Reviews

Victoria Park by Gemma Reeves

sarahvt97's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

eloise_reads's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I picked up Victoria Park in a charity shop after the cover and premise intrigued me. Essentially the book follows several different characters who all live by Victoria Park over one year and is told in short stories for each month. 

I can see why this book isn't for everyone as I'm usually not a short stories sort of person. I was left wanting more and wished some of the characters popped up more and we learnt more about what happened to them, however I appreciated how plot points from previous stories were weaved into later stories so we did get some updates on earlier characters.

Gemma Reeves writing style really worked for me and I'd definitely pick up another book by her in the future. I just found this to be an easy, pleasant read and yes I did cry at the end.

emmaeng1992's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

shibbyy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

amina_miah's review

3.0

Not yet a review by any means but how can you have a book called Victoria park, set in east London and not have any brown or black or Muslim representation?

Only afforded a couple of lines of casual islamophobia and racism through a character’s train of thought and one image of girls ‘removing their make up ans putting their hijab back on before going home to their families’

Urgh.

cara_01's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

aish_aish_baby's review

3.0

3.5 stars. This story was simple and soothing, set in the backdrop of East London. It follows the lives of 12 residents living around Victoria Park. The novel takes place over 12 months, beginning and ending with Wolfie and Mona- a married couple (the latter of which suffering from long-standing dementia).

Each chapter/ month is essentially a peek into a different character's life, with glimpses of previous or future characters where their stories interconnect. I love character studies, but while I enjoyed entering a new life each chapter, I felt like none of them were explored as extensively as I would've liked. But maybe fleeting glimpses into each person was the point.

Still, I found Victoria Park easy and calming to read (with no overt emotional waves, other than outright racism and homophobia from a couple characters), and hard to put down- each of the characters were, in the end, well thought out and interesting.

So overall, a simple, by-the-fireplace read as the weather changes, but not anything I'm particularly jumping to recommend.

gabbymerry's review

3.0

This was a well written and moving novel about a small community of people living around Vicotoria Park in Hackney, London. I enjoyed the perspectives of the many characters, and thought the majority of them were believeable and well fleshed out. So many themes were covered, from violence and abuse, to gender identity, to sadness and loss. The depiction of dementia particularly resonated with me, as I've lost family members to this disease, and I did shed a tear at the end of the story. I enjoyed picturing the park in my mind, as it's somewhere I've visited frequently. I also enjoyed the short story type approach, but my only criticism is that I wish I could have heard more from some of the characters, particularly Daniel and Veronica, which was not possible with this style of writing. Overall I found this immersive and enjoyable to read. I devoured it quickly, and was glad I read it.

totallytales's review

4.0

Plot: Twelve lives, twelve months. Told from multiple perspectives over changing seasons. These interwoven tales give glimpses into the love, loss & resilience of a community.

I adored this debut, it is lyrical & thought-provoking! Reeves peels back the layers and shines a spotlight on the most intimate moments challenging people's lives. It is brimming with heartwarming and heartbreaking moments.

People: The characters have depth and diversity. They easily jump off the page and some will stay with you long after you leave their story, for me imparticular Mona & Wolfe. It was fascinating to see their stories encroach on one another in their subtle, surprising ways, to see how their community is more entwined than it first seems.

Pace: It's a slow-paced story of reflection, with hopefulness at its heart showcasing human resilience with sprinkles of humour throughout. This certainly won't be a book for everyone but if you like a peek into the lives of others and the freedom to imagine your own endings, pick this up you will love it.

Disclaimer: A huge thanks to Allen & Unwin UK & Anne Cater for sending me this title. All opinions are my own.

Pick up if you enjoyed: Elizabeth Strout & Jennifer Egan

wendoxford's review

3.0

I find a novel with an overlapping of lives in a small community endlessly fascinating, giving layers of perspective in character snapshots by way of interlocking stories. Examples of this narrative technique I loved have been The Turning by Tim Winton and Capital by John Lanchester.

This book creates a tapestry of poignancy and the mundane with what felt at times an almost too deliberate drive to ensure that the community was diverse enough, mixed in age/gender/ethnicity/ political divides in an area of Hackney that is a gentrification hotspot.

I found it an absorbing read set in a part of London familiar to me. A great debut and I anticipate the author growing from this first book. I look forward to watching her progression