A review by badger_badger
Consider the Lilies by Iain Crichton Smith

emotional hopeful informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An absolutely astounding wee book, it will stay with me a long time. It reminded me of what good writing is that doesn’t shove “hey look at me I’m a good writer” vibes down your throat and made me want to pick up a pen again! 

Pacing is perfect both for reading enjoyment and as a purposeful tool for making the story felt. 

The characterisation is very humanising and I felt that while Chrichton Smith criticises the Calvinist worldview, he holds a great deal of grace for Mrs Scott and writes her consciousness just as I know so many old Scottish women to speak. I didn’t grow up in a Calvinist world over a century ago but these Scottish people are still familiar and real.