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Breaking Light
Steeped in its bleak and beautiful landscape, Mortford is a place of secrets and memories, of bitter divisions and shattered dreams. Returning to this Dartmoor village where he grew up, Gabriel attempts to come to terms with what he lost as a boy so long ago.
Slowly the mysteries hidden in this small community on the edge of the moors begin to unravel. But one of Gabriel's memories remains sharper than all the that of his boyhood friend Michael, the tenderness of their first summers and the violent betrayal that destroyed it.
And, intruding on his self-enforced isolation, the beautiful Mrs Sarobi, meddling Doris Ludgate, and the frightful specter of Jim of Blackaton will become bound in with Gabriel's search for acceptance and the possibility of love.
In her striking, lyrical prose, Karin Altenberg imagines what it is to be incomplete. Set in this haunted landscape, a mesmerizing tale is told of the ways in which something once broken in two may, finally, be made whole.
Slowly the mysteries hidden in this small community on the edge of the moors begin to unravel. But one of Gabriel's memories remains sharper than all the that of his boyhood friend Michael, the tenderness of their first summers and the violent betrayal that destroyed it.
And, intruding on his self-enforced isolation, the beautiful Mrs Sarobi, meddling Doris Ludgate, and the frightful specter of Jim of Blackaton will become bound in with Gabriel's search for acceptance and the possibility of love.
In her striking, lyrical prose, Karin Altenberg imagines what it is to be incomplete. Set in this haunted landscape, a mesmerizing tale is told of the ways in which something once broken in two may, finally, be made whole.
- GenresLiterary Fiction
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2014
About the author
Karin Altenberg
5 books26 followersKARIN ALTENBERG is senior advisor to the Swedish National Heritage Board and is a fellow of the Linnean Society. She is currently at work on her second novel. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 11, 2015
This poignant and touching story of two boys, Michael and Gabriel, whose damaged childhood friendship haunts them both as they try to come to terms with their troubled past and make their way in the world, is both well-written and reasonably compelling. When Gabriel returns as an adult to the village he and Michael grew up in, he has to confront his past and try to find some sort of redemption. The story switches back and forth between childhood and adulthood, with each section adding to the reader’s knowledge of what happened in the past and slowly revealing the secrets that have done so much harm. It’s a story of misunderstandings and prejudice, loneliness and lack of communication, and on many levels works very well. However, there are too many minor plots and characters which detract from the main narrative and lessen our involvement with Gabriel himself. Nevertheless on the whole I enjoyed the book and found it both engaging and entertaining.
June 21, 2014
When Professor Gabriel Askew retires to Oakstone, a house in the village of Mortford where he was raised, he finds it hard to settle. He had an unhappy childhood; bullied and teased because of a cleft palate and raised by a resentful and struggling mother. This novel weaves a story between his childhood, young adulthood and the present, as he attempts to put the ghosts of his past to rest.
When young, the friendless and outcast Gabriel was befriended by Michael Bradley, who lived at Oakstone with his parents. Michael seems almost unbelievably confident and self assured to even think of befriending Gabriel and, for a time, the two boys are inseparable. However, there is a secret that both holds them together and keeps them apart, and a tragedy which unfolds, which means the boys relationship will never be the same. I have to say that there are a lot of great ‘secrets’ revealed in this book, but most are quite obvious. Although that does not necessarily spoil the unfolding story – it is beautifully written – it sometimes veers between so many aspects of Gabriel’s life that it loses focus.
The part of the book set in the present sees Gabriel both feeling under threat from his cleaning lady, Doris Ludgate – a local busybody who also knows more about his past than he is comfortable with – and finding solace in an unfolding relationship with Mrs Sarobi, who shares his love of gardening at a neighbouring allotment. Doris is an unkind, embittered woman, while Mrs Sarobi is a little too understanding at times. Although all three characters have their own difficult pasts to contend with, at times there are simply too many coincidences in the plot. For example, Mrs Sarobi is living in Gabriel’s childhood home which leads to her uncovering something related to Gabriel’s past; while Doris is a strange mix of uneducated prejudice and yet often seems too articulate.
With side stories related to Gabriel’s interests in a travelling freak show, the relationship between Gabriel’s parents and with Michael, the plot loses focus. It is well written, but I personally found that the pulling between the present and the past, and so many side issues, made me feel isolated from the characters; while their relationships often felt forced. This is a novel about lonliness, misunderstandings and prejudice and, while it is poetically written, somehow it simply did not work well for me.
Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
When young, the friendless and outcast Gabriel was befriended by Michael Bradley, who lived at Oakstone with his parents. Michael seems almost unbelievably confident and self assured to even think of befriending Gabriel and, for a time, the two boys are inseparable. However, there is a secret that both holds them together and keeps them apart, and a tragedy which unfolds, which means the boys relationship will never be the same. I have to say that there are a lot of great ‘secrets’ revealed in this book, but most are quite obvious. Although that does not necessarily spoil the unfolding story – it is beautifully written – it sometimes veers between so many aspects of Gabriel’s life that it loses focus.
The part of the book set in the present sees Gabriel both feeling under threat from his cleaning lady, Doris Ludgate – a local busybody who also knows more about his past than he is comfortable with – and finding solace in an unfolding relationship with Mrs Sarobi, who shares his love of gardening at a neighbouring allotment. Doris is an unkind, embittered woman, while Mrs Sarobi is a little too understanding at times. Although all three characters have their own difficult pasts to contend with, at times there are simply too many coincidences in the plot. For example, Mrs Sarobi is living in Gabriel’s childhood home which leads to her uncovering something related to Gabriel’s past; while Doris is a strange mix of uneducated prejudice and yet often seems too articulate.
With side stories related to Gabriel’s interests in a travelling freak show, the relationship between Gabriel’s parents and with Michael, the plot loses focus. It is well written, but I personally found that the pulling between the present and the past, and so many side issues, made me feel isolated from the characters; while their relationships often felt forced. This is a novel about lonliness, misunderstandings and prejudice and, while it is poetically written, somehow it simply did not work well for me.
Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
February 28, 2017
After reading the last page of this touching and tragic story, I view the wonderfully perfect cover as particularly poignant. Two small boys, hand in hand…
But let me tell you a bit about the story. First we meet Gabriel, a boy of about nine years of age. He lives in Mortford, a tiny village in Dartmoor with his sad and bitter mother. His nickname is “Bunny-boy” because he is a harelip. A harelip with a cleft palate, back in the days before reparative surgery was the norm at infancy. Because of his deformed face, he is bullied unmercifully – in particular by a boy called Jim of Blackaton. The trips to and from school are torture for Gabriel. When one day a boy called Michael comes to his defense, he cannot believe his good fortune. A friend at last! A friend with a rich father who lives in a grand house called Oakstone. The bullying continues, but it is somehow more bearable when you have a friend. During the summer holidays, the boys become inseparable. They would meet at Hart Cross, then play on Dartmoor from dawn to dusk, having boyish adventures and letting their imagination run riot.
Gabriel’s father left his mother to go to war. When he didn’t return to her, Gabriel always thought that it was because of his deformity, that his father didn’t want a ‘freak’ for a son. This explained why his mother always seems so embittered and sad.
Then, inexplicably, Michael’s father provides the money needed for surgery to fix Gabriel’s face.
But Gabriel’s good fortune is short-lived. Back at school the bullying intensifies and now the bullies target Michael as well. They call him “Fluffy” and Gabriel is still called “Bunny-boy”, despite his healing face. Fear and anxiety are his constant companions. Then, one day, a particularly brutal act of bullying near the “Devil’s Table”, changes both their lives irrevocably.
Then, as is the way with many novels, we jump ahead to the present time. Gabriel is retiring from his position as a college professor. Only a few attend his ‘leaving do’, as he has always been “an easily forgotten and anonymous figure on the periphery of academia”. People believed that the socially awkward professor has lived only for his research, but little did they know that he had another purpose, one much more personal…
Gabriel Askew is now getting old. He has purchased Oakstone, the grand house where Michael and his parents lived all those years ago. He meets Mrs. Sarobi, an Afghani woman at his allotment, and the two become comfortable in one another’s company. He hires a cleaning woman, Doris Ludgate, who appears loud, brusque and hard, but actually has a soft center with a shared history to Gabriel. A history of cruelty and violence, and, a history of feeling alone.
“He was relieved she was not literate enough to read his face. But she caught the look in his eye and sensed that she had the upper hand.”
Then we are transported back in time to Gabriel, age thirteen, when a tragic event causes him to realize his family history, a life-altering event, his ‘coming of age’.
As the years pass, he sees Michael very infrequently.
Back again to the present, and Gabriel’s family secrets revealed. His life put under a microscope and examined. Tragic, the lot. Yet he remains strong and at the same time strangely vulnerable. It is these traits that attracts the beautiful Mrs. Sarobi.
This is weighty novel, not in pages, but in content. Some readers will find it not to their taste due to its verbosity and sometimes bleak subject matter. I thoroughly enjoyed it – both the writing and the story. The writing was exactly to my taste. Sentences like this peppered the book: “He dreaded this particular memory, he averted his mind from it, but, irritatingly, it followed him closely, like an unfed cat slinking between his legs.”
Haunting and disturbing at the same time, this is a beautifully rendered novel of family secrets, shame, and betrayal of the most dire kind. A book about love lost, and love withheld. Of the age old human desire to belong.
I received a digital copy of this novel from Quercus via NetGalley. I chose to write this review.
But let me tell you a bit about the story. First we meet Gabriel, a boy of about nine years of age. He lives in Mortford, a tiny village in Dartmoor with his sad and bitter mother. His nickname is “Bunny-boy” because he is a harelip. A harelip with a cleft palate, back in the days before reparative surgery was the norm at infancy. Because of his deformed face, he is bullied unmercifully – in particular by a boy called Jim of Blackaton. The trips to and from school are torture for Gabriel. When one day a boy called Michael comes to his defense, he cannot believe his good fortune. A friend at last! A friend with a rich father who lives in a grand house called Oakstone. The bullying continues, but it is somehow more bearable when you have a friend. During the summer holidays, the boys become inseparable. They would meet at Hart Cross, then play on Dartmoor from dawn to dusk, having boyish adventures and letting their imagination run riot.
Gabriel’s father left his mother to go to war. When he didn’t return to her, Gabriel always thought that it was because of his deformity, that his father didn’t want a ‘freak’ for a son. This explained why his mother always seems so embittered and sad.
Then, inexplicably, Michael’s father provides the money needed for surgery to fix Gabriel’s face.
But Gabriel’s good fortune is short-lived. Back at school the bullying intensifies and now the bullies target Michael as well. They call him “Fluffy” and Gabriel is still called “Bunny-boy”, despite his healing face. Fear and anxiety are his constant companions. Then, one day, a particularly brutal act of bullying near the “Devil’s Table”, changes both their lives irrevocably.
Then, as is the way with many novels, we jump ahead to the present time. Gabriel is retiring from his position as a college professor. Only a few attend his ‘leaving do’, as he has always been “an easily forgotten and anonymous figure on the periphery of academia”. People believed that the socially awkward professor has lived only for his research, but little did they know that he had another purpose, one much more personal…
Gabriel Askew is now getting old. He has purchased Oakstone, the grand house where Michael and his parents lived all those years ago. He meets Mrs. Sarobi, an Afghani woman at his allotment, and the two become comfortable in one another’s company. He hires a cleaning woman, Doris Ludgate, who appears loud, brusque and hard, but actually has a soft center with a shared history to Gabriel. A history of cruelty and violence, and, a history of feeling alone.
“He was relieved she was not literate enough to read his face. But she caught the look in his eye and sensed that she had the upper hand.”
Then we are transported back in time to Gabriel, age thirteen, when a tragic event causes him to realize his family history, a life-altering event, his ‘coming of age’.
As the years pass, he sees Michael very infrequently.
Back again to the present, and Gabriel’s family secrets revealed. His life put under a microscope and examined. Tragic, the lot. Yet he remains strong and at the same time strangely vulnerable. It is these traits that attracts the beautiful Mrs. Sarobi.
This is weighty novel, not in pages, but in content. Some readers will find it not to their taste due to its verbosity and sometimes bleak subject matter. I thoroughly enjoyed it – both the writing and the story. The writing was exactly to my taste. Sentences like this peppered the book: “He dreaded this particular memory, he averted his mind from it, but, irritatingly, it followed him closely, like an unfed cat slinking between his legs.”
Haunting and disturbing at the same time, this is a beautifully rendered novel of family secrets, shame, and betrayal of the most dire kind. A book about love lost, and love withheld. Of the age old human desire to belong.
I received a digital copy of this novel from Quercus via NetGalley. I chose to write this review.
July 31, 2022
1:30am and I have spent the last 5 hours reading this book, unable to put it down. It is years since I have stayed up so late to finish a book. Because it swaps between past and present, it wont be everyones cup of tea but it is certainly in my absolute favourite books list.
November 1, 2021
I couldn’t settle on a rating for this book, it was hovering comfortably at 4 stars through the majority of the novel, but as I delved into the final chapters and subsequently the utterly beautiful end of this book; I was tempted with 5….however, certain parts of the text were a little too long and I didn’t find myself desperate to pick it up which stops me from giving it 5. That being said, this book is wonderful, I kept coming back to it when I was looking for a new read on my shelves, so I went with my gut and tucked it under my arm ready to dive in.
Karin Altenberg has constructed a truly intricate, emotional and wholly real story. Gabriel is a beautiful protagonist. You feel every cold day, every whimper of pain and sadness, you hear every heartbreak and embrace the pounding of every adventure and therefore, savour every moment of happiness and love. It is so beautiful, these characters become part of you and their stories are so well woven. She really has put together a devastatingly good book, the imagery of the moors alongside the blood flow of the characters and the fragility of their lives is exceptional. I have given it 4 on the rating but I am leaning more to 4.5 because the ending is brilliant and very clever. I know there must be a question of ‘why didn’t you just give it 5 stars?’ Well, because I didn’t have the desire to devour it, there were times I was a little bored and felt it was going on a bit where it didn’t need to, but I read a book with a critically analytical eye so even if at times I didn’t love it or feel that rush of a book that’ll never leave you, one cannot escape how well written the book is. So while it wasn’t a 5 star from me, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a 5 star for many others, highly recommend!
Karin Altenberg has constructed a truly intricate, emotional and wholly real story. Gabriel is a beautiful protagonist. You feel every cold day, every whimper of pain and sadness, you hear every heartbreak and embrace the pounding of every adventure and therefore, savour every moment of happiness and love. It is so beautiful, these characters become part of you and their stories are so well woven. She really has put together a devastatingly good book, the imagery of the moors alongside the blood flow of the characters and the fragility of their lives is exceptional. I have given it 4 on the rating but I am leaning more to 4.5 because the ending is brilliant and very clever. I know there must be a question of ‘why didn’t you just give it 5 stars?’ Well, because I didn’t have the desire to devour it, there were times I was a little bored and felt it was going on a bit where it didn’t need to, but I read a book with a critically analytical eye so even if at times I didn’t love it or feel that rush of a book that’ll never leave you, one cannot escape how well written the book is. So while it wasn’t a 5 star from me, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a 5 star for many others, highly recommend!
July 29, 2014
A very subtle novel about a man who returns to his Dartmoor village and finds it full of reminders of his childhood trauma: being bullied for having a harelip; and living in near-poverty while, unbeknownst to him, his half-brother lived a life of privilege in the local manor house.
The minor characters (a busybody cleaning lady and a foreign woman whose allotment garden adjoins Gabriel’s) add some color, but Gabriel Askew himself is a very dull protagonist, and I found myself losing patience with the unfolding story of Gabriel and Michael’s friendship. The plot, even with its reliance on coincidences and predictable connections, ultimately seems far too thin to sustain a novel of over 350 pages.
Still, Altenberg capably shifts between the contemporary and 1950s storylines, and, as in her debut novel, Island of Wings, her prose is truly lovely, especially when describing nature. A couple of my favorite lines were “the nauseating wash of the first waves of sleep – the sinking in and out of folds of velvet and the island of emerald green in blue behind his closed eyelids” and “a couple of ravens were soaring and carousing in a courting game, their wedge-tails stencilling cuneiform on to the spring skies.” Her language is almost close to poetry in places, especially with alliteration like this: “the tracks of snails spelled their silvery messages across the path.”
This is such beautiful writing; I can only hope Altenberg finds a better story next time.
I was delighted to win a copy in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
The minor characters (a busybody cleaning lady and a foreign woman whose allotment garden adjoins Gabriel’s) add some color, but Gabriel Askew himself is a very dull protagonist, and I found myself losing patience with the unfolding story of Gabriel and Michael’s friendship. The plot, even with its reliance on coincidences and predictable connections, ultimately seems far too thin to sustain a novel of over 350 pages.
Still, Altenberg capably shifts between the contemporary and 1950s storylines, and, as in her debut novel, Island of Wings, her prose is truly lovely, especially when describing nature. A couple of my favorite lines were “the nauseating wash of the first waves of sleep – the sinking in and out of folds of velvet and the island of emerald green in blue behind his closed eyelids” and “a couple of ravens were soaring and carousing in a courting game, their wedge-tails stencilling cuneiform on to the spring skies.” Her language is almost close to poetry in places, especially with alliteration like this: “the tracks of snails spelled their silvery messages across the path.”
This is such beautiful writing; I can only hope Altenberg finds a better story next time.
I was delighted to win a copy in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
March 13, 2024
A dark story about two boys that share so much history. The book is very descriptive and some times the imagery it presents is hard to digest. Overall book was well written and quite good
much history There alot of descriptive
much history There alot of descriptive
November 13, 2019
This book is a lovely story about how it's never too late to start living your life to the fullest. It's a really easy read, and the detail that the author includes on the key scenes is imperative to the success of the book.
September 9, 2014
This book reveals many secrets and carries the guilt of the main characters. Gabriel goes back to the Dartmoor village where he grew up. Mortford brings back many memories of his troubled childhood, bullied for his cleft palate and living a life on the breadline. He still feels guilty that he betrayed his friend and he feels responsible for what happens to him.
The book travels timescales to describe his life as a child and in the present day. His cleaner makes him uncomfortable as she knows too much and is very interfering. He also meets a lady at his allotment and we follow that relationship.
The beautiful setting adds to the memories and the atmosphere.
With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy to read.
The book travels timescales to describe his life as a child and in the present day. His cleaner makes him uncomfortable as she knows too much and is very interfering. He also meets a lady at his allotment and we follow that relationship.
The beautiful setting adds to the memories and the atmosphere.
With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy to read.
June 3, 2016
For the majority of the book it was sad but ended nicely. Throughout the whole story, more and more of the past revealed why Gabriel struggled so throughout most of his life. What I liked most about the story are the reality-checks to real life.
May 5, 2017
The content of this book was thought provoking. I felt emotionally drained after reading it.
June 27, 2021
I had high hopes for this book. It started well- well written with interesting characters and an intriguing storyline. However, about half way through it lost its charm and credibility for me and became tedious and unappealing. I skimmed it to see what happened in the end - glad I didn't bother to read it properly!
May 17, 2017
The last book in our landscape series. Although it contained some descriptions of Cornish moors the landscape doesn't feature much in the story. Good story though
January 12, 2018
Loved this book. It was beautifully written and I was enthralled by the characters and their relationships. It reminded me of Kite Runner.
July 14, 2021
Enjoyable tale, kept me engaged. Two time frames and lovely ending.
August 16, 2016
From the blurb and Goodreads description, I thought Breaking Light would be exactly my kind of book. And I enjoyed many elements of the story. Altenberg’s prose is often lyrical, and she brings Mortford to life in vivid detail. The individual scenes are beautifully composed, and the overarching themes ask the reader to think about the way we choose to include and exclude and how traumatic events experienced in child- and early adulthood affect our grown up lives.
However, I agree with the bulk of other reviews I’ve read that claim there’s too much going on in this story and it lacks cohesion. The first part of the book belongs to Gabriel. Altenberg moves back and forwards in time but sticks to Gabe’s POV. However, as the story progresses, she occasionally switches to Doris Ludlow or Mrs Sarobi’s perspective. These shifts aren’t frequent enough to put these characters on an equal footing with Gabe and, to me, read as a clunky way for Altenberg to give necessary insight into these characters that she couldn’t offer through Gabe. Because these shifts are infrequent and inconsistent, they confuse the narrative. I kept thinking, ‘Hang on, who’s story is this?’
Altenberg also works with a relatively large cast of characters who share complex relationships and secrets and drop in and out of the story. I felt many of the relationships contained scope for an entire novel in and of themselves. Others felt under developed. Both Doris Ludlow and Mrs Sarobi often argue with Gabe and each other, then soon forget that they’re angry without anything being resolved. And the narrative is constantly moving back and forwards in time. Add in the shifting perspectives, and it all gets a bit muddled. Altenberg also explores a lot of ideas in Breaking Light. There’s much discussion about duality and Otherness, and the characters keep talking about ‘mystery’, then, at one point, Gabe goes off on a bildungsroman-style journey, during which the characters start having rather stilted philosophical conversations. It does all tie together, but loosely.
To me, Breaking Light read like a (highly polished) draft, in which Altenberg is still testing out the idea for a story from different angles. I enjoyed all the individual elements, but the overall effect is somewhat patchy.
Thank you to Quercus for providing a copy of Breaking Light in exchange for an honest review.
For more bookish bits, head on over to Lectito, or get the latest Lectito reviews delivered to your inbox.
However, I agree with the bulk of other reviews I’ve read that claim there’s too much going on in this story and it lacks cohesion. The first part of the book belongs to Gabriel. Altenberg moves back and forwards in time but sticks to Gabe’s POV. However, as the story progresses, she occasionally switches to Doris Ludlow or Mrs Sarobi’s perspective. These shifts aren’t frequent enough to put these characters on an equal footing with Gabe and, to me, read as a clunky way for Altenberg to give necessary insight into these characters that she couldn’t offer through Gabe. Because these shifts are infrequent and inconsistent, they confuse the narrative. I kept thinking, ‘Hang on, who’s story is this?’
Altenberg also works with a relatively large cast of characters who share complex relationships and secrets and drop in and out of the story. I felt many of the relationships contained scope for an entire novel in and of themselves. Others felt under developed. Both Doris Ludlow and Mrs Sarobi often argue with Gabe and each other, then soon forget that they’re angry without anything being resolved. And the narrative is constantly moving back and forwards in time. Add in the shifting perspectives, and it all gets a bit muddled. Altenberg also explores a lot of ideas in Breaking Light. There’s much discussion about duality and Otherness, and the characters keep talking about ‘mystery’, then, at one point, Gabe goes off on a bildungsroman-style journey, during which the characters start having rather stilted philosophical conversations. It does all tie together, but loosely.
To me, Breaking Light read like a (highly polished) draft, in which Altenberg is still testing out the idea for a story from different angles. I enjoyed all the individual elements, but the overall effect is somewhat patchy.
Thank you to Quercus for providing a copy of Breaking Light in exchange for an honest review.
For more bookish bits, head on over to Lectito, or get the latest Lectito reviews delivered to your inbox.
August 2, 2014
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review*
Author
Karin Altenberg was born in Sweden and moved to Britain to study in 1996. She holds a PhD in Archaeology. Her first, bestselling novel, Island of Wings, was shortlisted for the Saltire First Book Award and the Scottish Book of the Year Award and was longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction.
Review
I love stories about secrets in small communities and the cover of this book caught my interest too.
There are a lot of things happening in the book. There is the story of the children. Often very emotional it is harsh to read what happened to them. I loved reading that part of the book.
There is the adult part of the story that I did not really enjoy. I was annoyed with the fact that people where called Mr. and Mrs. all the time. I had hard time connecting to them and getting a good feeling. There are some characters in the story that did not really make sense to me either though they did get a proper spot at the end of the story. This took out of some of the pleasure of this very well written book.
Author
Karin Altenberg was born in Sweden and moved to Britain to study in 1996. She holds a PhD in Archaeology. Her first, bestselling novel, Island of Wings, was shortlisted for the Saltire First Book Award and the Scottish Book of the Year Award and was longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction.
Review
I love stories about secrets in small communities and the cover of this book caught my interest too.
There are a lot of things happening in the book. There is the story of the children. Often very emotional it is harsh to read what happened to them. I loved reading that part of the book.
There is the adult part of the story that I did not really enjoy. I was annoyed with the fact that people where called Mr. and Mrs. all the time. I had hard time connecting to them and getting a good feeling. There are some characters in the story that did not really make sense to me either though they did get a proper spot at the end of the story. This took out of some of the pleasure of this very well written book.
July 9, 2014
This was a really good book,I loved it!!!It's a story about troubled childhood full of bullying and abuse by other kids in the neighbourhood on two friends.As an adult one of them Gabriel Askew can't forgive himself,that he betrayed his best friend Michael and after many years he feels steel guilt and feels responsible for friends addiction and death.As the book progresses it's unrevealed,that two friends really are bothers.After retirement Mr Askew is going back to his childhood home in a small community hoping to close and accept the past and find new future.Besides his painful memories he will find peace and love despite cultural differences between himself and Mrs Sarobi.This is a beautiful story with a happy ending.I would definitely recommend this book to everyone's!!!
August 19, 2016
Though it took time to connect deeply to the main character because of his own self-condemnation, I like where the author chose to take the story. The story slowly takes you through Gabriel's history—but focuses on the break in his own ability to connect to himself and others. I appreciated the breaking light that the author made possible in the story—in the realm of self-love—which allowed him to begin to connect to and love others.
If I have questions about the premise, it is only in the level of violence in the initial trauma.
If I have questions about the premise, it is only in the level of violence in the initial trauma.
November 7, 2016
This was a wonderful book. So many themes and emotions that carried me through. The novel explores at its heart the idea of otherness and the feeling of a lack of belonging. But entwined with that was love, hatred, brutality and friendship. The characters were strong and each had their own journeys towards finding their place alongside Mr Askew at the end of the novel. The setting descriptions were vivid and really brought the story to life for me. I'm sad to finish this one and will be looking for more by Karin Altenburg.
March 31, 2016
Poor imitation of a novel. The writer seems to have concocted a story from a handful of literary devices and motives (taught in a creative writing course?): a mysterious twin brother, a freak show, a trauma in the past...none of which add up in the end, the resolve is rather weak and half-hearted. On top of that, the writing seems forced and sentences are overconstructed.
September 15, 2016
Nicely written but the plot line is not clear and wanders all over the place among characters who are not as fully fleshed out as they could be. I lost patience with this but suspect my restlessness was unique. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I think you will like this if you are interested in how someone deals with bullying and loneliness.
November 24, 2014
I received this book from Goodreads giveaway. I found this book slightly disjointed with some parts of it not followed through, only half told, I would like to have known more about Michael too. But all in all it was enjoyable.
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June 25, 2016Good read. Karin Altenberg is a great observer. Some of the sentences I wanted to paste on a wall. More of a literary type with lots of descriptions and it starts just before the end so lots of back story, but she captures the pain of growing up with bullies...............
June 24, 2014
I won this book in a first reads giveaway.
I had not previously read anything by this author but this book was good.
I had not previously read anything by this author but this book was good.
January 5, 2015
Found the bullying bits really difficult to read!
July 16, 2015
A novel about individual lives fractured by events of the past who struggle to move on, to find a sense of purpose or happiness. A thoughtful read.
May 4, 2016
about memories and secrets and learning how to get past them and find a place where you fit in...
July 19, 2016
Didnt like it. It was hard for me to follow-understand
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews