Reviews

Our Fathers, by Rebecca Wait

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annarella's review against another edition

5.0

I could write a very long review of this book with all the blah-blah necessary to explain what I felt reading it.
Or I can be very concise and write something like: go and read it because it's one of the best book I read in a long time.
Everything is perfect: the storytelling, the amazing descriptions of the island, the masterfully written cast of characters.
It was an excellent read, strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

bookedupgirl's review against another edition

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4.0

The story of Tom, the only survivor after his father kills his family and himself. Told 20 years later as Tom returns to his home town. A beautifully written, thought provoking story. I lost myself in this book. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. An emotional read but would recommend!

cadamson's review

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

5.0

andrewritchie's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes

5.0

ikillsunflowers's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

readmots3's review

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

karteabooks's review against another edition

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5.0

This book was recommended to me by @busymammabookclub and I really wish that I hadn’t left it on my tbr shelf for so long!

I must admit though, that I didn’t read the blurb before I chose to read this book, so was completely taken aback by the premise and content, but boy am I glad that I did pick this up.

What kind of man kills his own family? When Tom was eight years old, his father took a shotgun and shot his family: his wife, his son and baby daughter, before turning the gun on himself. Only Tom survived. He left his tiny, shocked community on the island of Litta and the strained silence of his Uncle Malcolm's house while still a young boy. For twenty years he's tried to escape his past. Until now. Without knowing how to ask, he needs answers - from his uncle, who should have known. From his neighbours, who think his father a decent man who 'just snapped'. From the memories that haunt the wild landscape of the Hebrides. And from the silent ones who know more about what happened - and why - than they have ever dared admit. By turns gripping, beautiful, devastating and tender, Our Fathers is a story about violence and redemption, control, and love. With understated compassion and humour, Rebecca Wait gives a voice to the silenced and to the silences between men of few words.

A deeply moving, thought provoking and so beautifully written story that it sent shivers down my spine.

The opening chapters of this book are breath-taking and really set the scene for the whole book. Thus unfolds a story in which we see the community try to come to terms with the aftermath of a terrible tragedy and also how memory can play a cruel part in the healing process.

Beautifully written with both compassion and humour, this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

I highly recommend this very believable and heart–breaking fictional account.