"The Sunlight Pilgrims"

 The Sunlight Pilgrims

Written by Jenni Fagan

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

The Sunlight Pilgrims creates an eerie and uncomfortable year 2020 as the world breaks into crisis, as global warming allows for the development of an extinctive Ice Age. Reading this novel in April 2021, after a year of isolation, social distancing, and staying safe from a viral pandemic, feels bizarre. Naturally, the cause of the deaths of many humans on Earth is completely different, but the parallels are haunting.

Fagan tells the tales of Constance, Stella, and Dylan as they prepare for the end of the world as they knew it. Constance and her transgender daughter, Stella, live in a caravan park, wrapped up in the community that they are so determined to protect. Dylan chooses to visit, to the site where his mother had left him a caravan in her will. Dylan and Constance find consolation in each other, while Stella is desperate to keep her life as comfortable as it once was.

Unfortunately, this novel was not one for me. I found many of the elements to seem unbelievable, such as the temperature being below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and it raining. A few of the apocalyptic elements were interesting, such as the animals freezing to death, the freezing temperature preventative measures, and different perspectives of those who are living on this Earth.

Additionally, I found the dialogue style to be distracting and simple, where I prefer to have it be much more of an important part of storytelling. Also, I just found the plot to be very small and limited, when I felt that this novel had much more potential that Fagan could have built upon. The novel turned out to be more of a character study than a plot revolving around the end of time, when I prefer equal portions. I personally did not feel connected or sympathetic to the characters, because we hardly know deep detail of each. I felt that the characters we read were not likeable and just idiotic. I feel I can no longer enjoy immature, adolescent characters like Stella, who repeatedly made dangerous choices and made herself more of a nuisance in each chapter. I liked the character, Dylan, who reminded me of stoic but caring Joel from the The Last of Us video games. I felt that if the story only followed him, I would have enjoyed it more.

I did enjoy learning of some of the consequences of the global warming, but I just felt that we could have explored that a little more. One of my favorite novels of all time is Station Eleven. In SE¸ we see what the world like before a virus hits, during the first arrival and first deaths, and the aftermath. I felt that in The Sunlight Pilgrims we did not see how high the stakes were. Only seeing the beginning of the end, I do not feel as satisfied with the novel as I had initially anticipated. Only chapter 34 of 38 do we even see society locking down buildings, people struggling to find food, and riots. Also, that information is provided in a news broadcast, not experienced by our characters. Due to my lack of connection to the characters, I do not even feel I need to know if they survive. The book is branded as a story of courage and resilience, and I do not feel that at all. The climax incorporates moments of bravery, but I felt like they came all too late. My interest in the well-being of these characters expired eons ago.

I felt so thoroughly disappointed in this novel. If you enjoy apocalyptic or dystopian fiction, I would rather point you in the direction of Station Eleven, I am Legend, After the Flood, or Never Let Me Go.

I rated this book at two out of five stars.

Thank you to Hogarth Press for sending along a finished copy for reviewing purposes.

"Half a World Away" Book Review

 Half a World Away

Written by Mike Gayle

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

 

Half a World Away happens to be a novel that I had looked forward to for months. After misplacing my secondhand copy, a day after finding it, I longed to find it once more. I returned back to the United States after staying with my fiancé for a good majority of 2020, I found a new hardcover copy of it on my bookshelf, thanks to the lovely publisher.

Half a World Away was written from two perspectives: of tired, overwhelmed single mother Kerry and her long-lost brother, Noah, who is struggling with an impending divorce. The two characters were separated by the English foster care system. Kerry grew up in a home and eventually aged out of the system, while Noah was adopted by a kind, large family. Although they were not connected until mid-adulthood, Kerry has written to Noah so they can meet and become reacquainted.

The premise itself is not one that I would typically be drawn to, but the allure of the long-lost novel and the long-lost plot intrigued me. I personally felt that the premise itself was executed well, but my enjoyment while reading was lackluster. First and foremost, Mike Gayle’s writing style is extremely lengthy and excessive. Nearly every paragraph has at least four lines, and at one point I counted one paragraph to be twenty-three lines long. The characters ramble within their own thoughts, and the dialogue is just as ridiculous. Kerry and Noah’s dialogue, as well as other characters, is presented more as a monologue or a speech, as if each paragraph is meant to be a groundbreaking, plot-revealing moment. I felt that most of the time, many chunks of dialogue were unnecessary.

Additionally, I found it extremely difficult to decipher any differences in the way each perspective was told; Kerry’s and Noah’s prose was nearly identical, without any different calling cards to spice up the prose.

I found it incredibly difficult to like Kerry and Noah. Kerry loses her temper often, she smacks her child, and consistently lies so that her life runs more smoothly. Are we supposed to pity and / or sympathize with her? Noah is a better person, but I still find him tiring to read. His entire commentary seems to be ‘I don’t know how to trust people, because I was adopted. Did you know? Did you know that I was adopted? I’ll tell you nine more times in this chapter, in case you forget.’ Many of the decisions Kerry and Noah make seem rushed and immature, which makes me lose my interest in them almost immediately after I find some.

 Lastly, I felt there were too many scenes that were too short. Imagine, having paragraphs so long that they fit half a page, but half a chapter is dedicated to an interesting location or adventure, like when they went to Brighton together. It felt so disappointing to have the characters travel there, eat a cone of chips, and head home. Then, we learned much of the conversation that was had through the other character’s perspective, in the next chapter. Too much of the novel just gives away exposition without actually providing an interesting plot or sequence of events.

However, there are some positive aspects to the novel. I enjoyed the idea of the separated siblings becoming close once again. Their plot lines of struggling with their marriages and children felt very natural, and I appreciated the inclusion of them to flesh out the characters. As someone who has a personal connection to separated relatives, I felt it interesting to see how these characters reacted to similar events. I could see why some readers may recommend this novel to fans of This is Us, Gilmore Girls, and Parenthood for the tough but sentimental family drama. The ending felt incredibly predictable, but I was still not really interested in its execution. I feel that most readers and writers could have predicted each plot point in order.

Unfortunately, I disliked this novel more than I liked it. I would consider reading another novel by this same author, but I just cannot speak to the brilliance of this one. The lackluster plot and writing style brought the novel down for me, lessening my enjoyment.

 

I rate this book at three stars out of five stars. Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for sending along a finished review copy.

"Mirrorland" Book Review

 Mirrorland

Written by Carole Johnstone

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

            Mirrorland boasts an incredible premise, taking the tale of two sisters and a suspicious husband and turning it through a fantastic nuanced lens. Carole Johnstone’s newest psychological thriller tells the story of Catriona (Cat) and Ellice (El), two sisters who grew up under surreal and strange conditions, the girls never understanding if their life was real or if they were part of their imagined play world, Mirrorland. They fought pirates, caught monsters, and hid from evil creatures, but as Cat processes her adulthood, she soon recognizes that those monsters were closer to reality than she had remembered. Cat is called back to her hometown and the house they two grew up in, when El disappears. The lead suspect is, naturally, El’s husband, Ross, who the girls both pined and fought for as teens.

 

            The story weaves in and out of the muddled past and back to the jaded present. Unfortunately, I do believe that as great as Johnstone storytelling is, that the past was jarring and uncomfortable to read, leaving for a less than perfect reading experience. As the secrets and truths are revealed, the Mirrorland storyline becomes more clear and even more horrifying. I find that readers who can be sensitive to dark material could become very triggered by this story, as it goes down many frightening paths that I wasn’t expecting. I did enjoy the twisting and ominous tales woven together, but I think it may be one of those books that once you read it, you might feel complacent to not read once more. Additionally, the Ross investigation was interesting, and I felt that it was told in a pleasant and suspenseful way. I do not think the way she unveiled his villainy was incredibly interesting, but I enjoyed how the girls’ love for Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption influenced the full plot.

 

            Finally, I do believe this is a great book. I am glad to have read from this author, and I will continue to follow her new releases. I think that the volume of disturbing and exploitative plot points can detract from the novel, but I do feel that the complete novel was enjoyable. Additionally, the lack of proper mental health help representation was disappointing. However, I urge readers to give this a try.

 

            I rate this novel at four out of five stars.

            Thank you to Scribner Publishing for sending a finished copy for reviewing purposes.

"Best Kept Secret" Book Review

 Best Kept Secret

Written by Amy Hatvany

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

    How to start writing a review, after stopping for about seven months of not doing so. Well, I have been busy, as most of us have been. Burn out, Covid, and my personal life have all contributed to my lack of interest posting about books on social media. I've gained weight, and I find it difficult to appear in pictures. Strangely enough, I feel myself ready to return. The first book I have read since deciding to start book blogging again is Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany.

    Do we still consider dramatic fiction about women to be called women's fiction? Do we still need to categorize novels based on the gender of who primarily reads them? I am sure that the Lifetime company leans into their female audience with far too many puns about cats, fire, and make-up, but perhaps we shouldn't be doing that as readers.

    Best Kept Secret is a drama fiction novel, following the main character, Cadence, as she struggles to keep custody of her son while she battles heavy alcoholism. Ask me if I would have read this two years ago, two months ago, two years from now? I am not sure. As someone who has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, one who has stopped drinking entirely at twenty-five years old, perhaps this book hit close to home. We can joke endlessly about women and teachers who need a whole bottle of wine at the end of a busy day, but perhaps we should not use language about alcohol so freely in comedy.

    Cadence's family and friends are not wonderfully supportive, but as she quickly spirals and hits rock bottom, those people around her start to forgive and help. Although the novel does not have a particularly enlightening ending, I found it fitting and appropriate. There is no shocking plot twist, and I am quite glad for that. Thinking this novel to be intriguing and arresting is one thing, but we do not need every fiction involving a female to have a heart-stopping climax. Most of the novel does feel slow and belabored, however, it creates a fuller and more effective plot.

    Amy Hatvany writes in a brilliant style, providing all the right details, creating interesting sequences, and fleshing out every character. Although the plot was not ideal for someone like me, I felt that I enjoyed the book, because she wrote it. I firmly intend to read any future books by her. I could recommend Best Kept Secret to fans of Jeannette Walls and Colleen Hoover.