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A review by ecclescake
The Island of Longing by Anne Griffin
4.0
A family member going missing is something no-one wants to contemplate. When a case hits the headlines, we hardly dare to imagine how the family is feeling as they live through such a nightmare. This is exactly what happens to Rosie and her family when her 17 year old daughter disappears moments after Rosie had watched her ride up to the house on her bike.
The story begins eight years after Saoirse’s disappearance, when Rosie returns to her home town to help her father run his ferry service for a few months while his troublesome back recovers. We travel back in time to learn how Rosie and the rest of the family, and indeed the investigating police, have dealt with the nightmare of wondering, not knowing, hoping, despairing. Then we continue forward in time towards a discovery.
Scattered throughout the story are teasing snippets about how Saoirse came to disappear between the pavement and her own front door, which adds to the tension and sense of foreboding.
Despite the subject matter, there are delightful moments of humour: much like in real life, ‘normality’ continues in and around unimaginable catastrophes.
The story isn’t about solving the mystery of what happened to Saoirse (which is only partially resolved), but about a family living through and beyond the mystery. It’s refreshingly different and very well done.
The story begins eight years after Saoirse’s disappearance, when Rosie returns to her home town to help her father run his ferry service for a few months while his troublesome back recovers. We travel back in time to learn how Rosie and the rest of the family, and indeed the investigating police, have dealt with the nightmare of wondering, not knowing, hoping, despairing. Then we continue forward in time towards a discovery.
Scattered throughout the story are teasing snippets about how Saoirse came to disappear between the pavement and her own front door, which adds to the tension and sense of foreboding.
Despite the subject matter, there are delightful moments of humour: much like in real life, ‘normality’ continues in and around unimaginable catastrophes.
The story isn’t about solving the mystery of what happened to Saoirse (which is only partially resolved), but about a family living through and beyond the mystery. It’s refreshingly different and very well done.