excellent, but my overall reaction was, what actually happened here?
Sorry...
Actually, when i think about it, the second major issue i had with the book, despite the skill of the writer, it always felt like writing, if you know what i mean?