Great review! I thought the quietness of the novel was perfectly in balance with the emotions of the family, especially the father and Gopi. By directing all of their emotions toward something like a sport, rather than facing the reality, it’s like they are trying to keep their souls “quiet” in fear if they allow the emotions to surface they won’t know how to move forward. A beautifully tender and quiet novel, I love it.
What a wonderful review. Western Lane was my choice to win the booker (my number one didn't make the shortlist). It's such a fabulously realised portrait of grief and how it shifts the dynamic of a family. I feel it was unfairly judged/described (last year) by people who seemed determined to dislike it before they read it ("Oh, that squash book."). I think you point out why. It's a quiet book that demands attention and care. It doesn't have the big plot developments that some readers want. I also think some readers may be uncomfortable living in the silence. I think we're trained as book readers and t.v. watchers to expect explosive reactions/behaviour.
Thank you, Chris. I think you put it so much better than I did here! A really underrated book that quietly got to the heart of a family who are grieving. I liked living in the silence of the book, and I went into it determined to see for myself why it has split reviewers and to give it an unbiased chance. I filmed this about 10 days ago and I’ve still been thinking about it, so it may even be a book that I appreciate even more over time. I am often a reader who likes plot heavy and explosive books, but this one was a lovely change for me. I’d have liked to have said in the review as well that when my complaint about a book is that I want to know what happens next it means the characters have really impacted me. 😊📚
I agree with your review. I enjoyed the everyday mundanity of grief was depicted. It wasn’t an all encompassing roar or inability to cope. The characters carried on living their lives with the loss and grief affecting them in different ways. I was worried the squash would be a bit overwhelming but that wasn’t the case. Definitely more character driven than plot but I didn’t mind that as the characters and sense of place were so well done. I could picture all the scenes very clearly. Interested to hear what you think about Soldier, sailor
‘Quiet’ is definitely the best way to describe this book & for me personally I still cannot work out if that is a compliment, a criticism… Perhaps both?😅📚
It was quiet. For me personally that was a good thing, but there have certainly been times where I have read books this quiet and not liked them as much as this. I must have picked it up at the right time. 😊📚
I really liked Western Lane - agree with a lot of your thoughts though. I thought it was a great Booker nominee but feels a little less exciting for the Women’s Prize, for some reason!
I really liked it too. I’ve continued to think about it since as well which is always a good sign. I can see why it isn’t for everyone but it worked for me. 😊
Good review,I agree with your thoughts. I read this for the Booker and was pleasantly surprised and have thought about it since. Not sure why I liked it so much,it was quiet and unassuming,nothing showy. I think it had a kind of tenderness.
Success! One down, 15 to go? I'm still looking for Maiden at the library. My limit this year for both WP fiction and NF is 2 each. I enjoy a few literary books a year when I don't read too many of them. I read primarily to escape reality and literary works often address unhappy things. Off topic - A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly is Very Good. I don't give 5 stars because, to me, that means completely perfect, but this mystery comes close. 🙂 Enjoy your reads!!
Thanks BJ. I did film this about 10 days ago so I’ve finished one more since. I’d say two each is a wise choice in terms of keeping to books you will enjoy. I’m currently reading 8 Lives and as you have said to me before it is very brutal indeed. Thanks for the mystery recommendation too, I read one I think I might have to give five stars to or very close at the weekend, just in terms of how much I enjoyed it! Very refreshing among the WP reading, even though it did contain murders! 😂📚
I read this last year in one evening. I enjoyed it and and I remember quite a lot of the plot. But there's not many books about squash 😂. Towards the end I wasn't convinced with the friendship/crush as aspect she was 10 or 11. It felt older.
I can understand that thought. I think I just went with it and felt that Gopi was growing up a fair bit over the course of the book. I think it is a book I will remember. 😊📚
I’m reading this now and feel conflicted by it. Objectively I can see what’s great about it but I’m just not sure I’m enjoying my reading experience. I’ve also read Ordinary Human Failings, The Wren The Wren and Nightbloom and thoroughly enjoyed all of those.
Great review! I thought the quietness of the novel was perfectly in balance with the emotions of the family, especially the father and Gopi. By directing all of their emotions toward something like a sport, rather than facing the reality, it’s like they are trying to keep their souls “quiet” in fear if they allow the emotions to surface they won’t know how to move forward. A beautifully tender and quiet novel, I love it.
Thank you, that’s a really good way of putting it. 😊📚
What a wonderful review. Western Lane was my choice to win the booker (my number one didn't make the shortlist). It's such a fabulously realised portrait of grief and how it shifts the dynamic of a family. I feel it was unfairly judged/described (last year) by people who seemed determined to dislike it before they read it ("Oh, that squash book."). I think you point out why. It's a quiet book that demands attention and care. It doesn't have the big plot developments that some readers want. I also think some readers may be uncomfortable living in the silence. I think we're trained as book readers and t.v. watchers to expect explosive reactions/behaviour.
Thank you, Chris. I think you put it so much better than I did here! A really underrated book that quietly got to the heart of a family who are grieving. I liked living in the silence of the book, and I went into it determined to see for myself why it has split reviewers and to give it an unbiased chance. I filmed this about 10 days ago and I’ve still been thinking about it, so it may even be a book that I appreciate even more over time.
I am often a reader who likes plot heavy and explosive books, but this one was a lovely change for me. I’d have liked to have said in the review as well that when my complaint about a book is that I want to know what happens next it means the characters have really impacted me. 😊📚
I agree with your review. I enjoyed the everyday mundanity of grief was depicted. It wasn’t an all encompassing roar or inability to cope. The characters carried on living their lives with the loss and grief affecting them in different ways. I was worried the squash would be a bit overwhelming but that wasn’t the case. Definitely more character driven than plot but I didn’t mind that as the characters and sense of place were so well done. I could picture all the scenes very clearly.
Interested to hear what you think about Soldier, sailor
I completely agree. You’ve put it into words really well here, thank you. 😊📚
I am pleased you enjoyed this. It wasn’t one for me but then not every book is for every reader 😊❤ Great review lovely.
This is true, always! 😊📚
‘Quiet’ is definitely the best way to describe this book & for me personally I still cannot work out if that is a compliment, a criticism… Perhaps both?😅📚
It was quiet. For me personally that was a good thing, but there have certainly been times where I have read books this quiet and not liked them as much as this. I must have picked it up at the right time. 😊📚
@@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf yess, timing is such a major factor when both reading & reviewing. Glad to hear that you enjoyed☺️✨
I really liked Western Lane - agree with a lot of your thoughts though. I thought it was a great Booker nominee but feels a little less exciting for the Women’s Prize, for some reason!
I really liked it too. I’ve continued to think about it since as well which is always a good sign. I can see why it isn’t for everyone but it worked for me. 😊
Good review,I agree with your thoughts. I read this for the Booker and was pleasantly surprised and have thought about it since. Not sure why I liked it so much,it was quiet and unassuming,nothing showy. I think it had a kind of tenderness.
Exactly that! Thank you. 😊📚
Success! One down, 15 to go? I'm still looking for Maiden at the library. My limit this year for both WP fiction and NF is 2 each. I enjoy a few literary books a year when I don't read too many of them. I read primarily to escape reality and literary works often address unhappy things.
Off topic - A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly is Very Good. I don't give 5 stars because, to me, that means completely perfect, but this mystery comes close. 🙂
Enjoy your reads!!
Thanks BJ. I did film this about 10 days ago so I’ve finished one more since. I’d say two each is a wise choice in terms of keeping to books you will enjoy. I’m currently reading 8 Lives and as you have said to me before it is very brutal indeed.
Thanks for the mystery recommendation too, I read one I think I might have to give five stars to or very close at the weekend, just in terms of how much I enjoyed it! Very refreshing among the WP reading, even though it did contain murders! 😂📚
I read this last year in one evening. I enjoyed it and and I remember quite a lot of the plot. But there's not many books about squash 😂. Towards the end I wasn't convinced with the friendship/crush as aspect she was 10 or 11. It felt older.
I can understand that thought. I think I just went with it and felt that Gopi was growing up a fair bit over the course of the book. I think it is a book I will remember. 😊📚
I’m reading this now and feel conflicted by it. Objectively I can see what’s great about it but I’m just not sure I’m enjoying my reading experience. I’ve also read Ordinary Human Failings, The Wren The Wren and Nightbloom and thoroughly enjoyed all of those.
I can see that being the case for quite a few readers. It’s really good to hear you’ve enjoyed all of those three as I’d still like to get to them. 😊📚
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