silverliningsandpages's reviews
388 reviews

Wish We Knew What to Say: Talking with Children About Race by Pragya Agarwal

informative

5.0

A very helpful guide on talking to children about racism and inclusive language.  I’ve referred to it a few times and I certainly learned from a lot from it myself.

Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home by Nikesh Shukla

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad

A heartwarming memoir that discusses racism, that dads can be feminists and navigating grief through memories evoked by family recipes.

Fragile by Sarah Hilary

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A mysterious homeless woman finds a housekeeping job working in a strange, sinister household.  Lots of gothic vibes and well plotted with interesting perspective on the foster care system.

No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

3.0

The Fires of Autumn by Irène Némirovsky

3.25

Exposure by Helen Dunmore

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

How to Be Hopeful: Your Toolkit to Rediscover Hope and Help Create a Kinder World by Bernadette Russell

3.0

The Bell in the Lake by Lars Mytting

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Lars Mytting is a very skilful writer, who mesmerises with his rich language.  First, he had me captivated by the arht of cabinet making in The Sixteen Trees of the Somme, and this time, fishing, carpentry and stave churches in The Bell in t he Lake.  I so loved his poetic descriptions of the forest in Sixteen Trees that I bought his non fiction Norwegian Wood as a Christmas present for my son - he loves woodwork (and no he doesn’t read my posts)! 

One of my favourite literary settings is the frozen north - it must be my Nordic ancestry calling me!  The story focuses on a nineteenth century community in remote Norwegian village nestled into a valley.  There is a mournful beauty to the landscape, in which it’s people struggle against the bitter winters and extreme poverty.  It’s a place of legends and superstitions as well as patriarchal expectations, but the effects of industrialisation are stretching out from the faraway cities.

There is an absorbing, passionate love triangle in which Pastor Schweigaard and German architecture student compete for the affections of forthright young woman Astrid.  Ultimately the men’s desires for her start a chain of events that affect the entire community, its symbolic church and legendary bell.

Mytting is a hugely observant and philosophical writer; I’m so pleased this is the first in a trilogy - you bet I want to read the other two!  I’m giving this 4/5🌟 (rather than five) because the pacing dipped a bit in the middle.

Thank you Maclehose Press for the PR review copy - it took me longer than intended to post this but better late than never! 

Winter Flowers by Angélique Villeneuve

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Winter Flowers by Angélique Villeneuve, translated by Adriana Hunter is a quiet, intimate yet powerful portrait of trauma and renewal.  At it’s heart is a stirring love story that captures a depth of emotion and leaves a lasting impact. 

This novella is set in 1918, and portrays the reunion of a couple; the husband, returning from war with severe facial injuries and his wife who has scraped by, creating flower ornaments to stitch onto hats.  His spirit is broken, and her exhaustion and anxiety about making ends meet are palpable.  I loved the nuanced characterisation and the author’s wonderful way in conveying the strength of their ineffable feeling.

Whilst we are living in very different times, the parallels between the global tragedies of war and our pandemic are there: the devastating loss, trauma and deepening social divisions.  However, this is ultimately a hopeful story and I highly recommend it.

 

Thank you Peirene Press for the PR review copy in exchange for an honest opinion 

The Fell by Sarah Moss

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

Sarah Moss is on cracking form…wise, perceptive, mischievously funny about serious things - she puts into words those thoughts you try to suppress and daren’t say aloud.  But yet what a relief to read them - someone else must be thinking that too!😹

The Fell is set in the Peak District and follows four people in a village during the pandemic.  Kate has been identified as a close contact, and for her mental health she breaks the rules of self-isolation to go on a dusk walk in the quiet peaks.  However, she doesn’t return, leaving all sorts of dilemmas for her teenage son.  For me this compact story is all about choices, community and government messaging; it considers how what we do in these pandemic times has an impact on our families, communities and wider society.  There are lots of fascinating ethical and feminist contemplations and Moss expertly captures the sense of loss and anticipatory grief that we’ve all felt so intensely. Also, the continuing uncertainty…

Thanks xxx for the PR review copy - I’d like to read this again some time.  I imagine it will be a powerful social commentary for future generations in understanding pandemic life.