An easy-to-read, clever and engaging book. I really liked the format which was unique and interesting - each chapter shows a month in the life of a single resident of the residential area around Victoria Park, each character only gets one chapter but can be seen again through the eyes of their neighbours.
The author is very talented at describing the human condition - a thoroughly character driven story, the individuals at its heart shine from the page. By giving each character a chapter of their own, the reader gets to observe the often grotesque inner narrative of the mind. It shows the darkest parts of each character, the despicable and crude inner thoughts as they live their lives and experience hardship. It's excruciating to read but so believable as to not want to stop - there is something strangely comforting about reading the daily grind of people who could be just like us.
I was pleased to find some childless characters represented here (Alice, the yoga teacher, for example) but will issue a warning that one chapter follows a couple going through IVF which later proves successful although we only learn this through another character's observations. There were many child-centric tropes and even a disappointing sub-plot where a childless woman 'steals' a child - this is a hurtful and harmful stereotype that I was sad to see in such a fantastic book.
The author is very talented at describing the human condition - a thoroughly character driven story, the individuals at its heart shine from the page. By giving each character a chapter of their own, the reader gets to observe the often grotesque inner narrative of the mind. It shows the darkest parts of each character, the despicable and crude inner thoughts as they live their lives and experience hardship. It's excruciating to read but so believable as to not want to stop - there is something strangely comforting about reading the daily grind of people who could be just like us.
I was pleased to find some childless characters represented here (Alice, the yoga teacher, for example) but will issue a warning that one chapter follows a couple going through IVF which later proves successful although we only learn this through another character's observations. There were many child-centric tropes and even a disappointing sub-plot where a childless woman 'steals' a child - this is a hurtful and harmful stereotype that I was sad to see in such a fantastic book.