A review by serendipitysbooks
Violets by Alex Hyde

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 
Violets is a beautifully written meditation of motherhood, love and loss. It successfully mixes unadorned prose with lyrical poetic sections to great effect. Set towards the end of World War II this is the story of two women, both called Violet. One is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy; the other facing the reality of a miscarriage and hysterectomy. We follow their stories in (mostly) alternating chapters. Interspersed are sections of free verse to and about Pram Boy. This was a quiet book but one that I very much enjoyed. It’s honest, upfront depiction of the realities of women’s bodies was refreshing. Learning that it is based on a true story from the author’s family added to the poignancy. 
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