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A review by annerlee
Women of the Dunes by Sarah Maine
2.0
I saw this book through to the end because I was reading it for a book club meeting - in the end, it was cancelled (the book club, not the book).
The book is told in three different timelines (one ancient, one Victorian, one modern day) and attempts to show the thread of history linked to one wild, emotive setting on the west coast of Scotland: Ullaness. The legend of Ulla and her ness (headland) springs from events in the time of Viking raids in Scotland and Ireland and is passed down, more or less faithfully through the generations. It survives the embellishments of the Victorian era and echoes through to the present day.
Throughout time, elements of the legend are repeated - relived. There is a recurring theme of warring brothers, wronged women, children fathered by an absent parent and various complex love interests.
In summary: the setting is evocative - there are some good points made about legends - I'm sure the archaeological detail is accurate - and yet the book didn't touch me - it left me cold.
Maybe there's just not enough of the Romantic in me?
(Now where's my copy of 'It'?)
The book is told in three different timelines (one ancient, one Victorian, one modern day) and attempts to show the thread of history linked to one wild, emotive setting on the west coast of Scotland: Ullaness. The legend of Ulla and her ness (headland) springs from events in the time of Viking raids in Scotland and Ireland and is passed down, more or less faithfully through the generations. It survives the embellishments of the Victorian era and echoes through to the present day.
Throughout time, elements of the legend are repeated - relived. There is a recurring theme of warring brothers, wronged women, children fathered by an absent parent and various complex love interests.
In summary: the setting is evocative - there are some good points made about legends - I'm sure the archaeological detail is accurate - and yet the book didn't touch me - it left me cold.
Maybe there's just not enough of the Romantic in me?
(Now where's my copy of 'It'?)