A review by ragonmoss
The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn

4.0

The writing in this book is so unique and exceptional. Truly, I haven't read first person narration quite like it, the use of present tense, the way she really gets in each character's persona. The writing is just lovely. It's a bit of a slow start and the jumping around in time and viewpoint kind of makes each chapter stand a bit on its own so there's less of a connecting narrative. To a certain extent, that's fine--it reminds me a bit of the way some classic children's literature is written--kind of like Ballet Shoes maybe, and I would imagine it is on pupose. But it's not at all childish, even when in a child's perspective. You can sense the adult themes, even from a child's viewpoint. But I did become very invested in this family and once we moved into the war chapters, the earlier character building and family building chapters gain a new clarity.