A review by zjn
My Grandmother's Braid by Alina Bronsky

3.0

‘My Grandmother’s Braid’ is a quirky novel that follows the life of a young Russian refugee as he lives in Germany with his neurotic Grandmother and silent Grandfather.

The book feels like a character study in many ways, the focus is very much on the the boy trying to calm his Grandmother as she does a never ending parade of bizarre things. Other plot points occur but play second fiddle to the Grandmother.

I enjoyed the style in which the book was written but felt a little disconnected from the storyline.

I would recommend this book to those looking for quirky books focused on unusual characters. One of the main characters voices anti-Semitic and racist views frequently throughout. These are framed negatively but something I feel it’s worth flagging up for readers who would prefer to avoid this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.