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A review by bookishjesse
No Going Back by Sheena Kamal
5.0
So, I am here to try and convince you to read all three of Sheena Kamal's books in the Nora Watts series. They are fabulous! And the audio books are all narrated by my absolute favourite Bahni Turpin. So, if you enjoy listening to your well-written mysteries with interesting and exciting plots, let Bahni be your guide!
Yes. You need to start at book 1. So before we go further, read book one and two. I mean, if you really want to skip them, you can. I wouldn't, though, because they are excellent and provide crucial details that explain what follows in book three.
Nora Watts is a really complex character and I am impressed by the way she matures and changes over the course of the series so far. Nora is a recovering addict who is trying her best. She is also is someone who makes poor choices that harm people. Yes, she deserves love. Without question. One of the consistent underlying currents of these novels has to do with each person being worthy of love and safety regardless of past mistakes they might have made.
Just a few reasons I love this particular book in the series:
A) There is a lovely internal monologue regarding pronouns and respect that does not include the person concerned! That's right! Nora does not badger her friend for clarification. She simply thinks through how best to manage a new and unfamiliar moment in their friendship and then continues on in the conversation.
B) There is an important moment when the word fat is used to describe a character. That's all. It's a description without being a moral judgement. It's part of the way an incredibly beautiful woman is described. Equating fat and beauty is something we hardly ever see in any medium, let alone fiction, so I was thrilled that Kamal is with us at the Health at Every Size party!
C) I am not actually sure if this is the final book or if the series will continue??? That ambiguity speaks to a very well-crafted ending. I can see the journey being complete in its ambiguity, and I can also easily see scope for a fourth book. I guess we'll have to wait and see!
This is a really, really important and special series. I so wish that more people would pick up these books and delight in the crucial discourses contained within. Yes, they are well-written mysteries that are interesting, and include details that surprise me. More importantly, Kamal is writing books where the characters look and feel like the people I know. Kamal's fictional world includes everybody: especially those that are often invisible or perceived as taboo or simply not worthy of having their stories heard. Yes, I am absolutely gushing in my praise of this book. It's worth it. Don't take my word for it, read the book and discover its excellence for yourself!
Yes. You need to start at book 1. So before we go further, read book one and two. I mean, if you really want to skip them, you can. I wouldn't, though, because they are excellent and provide crucial details that explain what follows in book three.
Nora Watts is a really complex character and I am impressed by the way she matures and changes over the course of the series so far. Nora is a recovering addict who is trying her best. She is also is someone who makes poor choices that harm people. Yes, she deserves love. Without question. One of the consistent underlying currents of these novels has to do with each person being worthy of love and safety regardless of past mistakes they might have made.
Just a few reasons I love this particular book in the series:
A) There is a lovely internal monologue regarding pronouns and respect that does not include the person concerned! That's right! Nora does not badger her friend for clarification. She simply thinks through how best to manage a new and unfamiliar moment in their friendship and then continues on in the conversation.
B) There is an important moment when the word fat is used to describe a character. That's all. It's a description without being a moral judgement. It's part of the way an incredibly beautiful woman is described. Equating fat and beauty is something we hardly ever see in any medium, let alone fiction, so I was thrilled that Kamal is with us at the Health at Every Size party!
C) I am not actually sure if this is the final book or if the series will continue??? That ambiguity speaks to a very well-crafted ending. I can see the journey being complete in its ambiguity, and I can also easily see scope for a fourth book. I guess we'll have to wait and see!
This is a really, really important and special series. I so wish that more people would pick up these books and delight in the crucial discourses contained within. Yes, they are well-written mysteries that are interesting, and include details that surprise me. More importantly, Kamal is writing books where the characters look and feel like the people I know. Kamal's fictional world includes everybody: especially those that are often invisible or perceived as taboo or simply not worthy of having their stories heard. Yes, I am absolutely gushing in my praise of this book. It's worth it. Don't take my word for it, read the book and discover its excellence for yourself!