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A review by izlikesbooks
A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson
5.0
‘i change. i am the same.’
brb, currently booking my flight to greece (jk... kinda)
this book feels like a summer evening breeze - it is both the refreshing tickle which dances along your skin and the chill which seeps into your bones once the gust has passed.
this book feels like a swim in the ocean - it is both the weightlessness of your limbs floating in the waves and the bitter taste of salt clinging to your lips and your hair.
this book feels like the first shot of ouzo - it is both the strong flavour which calms your senses, and the sharp aftertaste which clouds your brain and stains your tongue.
this book was beautifully executed in terms of both language and plot. samson’s prose is so evocative and that the sense of place is almost overwhelming, her talent proven by how the narrative immediately transports you to the balmy, dream-like streets of 1960s hydra. the plot is not over-bearing, yet samson still manages to dissect our characters’ relationships and explore wider themes such as gender. i did sometimes find myself getting lost in the richness of the language and abundance of characters, however i found this added to the tone of hazy transcience that is woven throughout its pages.
samson’s characterisation is impeccable, and serves as the driving force of the novel. erica is an extremely likeable narrator with a very distinct voice, and it is so interesting to see her develop from naïvety into maturity. she is the master of the show-not-tell technique, inviting the reader to piece together her message from the details which she mentions. the side characters are also so vibrant and fascinating, all with their own distinct personalities and flaws. most of them are based upon real people, such as leonard cohen, which adds another layer to this already three-dimensional novel.
just as samson is able to contruct such a vivid portrait of a bohemian lifestyle on a greek island, she succeeds in illustrating the cracks which lurk beneath the utopia - creating the depth which completely won me over. this novel made me feel every emotion, and i loved every sentence of it.
brb, currently booking my flight to greece (jk... kinda)
this book feels like a summer evening breeze - it is both the refreshing tickle which dances along your skin and the chill which seeps into your bones once the gust has passed.
this book feels like a swim in the ocean - it is both the weightlessness of your limbs floating in the waves and the bitter taste of salt clinging to your lips and your hair.
this book feels like the first shot of ouzo - it is both the strong flavour which calms your senses, and the sharp aftertaste which clouds your brain and stains your tongue.
this book was beautifully executed in terms of both language and plot. samson’s prose is so evocative and that the sense of place is almost overwhelming, her talent proven by how the narrative immediately transports you to the balmy, dream-like streets of 1960s hydra. the plot is not over-bearing, yet samson still manages to dissect our characters’ relationships and explore wider themes such as gender. i did sometimes find myself getting lost in the richness of the language and abundance of characters, however i found this added to the tone of hazy transcience that is woven throughout its pages.
samson’s characterisation is impeccable, and serves as the driving force of the novel. erica is an extremely likeable narrator with a very distinct voice, and it is so interesting to see her develop from naïvety into maturity. she is the master of the show-not-tell technique, inviting the reader to piece together her message from the details which she mentions. the side characters are also so vibrant and fascinating, all with their own distinct personalities and flaws. most of them are based upon real people, such as leonard cohen, which adds another layer to this already three-dimensional novel.
just as samson is able to contruct such a vivid portrait of a bohemian lifestyle on a greek island, she succeeds in illustrating the cracks which lurk beneath the utopia - creating the depth which completely won me over. this novel made me feel every emotion, and i loved every sentence of it.