The second instalment in this beautifully crafted series from Anthony McGowen. Maybe I'm partial because I'm from Leeds, but I don't think so, this was bliss to read.

An ordinary family, properly ordinary, with its own real challenges and nuances. Its moving to watch Nicky and Kenny navigate their lives as boys who don't have all the answers, but boys with empathy and an eagerness to do what's right. I don't think it's unrealistic to see these children as behaving with a strong moral compass, I think kids often do move from their heart and want to be good, the tricky part is figuring it all out, turning feelings into action. It's so refreshing to see complex families in such a wonderfully normal way, a family that has been through something, that has struggled, but is finding its own way with support from each other. Seeing Nicky and Kenny too, process their emotions and think things through is really striking, I feel like I know these kids and am entirely rooting for them. A gift!

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

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adventurous dark 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

3.0

Dull Margaret by Jim Broadbent, Dix

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dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

“He wore a blue denim shirt and denim trousers. His laceless shoes were halfway under the bunk. The radio and the notebook were on the floor beside the wall. The radio was silent. A bird sang in the sycamore tree outside the window.”

Ernest J. Gaines, A Lesson Before Dying

Grant Wiggins is a teacher who has returned to his hometown, a small Cajun community in the 1940’s, after leaving to study at university. Grant is a black man who teaches children at the local church, although is not a believer himself. He loves his girlfriend Vivian and wants to begin a new life with her. His hometown is becoming smaller and smaller, but his desire to move on is met with a life-altering request from his Aunt which leaves him almost entirely heartbroken.

Another young black man named Jefferson has been charged for a crime he didn’t commit, the murder of a white man, after being at the wrong place at the wrong time amidst a robbery. Jefferson’s lawyers defence agreed with the prosecution that Jefferson is a ‘hog’, and so cannot be blamed for his nature, and therefore his crime, despite being innocent. Jefferson was the only survivor on the scene and so there were no witnesses to speak up with the truth. When Jefferson is sentenced to death, he becomes locked inside of himself as well as a prison cell. Believing himself to be the animal that he is condemned as, living his final days as a shadow.

Grant is finally persuaded to visit Jefferson in the hopes of resurrecting his humanity. His Nannan’s wish being that he walks to his death as a man. Grant cannot say yes, but he also cannot say no, and so something begins which brings both men out of themselves, shedding light on ways to live when life is wrongfully being taken.

This is an incredibly sad and reflective novel as well as a beautiful one. A story and a voice which is obviously important and provokes a lot of thought. As well as the relationship between the two men, we see a community in turmoil, suffering and holding onto something, faith or hope or each other, for some kind of support. Grant himself is tossed between feelings of pain, sorrow, guilt, anger and frustration, but demonstrates what I can only describe as incredibly strong and sincere human decency. An emotional ride which sits proudly on @thereaderorg ‘s bookshelf this year, the theme of which is ‘weathering the storm’.

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unfetteredfiction's reviews 60 reviews

unfetteredfiction's reviews
60 reviews