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thethumbedpage 's review for:
The Last Neanderthal
by Claire Cameron
This book had one of the most interesting concepts I'd ever heard of for a book: a split POV book, one part of the book told from the POV of a neanderthal and the other part of the book told through the archaeologist digging up the neanderthal girl. While both of these women live in radically different worlds in radically different stages of their life, somehow Claire Cameron pulls off these radically split narratives with ease.
Our two characters, Girl and Rosamund, both have their full stories, inner lives, goals, and fears splayed before us. Girl is coming of age and her place in her family, and of Neanderthals in the world is rapidly changing. Likewise, Rosamund is on what could be a history-changing archaeological dig when she finds herself pregnant throwing her relationship with her husband, the dig, and even Girl into turmoil.
Despite being separated by a millennia (and not even being the same animal) Cameron examines the issues about women people still consider taboo in both times - sex, autonomy, and power.
I think the fact that this concept works flawlessly says volumes about Cameron's writing. Although it is strange to read Girl's POV at first, soon the writing style becomes familiar and is quite unique. Cameron didn't try to make Girl have a 'contemporary' POV and her thoughts seem finely attuned to what a Neanderthal was likely focused on so it is much more action-based than Rosamund's powerful, complicated, and analytical POV.
Another thing I love about this book is you actually learn quite a bit about the science and politics behind archaeological digs, what we know about Neanderthals, and the reality behind in the fiction. I even found myself googling some of the facts that I was learning through Girl and Rosamund and seeing updates that were written right around when the book came out so needless to say it is quite a timely book.
If you can stomach a slightly weird POV, are interested in archaeology, and want to read a story that is truly unique I highly suggest picking this up.
Our two characters, Girl and Rosamund, both have their full stories, inner lives, goals, and fears splayed before us. Girl is coming of age and her place in her family, and of Neanderthals in the world is rapidly changing. Likewise, Rosamund is on what could be a history-changing archaeological dig when she finds herself pregnant throwing her relationship with her husband, the dig, and even Girl into turmoil.
Despite being separated by a millennia (and not even being the same animal) Cameron examines the issues about women people still consider taboo in both times - sex, autonomy, and power.
I think the fact that this concept works flawlessly says volumes about Cameron's writing. Although it is strange to read Girl's POV at first, soon the writing style becomes familiar and is quite unique. Cameron didn't try to make Girl have a 'contemporary' POV and her thoughts seem finely attuned to what a Neanderthal was likely focused on so it is much more action-based than Rosamund's powerful, complicated, and analytical POV.
Another thing I love about this book is you actually learn quite a bit about the science and politics behind archaeological digs, what we know about Neanderthals, and the reality behind in the fiction. I even found myself googling some of the facts that I was learning through Girl and Rosamund and seeing updates that were written right around when the book came out so needless to say it is quite a timely book.
If you can stomach a slightly weird POV, are interested in archaeology, and want to read a story that is truly unique I highly suggest picking this up.