Book review – Property by Lionel Shriver

[image error]

About the book

In her first ever story collection, Lionel Shriver illuminates one of the modern age’s most enduring obsessions: property. The theme runs through the stories and is explored in different ways – ownership of houses, belongings and other people.

A woman creates a deeply personal wedding present for her best friend; a thirty-something son refuses to leave home; a middle-aged man subjugated by service to his elderly father discovers that the last place you should finally assert yourself is airport security.

My review

I heard Kilifi Creek on the radio a long time ago and it stuck with me so I was intrigued to read more of Lionel Shriver’s short stories. I really enjoyed this collection and found it entertaining and thought-provoking. I love the way the author writes. The characters are flawed but engaging and wryly observed, and the situations, however bizarre, are believable. With any collection of stories some are bound to appeal more than others – in The Standing Chandelier I loved Jillian’s bewilderment about how other people saw her and how she should react to this. In Kilifi Creek I loved the young Liana’s innocent thoughtlessness. My firm favourite was Domestic Terrorism with parents plotting ways to oust their grown-up son from the family home – but I liked them all and would definitely recommend.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Book details

Title: Property

Author: Lionel Shriver

Publisher: Harper Collins, The Borough Press

Available editions: ebook, hardcover, audio

ISBN 9780008265243