Exile

I loved this book about relationships and family secrets. Told through the main character, Kirstie, we slowly discover the reason for her exile to Yell, a small island off the coast of Scotland, and her initial desire to live a reclusive life in an abandoned property once owned by her grandparents. She keeps herself to herself for only a short time before relatives want to meet her and she crosses paths with the locals. Two of these people, Ishabel and Duncan, are a delight and gently prize her out of her home and her hermit-like existence. As her horizons expand she begins to write a confessional, which describes her disastrous romantic relationships and the guilt and shame she bears for her behaviour.

From the very beginning of the book, we know she has a difficult relationship with her mother, Morag – a woman she feels she could never please and who didn’t love her. Morag grew up on Yell but left suddenly in her teens and never returned. When Duncan reveals a secret he has kept for Morag for decades, it cracks open a door into her mother’s past. But, when Morag announces her intention to visit, Kirstie’s curiosity is balanced by dread. In the last chapters of the story we witness their time together and experience the intense emotions raised by their own and each other’s histories.

These people felt so real to me and the tension between characters was deftly and credibly handled. An unexpected twist at the very end, provided an additional punch to the ending. If you love character driven stories set in a wild but beautiful setting, this is for you. Highly recommended.

Review by Diane Clarke

The Train

The catalyst for the action in this book is the suicide of Judith, the first character (and chapter) introduced to us by the author. Judith jumps in front of a train heading from Milton Keynes to London Euston. Eight passengers are subsequently impacted by the incident, interacting minimally on the train and, for some, in greater degrees as the book progresses. Each of the eight has their own chapter, charting their reaction to Judith’s violent death along with their own personal stories and reason for being in London.

The life challenges faced by the passengers are diverse - relationships, sexuality, health - both physical and mental, addictions, mid-life crises and ageing. Each vignette reveals their values, hopes and fears. Some characters are likeable, some not. Some are deeply impacted by the events of the day, others less so. There are final moments of happy resolution, poignancy, payback and irritation.   Much like ensemble movies - ‘Love Actually’ springs to mind - there is satisfaction in noticing the links between these people, either directly or through their friends, family or work connections. There is a particular horror in the linkage between Judith and one of the men.

It is well written and insightful. With so many characters it covers a wide swathe of human circumstances and emotions. An interesting and thought provoking read.

Review by Diane Clarke

The InVisible

When Laila and her lover, Faisal, are detained after the 2005 terrorist attack in London, it sets in motion a chain of events that will alter Laila’s life forever.
 
After being held in solitary confinement for months, Laila is released back into the world without charge, a woman changed beyond recognition. When she decides to leave the country and travel to Pakistan to look for her elusive father, Laila is reunited with Faisal in Peshawar—but the romance is short-lived when she finds herself kidnapped and taken to Afghanistan, leaving her sad, angry, and uncertain if she will ever find her place in the world and the freedom she craves . . .
 
From the author of Ella’s War and The Train, InVisible is a poignant look at how we treat each other and the judgments we make that explores the question of whether freedom always comes at a price.

Publisher’s blurb