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A review by currerbell
Ashland & Vine by John Burnside
4.0
A good novel has the ability to envelop its readers in its setting and environment so fully that it feels as though we have been psychologically and physically pulled inside to linger among the pages. When I finished Ashland & Vine, I not only had a well-developed image of Kate sitting in Jean's kitchen on a snowy day, but I could almost smell the exotic tea and the fried apple pie.
Even though I am fairly new (albeit fiercely devoted) to Burnside's work, I knew that this novel would be different from his others. In retrospect, I'm ashamed for treading lightly around something that I knew would be different from that which feels familiar and which is characteristically Burnside. Ashland & Vine is not eerie, atmospheric, chilling, or disturbing in the way that The Dumb House or The Glister are, but perhaps it shouldn't be compared to them at all - this is a new animal, even though the familiar Burnside inevitably trickles through.
Even though I am fairly new (albeit fiercely devoted) to Burnside's work, I knew that this novel would be different from his others. In retrospect, I'm ashamed for treading lightly around something that I knew would be different from that which feels familiar and which is characteristically Burnside. Ashland & Vine is not eerie, atmospheric, chilling, or disturbing in the way that The Dumb House or The Glister are, but perhaps it shouldn't be compared to them at all - this is a new animal, even though the familiar Burnside inevitably trickles through.