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A review by abbie_
All the Quiet Places by Brian Thomas Isaac
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
2.5
I have to admit I found this book, particularly as an audiobook, a tad dull. It’s very much tell and no show, full of mostly dialogue and ‘action’ (such as it is), without much insight into the characters’ inner lives or motivations. This is most likely since it’s told from the POV of a child, Eddie, a Syilx boy growing up in the 50s. Isaac explores the lives of Indigenous people through Eddie’s eyes - precarious work, addiction, racism, lack of care from the government for their basic necessities. But the story kind of just plods along, lacking a pull. This changed at the ending - that ending did have my heart in my throat.
As the title suggests, definitely a quiet but heavy read, and perhaps audio wasn’t the best route.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racism, and Colonisation