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A review by soulkissed2003
La biblioteca sull'oceano by Ashley Hay
4.0
Shortly after World War II, Ani Lachlan's husband, Mac, is killed in a railway accident at work. His death leaves her with their young daughter to raise, and upends her life completely. She soon has to take a job at the local library to make ends meet. She gets to know Roy McKinnon, a local poet who has lost his voice, and Dr. Frank Draper, who saw so much death in the war that he feels helpless.
This novel is a finely written piece on grief, and how we somehow go on living after a hard loss, even when it feels hollow sometimes. It is a sad and heavy story, yet there are glimmers of hope now and again. The pace and tone of the book match up well with what a grieving person would be going through. It also gives a beautiful and vivid description of the shoreline in southeastern Australia, in the coastal town where Ani lives.
I enjoyed the book, and I think the serious subject matter was handled with masterful skill. If you have lost someone precious recently, this might be too close to home for you. My main criticism would be that the book relies heavily on the characters' personal thoughts. There is a lot of rumination going on, which is not necessarily emotionally healthy. I would have preferred a little more dialogue and interaction between the people in the story. But it is a worthy read, and if you're ready to step away from lighter fare for a time, this truly is excellent writing and storytelling.
This book will be released in April, 2016. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is a finely written piece on grief, and how we somehow go on living after a hard loss, even when it feels hollow sometimes. It is a sad and heavy story, yet there are glimmers of hope now and again. The pace and tone of the book match up well with what a grieving person would be going through. It also gives a beautiful and vivid description of the shoreline in southeastern Australia, in the coastal town where Ani lives.
I enjoyed the book, and I think the serious subject matter was handled with masterful skill. If you have lost someone precious recently, this might be too close to home for you. My main criticism would be that the book relies heavily on the characters' personal thoughts. There is a lot of rumination going on, which is not necessarily emotionally healthy. I would have preferred a little more dialogue and interaction between the people in the story. But it is a worthy read, and if you're ready to step away from lighter fare for a time, this truly is excellent writing and storytelling.
This book will be released in April, 2016. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.