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A review by whatjaimereads
The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can probably count on one hand the amount of books that I’ve reread in my life, and The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss is one of the few to have made that cut.
Our narrator, Adam, is a stay-at-home Dad struggling to piece together a sense of normality after an adverse event in his eldest daughter’s health. The uncertain, wary nature of the family’s adaptation to a “new normal” worked almost as a comfort blanket in the face of covid; Moss shows us that uncertainty has been the norm for centuries. Perhaps this resonated so highly with me because I, like Adam, take comfort in knowing that my struggle isn’t unique.
When I first read this, two years ago, I was just trying to get back into reading, and despite loving it I knew that I hadn’t truly appreciated all its beauty. Moss’ prose is some of the most skilful I’ve ever read, reading this felt like a masterclass in creative writing. I could sing this book’s praises all day and night, but if you’re looking for a novel that explores familial love, long term relationships, work-life balance, gender, politics, reconnecting with your roots, or even rants about the underfunding of the NHS, this has it all.
If you’re feeling in need of companionship in these trying times, consider picking up The Tidal Zone, I truly can’t recommend it highly enough.
Our narrator, Adam, is a stay-at-home Dad struggling to piece together a sense of normality after an adverse event in his eldest daughter’s health. The uncertain, wary nature of the family’s adaptation to a “new normal” worked almost as a comfort blanket in the face of covid; Moss shows us that uncertainty has been the norm for centuries. Perhaps this resonated so highly with me because I, like Adam, take comfort in knowing that my struggle isn’t unique.
When I first read this, two years ago, I was just trying to get back into reading, and despite loving it I knew that I hadn’t truly appreciated all its beauty. Moss’ prose is some of the most skilful I’ve ever read, reading this felt like a masterclass in creative writing. I could sing this book’s praises all day and night, but if you’re looking for a novel that explores familial love, long term relationships, work-life balance, gender, politics, reconnecting with your roots, or even rants about the underfunding of the NHS, this has it all.
If you’re feeling in need of companionship in these trying times, consider picking up The Tidal Zone, I truly can’t recommend it highly enough.