This is a rich and beautifully written book that immerses you into the lives of the residents of Victoria Park from the outset. The book follows the lives of the residents over a 12 month period. The chapters are named as the months of the year and follows one resident and their story. The one thread that ties the characters and their stories together is the impact and lasting effect that an acid attack on a fellow resident has had on them and the community as a whole. Each chapter in itself isn’t a complete stand alone as other residents whose story you’ve read or is yet to come make guest appearances in other chapters. At no point did the characters or their storylines feel disjointed and at the end the storylines all came together seamlessly like they’d been woven into one big comforting blanket.
Effectively this is a story about community and breathes life into the concept of community that I fondly remember as a child, where everyone in an area new each other and looked out for each other. This was a refreshing book to read and on finishing it I was truly lost for words. I admit I had somewhat of a book hangover after this book and couldn’t pick up another book until a few days later. One aspect of the book that I liked was that the first chapter and last chapter concentrated on the same character(s) giving the feeling that the story had come full circle and there was a satisfying feeling of closure where those characters were concerned.
I still can’t believe that this is the author’s debut novel and to say she’d done a great job is a gross understatement of a novel that is full of heart and has left a lasting impression on me. Whilst reading it was hard not to feel part of the community that had been constructed. When I turned the last page I actually felt a little sad to say goodbye to the residents, I really didn’t want the book to end.
A book that brings London to life in an extraordinary and fascinating way, bringing new meaning to the word community. Definitely one book that’s moved into my favourites list, a book I will be reading again and one I will be shouting from the rooftops about.
Effectively this is a story about community and breathes life into the concept of community that I fondly remember as a child, where everyone in an area new each other and looked out for each other. This was a refreshing book to read and on finishing it I was truly lost for words. I admit I had somewhat of a book hangover after this book and couldn’t pick up another book until a few days later. One aspect of the book that I liked was that the first chapter and last chapter concentrated on the same character(s) giving the feeling that the story had come full circle and there was a satisfying feeling of closure where those characters were concerned.
I still can’t believe that this is the author’s debut novel and to say she’d done a great job is a gross understatement of a novel that is full of heart and has left a lasting impression on me. Whilst reading it was hard not to feel part of the community that had been constructed. When I turned the last page I actually felt a little sad to say goodbye to the residents, I really didn’t want the book to end.
A book that brings London to life in an extraordinary and fascinating way, bringing new meaning to the word community. Definitely one book that’s moved into my favourites list, a book I will be reading again and one I will be shouting from the rooftops about.