A review by 1librarianspath
The Mussel Feast, by Birgit Vanderbeke

5.0

My heart is beating quite fast after finishing this book. Let me be clear though, nothing happens (and that isn’t a spoiler - it says it in the blurb). The book takes place over a 3-4 hour period. A family sits at a table waiting for the father to come home and the daughter’s memories flow like a tide coming in. The repetition of her inner thoughts allow little bits more of their history to be discovered, before running back and reiterating key points, then we travel a bit further, and a bit further. Initially I thought this prosaic tide was beautiful, then irritating, then genius and tense. A fantastic book, yet again, from Peirene Press.