A review by serendipitysbooks
Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Moon Tiger opens with Claudia lying in a hospital bed. She’s dying, but also determined to write a history of the world from her viewpoint. This is very much a character driven book, and Claudia is a great character. She was determined to live her life on her terms rather than be restricted to the roles and behaviour society deemed appropriate for women at the time. She is strong-willed, intelligent, unconventional and uncompromising; compelling rather than likeable. Her story unfolds in a nonlinear jumbled fashion and she often returns to key events. While Claudia’s is the main voice we also hear from other significant people in her life , including her brother (talk about a complicated relationship), and her daughter (again complicated). These perspectives act as a counter to Claudia’s and allow the reader to form a more complete and accurate picture of her. Great writing and some interesting themes but it was Claudia that made this book a winner for me. 
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