A review by izlikesbooks
Duck Feet by Ely Percy
5.0
‘an he pointet tae the label on it that said, TIGER EYE.’
i’m a big ‘derry girls’ fan, so when i saw this book be described as the Scottish equivalent i 1) knew i had to buy it, and 2) knew i was going to love it.
i’m going to leave this review quite short because i went into this blind, and i think it was better for it. but what i will say is that i absolutely loved the novel’s progression. each chapters details a little ‘episode’ into the character’s lives and over time, this cumulatively builds such a vivid and compelling picture of life in early 2000s renfrew. it is really quite impressive percy manages to explore such profound themes, including class, sexuality, eating disorders, and teenage pregnancy, in such a digestible yet impactful way. despite the setting being extremely localised, i do think anyone who grew up in Britain will be able to draw parallels between the events of this book and their own experiences.
i love a strong narrative voice, and i think that kirsty is one of the most distinctive, witty narrators that i’ve ever encountered. her infectious humour and personality unwaveringly shines through the entire book, despite the seven years between the start and end points of the novel. i felt so much warmth towards her, to the point where i could almost feel her emotions too, especially at the end (if you’ve read the book… you’ll know what i mean)
overall, ‘duck feet’ provides such a authentic depiction of growing up as a British teenager, of blindly finding your way into adulthood, of the small, seemingly insignificant moments that compound to shape our identities and our worldviews.
‘duck feet’ made me miss my childhood. it made me laugh and it literally made me cry. what more can you want from a book?
i’m a big ‘derry girls’ fan, so when i saw this book be described as the Scottish equivalent i 1) knew i had to buy it, and 2) knew i was going to love it.
i’m going to leave this review quite short because i went into this blind, and i think it was better for it. but what i will say is that i absolutely loved the novel’s progression. each chapters details a little ‘episode’ into the character’s lives and over time, this cumulatively builds such a vivid and compelling picture of life in early 2000s renfrew. it is really quite impressive percy manages to explore such profound themes, including class, sexuality, eating disorders, and teenage pregnancy, in such a digestible yet impactful way. despite the setting being extremely localised, i do think anyone who grew up in Britain will be able to draw parallels between the events of this book and their own experiences.
i love a strong narrative voice, and i think that kirsty is one of the most distinctive, witty narrators that i’ve ever encountered. her infectious humour and personality unwaveringly shines through the entire book, despite the seven years between the start and end points of the novel. i felt so much warmth towards her, to the point where i could almost feel her emotions too, especially at the end (if you’ve read the book… you’ll know what i mean)
overall, ‘duck feet’ provides such a authentic depiction of growing up as a British teenager, of blindly finding your way into adulthood, of the small, seemingly insignificant moments that compound to shape our identities and our worldviews.
‘duck feet’ made me miss my childhood. it made me laugh and it literally made me cry. what more can you want from a book?