chantelleatkinswriter 's review for:

The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams

4.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This was a beautiful read charting a year in the lives of Tess, Richard and their son Max as they attempt to survive the all encompassing grief of losing a child. The story is told from Tess and Max's POV, while we get Richard's but only in the 3rd person. We also get snippets of POv from Sonny. Sonny was Max's twin brother. Tess is black, Richard is white, and although twins, Max was born white and Sonny was born black. This story follows the seasons as they change and offer up both hope and heartbreak in equal measures in the old-fashioned and somewhat inward looking Somerset village where they all live. Distracted by grief, Richard seems to be obsessed with his vegetable delivery business and cannot seem to connect to Tess who is also torn apart by grief after losing Sonny. Tess, has tried her hardest to fit into Richard's world but she has had enough of the casual racism and constant scrutiny she is subjected to every day. And poor Max believes Sonny is still alive and regularly plays and talks with him. This was a heartbreaking read in so many ways! I truly felt for all of them as they battled their grief and found themselves drifting further apart. The Somerset scenery was described particularly well from the eyes of both Max and Sonny and I really felt like I was there with them. The ending was a joy!