A review by annemaries_shelves
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
2.5
Probably more 2.5-2.75 stars than a full 3 stars
Amanda Peters wrote a good, melancholic debut. She had some really beautiful turns of phrases and descriptions (especially of landscapes) but the character work and emotional development just didn't come together for me. Peters tried but I struggled (and maybe it's a me thing) with believing her characters' motivations for their very frustrating actions and behaviours. It didn't feel fully realized on the page.
However, the family dynamics and explorations of grief was a strong point of the book - it shone most when families were on the page, rather than just Norma/Ruthie or Joe's perspective.
Also the Aunt June of Norma/Ruthie was lesbian and had a life partner, Aunt Alice. Their relationship was rarely explicitly named on page but it made me so happy.
CW: anti-Indigenous racism and outdated terminology that's accurate for the time setting (1950s-early 2000s), miscarriage (on-page), alcoholism, one scene of domestic abuse
Amanda Peters wrote a good, melancholic debut. She had some really beautiful turns of phrases and descriptions (especially of landscapes) but the character work and emotional development just didn't come together for me. Peters tried but I struggled (and maybe it's a me thing) with believing her characters' motivations for their very frustrating actions and behaviours. It didn't feel fully realized on the page.
However, the family dynamics and explorations of grief was a strong point of the book - it shone most when families were on the page, rather than just Norma/Ruthie or Joe's perspective.
Also the Aunt June of Norma/Ruthie was lesbian and had a life partner, Aunt Alice. Their relationship was rarely explicitly named on page but it made me so happy.
CW: anti-Indigenous racism and outdated terminology that's accurate for the time setting (1950s-early 2000s), miscarriage (on-page), alcoholism, one scene of domestic abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Racism
Minor: Cancer