Scan barcode
livewisdom's review against another edition
3.0
The story was intriguing and drew me into the world of the archival researcher whose friend goes missing, as well as the world of her research into a "tenth rate" tenor from a hundred years ago and the well to do family that acted as his patron. As I continued reading, it became less about the plot and more about the subtle observations on the randomness and connectedness of all lives.
katie_king's review against another edition
3.0
First novel by a promising author. Locals will enjoy the blend of BC history (the province populated by weirdos since 1857) and scenery. My favourite parts are not the intertwined stories of post-WWI angst and pre-apocalyptic Vancouver, but the relationship between the protagonist and her father.
Much better than either After Alice or Extensions (see below), but utimately unsatisfying.
From my review of Extensions:
This is one of four new releases from NeWest Press that I won in a silent auction. This book, like two others (After Alice and The Paradise Engine), is a first novel by a woman writer based in and about BC.
It seems like all three authors went to the same how-to-write-a-novel workshop, which included the ideas of a multigenerational family, dark secrets revealed by archival material, and a female protagonist with a highly distinctive name. And the latter because it's the only way to distinguish her from the other, somewhat one-dimensional characters.
Much better than either After Alice or Extensions (see below), but utimately unsatisfying.
From my review of Extensions:
This is one of four new releases from NeWest Press that I won in a silent auction. This book, like two others (After Alice and The Paradise Engine), is a first novel by a woman writer based in and about BC.
It seems like all three authors went to the same how-to-write-a-novel workshop, which included the ideas of a multigenerational family, dark secrets revealed by archival material, and a female protagonist with a highly distinctive name. And the latter because it's the only way to distinguish her from the other, somewhat one-dimensional characters.
More...