A review by zoe_d_marriott
The Love of Stones by Tobias Hill
4.0
One of those books which leave you with a strange impression of mingled boredom and beauty. A challenging and difficult read that was also compelling and wonderful. Often, somehow, simultaneously?! Not, in any sense whatsoever, a 'historical thriller' (oh blurbs, what are you), but certainly a timeslip novel in my eyes.
I take issue with reviews which brand the female narrator badly written or an obvious stand-in for a male, just because she's not performatively feminine. She is certainly a flawed and interesting person, both obsessive and capable of change, competent and dogged and strong, while at the same time vulnerable and often frightened. I liked Katharine, in so far as such a character can *be* liked. As far as I can tell, such reviewers are annoyed that she doesn't spend enough time worrying about her hair/make-up/clothes and what other people think of her and her appearance. I found this a refreshing change, honestly; just because oppressive insecurity about body image is embedded in most female presenting people, does this mean that all authors must inflict it on their readers through every female presenting character?
Anyway, this is brilliantly and starkly written and was definitely a must-read for my PhD research.
I take issue with reviews which brand the female narrator badly written or an obvious stand-in for a male, just because she's not performatively feminine. She is certainly a flawed and interesting person, both obsessive and capable of change, competent and dogged and strong, while at the same time vulnerable and often frightened. I liked Katharine, in so far as such a character can *be* liked. As far as I can tell, such reviewers are annoyed that she doesn't spend enough time worrying about her hair/make-up/clothes and what other people think of her and her appearance. I found this a refreshing change, honestly; just because oppressive insecurity about body image is embedded in most female presenting people, does this mean that all authors must inflict it on their readers through every female presenting character?
Anyway, this is brilliantly and starkly written and was definitely a must-read for my PhD research.