This book is divided into months of the year. Each month provides an insight into a number of different people/lives that all share a common connection - living by Victoria Park. While the chapters read like individual short stories, the stories also intertwine and we get a glimpse of different perspectives. The book is also bookended by the heart-warming and long-lasting love between Mona and Wolfie, who have to confront and manage the challenges of Mona's declining health.
Reeves' writing is lyrical in nature and lovely to read. She provides an intimate view of varying problems and challenges of life for all kinds of people. Notwithstanding the unique challenges, we can universally empathise with and feel compassion towards the situation. For example, a lesbian couple individually and jointly battle conflicting feelings about having a baby together or a mother grapples with her conscience at reading her daughter's secret thoughts in her diary or a couple that exist together but no longer love one another. The observations Reeves make in the novel are not sugarcoated and at times have a touch of humour due to the oddity of the situation. (Without revealing any spoilers, I was shocked but also amused by Daniel's discovery at Monty's house as he is breaking into his house).
As the chapters are like short stories, I did find some of the chapters too fleeting to fully develop certain perspectives and narrative. I wanted more.
Overall, this is a touching debut novel from Reeves, which shines a spotlight into less visible challenges of life and situations. It does make the reader reflect and consider how we all deal with love, loss, hardships in different ways, and makes us feel greater compassion to complete strangers that are bearing their own unique struggles in life. Everyone has their own story to tell.
Reeves' writing is lyrical in nature and lovely to read. She provides an intimate view of varying problems and challenges of life for all kinds of people. Notwithstanding the unique challenges, we can universally empathise with and feel compassion towards the situation. For example, a lesbian couple individually and jointly battle conflicting feelings about having a baby together or a mother grapples with her conscience at reading her daughter's secret thoughts in her diary or a couple that exist together but no longer love one another. The observations Reeves make in the novel are not sugarcoated and at times have a touch of humour due to the oddity of the situation. (Without revealing any spoilers, I was shocked but also amused by Daniel's discovery at Monty's house as he is breaking into his house).
As the chapters are like short stories, I did find some of the chapters too fleeting to fully develop certain perspectives and narrative. I wanted more.
Overall, this is a touching debut novel from Reeves, which shines a spotlight into less visible challenges of life and situations. It does make the reader reflect and consider how we all deal with love, loss, hardships in different ways, and makes us feel greater compassion to complete strangers that are bearing their own unique struggles in life. Everyone has their own story to tell.