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A review by starness
Matryoshka by Katherine Johnson
4.0
I knew from reading the blurb this would be a book for me and I’m happy to say it delivered and I got more from this book than I expected. I felt a particular connection. The main reason Tasmania being the central setting. Having visiting the Apple Isle back in 2016 I fell in love and developed a deep connection to the area. For this reason I felt at home and immediately felt a fondness for this book. The layers of our past, the known and unknown parts that shape who we are.
The writing is tender with a soft tone. It goes to show that keeping secrets can cause long lasting ripple effects. The book also delves into the plight of refugees, those asylum seekers who become embittered with the process and which brings a whole new set of problems to society that also have long ripple effects. The book tries to show another side, a human side to an issue we are only too aware of but haven’t necessarily been personally affected by, it opened my eyes in a whole new light which is something I really appreciated with this book. Although I did notice feeling that the author was holding back, a sense of reservation that she was treading carefully around this politically charged hotbed of a topic giving the reader a chance to weigh up both sides of the equation, it’s clear her personal opinions show through her writing and I’m ok with that as I agree with the moral and the heart of the story wholeheartedly. I didn’t feel it was preachy but eye opening and delivered gently within this lovely story of family and friendship. The need for understanding, inclusion and acceptance is a better way forward than the cruel alternative.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for my early review copy. Pub date 01 Oct 2018.
The writing is tender with a soft tone. It goes to show that keeping secrets can cause long lasting ripple effects. The book also delves into the plight of refugees, those asylum seekers who become embittered with the process and which brings a whole new set of problems to society that also have long ripple effects. The book tries to show another side, a human side to an issue we are only too aware of but haven’t necessarily been personally affected by, it opened my eyes in a whole new light which is something I really appreciated with this book. Although I did notice feeling that the author was holding back, a sense of reservation that she was treading carefully around this politically charged hotbed of a topic giving the reader a chance to weigh up both sides of the equation, it’s clear her personal opinions show through her writing and I’m ok with that as I agree with the moral and the heart of the story wholeheartedly. I didn’t feel it was preachy but eye opening and delivered gently within this lovely story of family and friendship. The need for understanding, inclusion and acceptance is a better way forward than the cruel alternative.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for my early review copy. Pub date 01 Oct 2018.