Either that, or I am far too sensitive as I found the gore factor way too high and the amount of abuse perpetrated by all of the characters at some point or other to be excessive. I’m not sure I’m the right audience for this, as I was expecting a psychological thriller and this is definitely horror. The novel is ultimately about Rob trying to deal with some horrific memories whilst also attempting to prevent her daughter suffering the same fate.
Her relationship with her sister, Jack is a primary focus, but it also explores the complicated relationship Rob had with her parents and the awful, abusive relationship she began with her husband after moving away. As Rob tries to understand and help her daughter, her past at Sundial is revealed in stages, with revelations still occurring for the older Rob as she explores her childhood memories. In a nutshell, Rob is concerned about the behaviour of her daughter Callie and decides to take her on a trip to her childhood home, Sundial, in the middle of the Mojave desert. Found myself thinking ‘but, why?!’ a lot! It’s really difficult to review this book without giving away spoilers, but I found a lot of the decisions that are often part of a big reveal are extremely questionable and often implausible.
Most of the characters are awful human beings and there are no redeeming factors about any of them. The writing is the only thing pretty about this novel though, the story is so unbelievably dark and just when you think it can’t possibly get any worse you’re proved wrong on the next page.
I saw another reviewer called the writing ‘flowery,’ but I’m a sucker for pretty, figurative language and will take all the metaphors! Having read The Last House on Needless Street last year, I was expecting Catriona Ward’s second novel to be just as dark and twisty, and on that front I was not disappointed! It is definitely a gripping read and the prose is often beautiful, particularly when describing the setting of Sundial.
0 kommentar(er)
