Intriguing and thought provoking

My rating:  4 out of 5

A novel that delves deeply into the life of one character; is he seeing things quite as others do?

This is a fascinating book, quite unlike others I have read.  The reader sees the world through the eyes of Ian, who loves his wife and son, but is having difficulties in his marriage.  Ian hates the sycamore tree in the garden, and attributes the family curse to it.  Learning more about the curse is Ian’s all engrossing project, and as the story goes on we find out why.  Ian’s story is divided between the “now” and his past, fitting in pieces of the mysteries of his world as the book progresses.

Whilst reading I gradually began to wonder if Ian’s perspective on the world was quite as others might see it – fascinating.

This was absolutely a 5* read all the way through, until the final few chapters.  I found the ending unsatisfactory.   After some thought I pretty much worked it all out to my own satisfaction – apart from one fairly small detail.

This is definitely a book you will want to talk about, perfect for book clubs / study.  An added bonus is that the cover feels beautiful, and the print style is noticeably inviting!

Give it a read , even if, like me, you find the ending somewhat odd, the rest of the book will keep you involved and give you plenty to think about.

Note:  Finalising this review about a week after I finished the book, I realise that, apart from one slight irritation, I can’t now remember what was unsatisfactory about the ending, but can remember the enthralling nature of the rest of the book!

See also drift stumble fall by M. Jonathan Lee