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A review by margaret21
Ceremony of Innocence by Madeleine Bunting
4.0
Uncharacteristically for me, I didn't review this book as soon as I had finished it, some 10 days ago. And now I find I can't remember it very well. Which is surprising, because I did find the whole thing a page-turner. This saga which starts in the (almost) present day, but quickly leaps back to the 1970s before dipping in and out and establishing a dual timeline was bound to pique my interest. I've read a fair bit this year about empires such as the British Empire, and the less than savoury ways in which peoples and resources were exploited in those countries over which their imperial rulers had jurisdiction.
The contrasts between the Shah's Iran, modern Bahrain and an England of faded rural gentility are pointed up throughout the book, and help explore Empire, the power of the Establishment and expose colonialism's legacy of moral compromises and corruption.
The characters never really became fully-formed in my mind, with the possible exception of Phoebe. Fauzia, Reem, Kate somehow never came alive as characters for me. This may not matter too much, as it's the fast-paced narrative that carried me long. This is a thoughtful and fast-moving thriller that leaves me with plenty to think about.
The contrasts between the Shah's Iran, modern Bahrain and an England of faded rural gentility are pointed up throughout the book, and help explore Empire, the power of the Establishment and expose colonialism's legacy of moral compromises and corruption.
The characters never really became fully-formed in my mind, with the possible exception of Phoebe. Fauzia, Reem, Kate somehow never came alive as characters for me. This may not matter too much, as it's the fast-paced narrative that carried me long. This is a thoughtful and fast-moving thriller that leaves me with plenty to think about.