Hinterland by L.M. Brown

Aug 06, 2020 Vishnu Chevli rated it really liked it

I have been provided ARC of the "Hinterland" by L.M. Brown in exchange for an honest review. As the cover was that of a flower vase on a chair, I didn't get any idea what to expect. So I checked the blurb, I got a feeling that book is a semi thriller and semi drama. Finally, I took a chance and read the book.

As mentioned in the blurb, the story is formed around a small family. Central characters of our story are Nicholas, his daughter (Kate), his wife (Kathleen), and Ina (his neighbor). The stor I have been provided ARC of the "Hinterland" by L.M. Brown in exchange for an honest review. As the cover was that of a flower vase on a chair, I didn't get any idea what to expect. So I checked the blurb, I got a feeling that book is a semi thriller and semi drama. Finally, I took a chance and read the book.

As mentioned in the blurb, the story is formed around a small family. Central characters of our story are Nicholas, his daughter (Kate), his wife (Kathleen), and Ina (his neighbor). The story started when Ina came back to town as her mother, Tilly, met with an accident. But Kathleen who was already unstable took it in the wrong manner and had a fight. Few days after that Nicholas found Kathleen in a suspicious position with evil intentions. Authorities took Kathleen away, but nobody told Kate what actually happened. Fearing that truth would destroy Kate, Nicholas hide the truth from his daughter. He went into extreme, hampering his relationship with her daughter. Ina who knows truth helped Nicholas but the gap between father & daughter was something out of her hands as well. Read the book to know more.

Few facts about the book
1. The book portrays the unconditional love of a father who wants to protect his daughter. If you are a father yourself you may find yourself in a fixed situation and may like to debate what you would do in his position.
2. The book is written uniquely. Though it is an emotional drama, the author has unraveled facts in thriller fashion. For example, an actual event that occurred during Kathleen's accident was mentioned multiple times but every time only a fraction of information reveals each time.
3. The pace of the book is slow. Except for the last 20% section where pace improved.

I found a few weak points here and there. But those are about character, not about the plot. When I inquired about cover design and message behind it, I came to know that the current picture of a flower on chair represents dysfunction, something off with the picture and not right.

Overall I will give 3.75 out of 5 to this emotional drama.
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Aug 30, 2020 Jin rated it liked it

In general, it was an interesting read and I liked the basic storyline itself. But I had a hard time connecting to Nicholas who was the main character. I could relate to his love to his daughter but everything else was really getting on my nerves. In the beginning, I thought that Nicholas was just a misunderstood soul but my dislike of this character grew with each page. He was stubborn, non-communicative and at some point just not likeable.

I did like the whole setup with the different characte ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Erik McManus rated it liked it

The other books I have read by Lorna have been anthologies and so they were collections of short stories. A lot of them tied together to form one big story. This was the first time that the novel was one complete book instead of it being split into a bunch of little stores that connected. It was the journey of a father trying to protect his daughter while struggling with his own demons.

I think the overall book was good as a whole but there definitely some parts that could have been cut out to ma ...more

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Aug 09, 2020 Lizp rated it really liked it

“He sat on the side of the bed and rubbed his face. They’d gone through this so many times before. A few months ago, he would have said, “For fuck sake, I work, take care of Kate and you, what more do you want?” But he was tired of hearing her say, “Don’t ask stupid questions,” and of the arguments that would ensue.”

Nicholas’ life revolves around looking after his five year old daughter, whom he adores, and andriving his taxi. His wife, Kathleen, is schizophrenic and he’s finding it increasingly “He sat on the side of the bed and rubbed his face. They’d gone through this so many times before. A few months ago, he would have said, “For fuck sake, I work, take care of Kate and you, what more do you want?” But he was tired of hearing her say, “Don’t ask stupid questions,” and of the arguments that would ensue.”

Nicholas’ life revolves around looking after his five year old daughter, whom he adores, and andriving his taxi. His wife, Kathleen, is schizophrenic and he’s finding it increasingly arduous to cope, as it’s like having another child to care for. Nicholas’ sister in law, Ina. moves in next door. There’s a palpable tension between Ina and Nicholas; a feeling of their not being comfortable or at ease. They haven’t seen each other for twelve years. What happened between them back then? Nicholas examines Ina carefully on meeting her again. He sees only little changes in her. He wonders what she sees in him, as he knows he’s far from the boy he was when they knew each other twelve years earlier. “ Ina asks: “What is it like being a dad?”And he felt the thaw immediately, a loosening of his shoulders with the thought of Kate. Maybe Ina still knew him. At least, she knew how to push through his defenses. He shrugged and took a sip of his tea. The smile was automatic. “It’s great,” he said. It was also scary and overwhelming and life-changing, but he kept that in. “She’s an amaz- ing little girl.” Ina is kind to Nicholas and Kate, but all too soon Kathleen becomes suspicious of their friendship.

One day Kathleen does a terrible thing and she then disappears from their lives. Kate is broken hearted. She can’t understand why her mum is gone. Nicholas keeps the secret of why from her, to protect her. Ina takes on a motherly role toward Kate. Nicholas also can’t tell Ina the truth and he maintains a distance from her. Years later, Kate runs away. Nicholas realises that his secret keeping has been destructive, albeit his having done it for altruistic reasons.

This is a dark book, heavy with melancholy, especially in the earlier chapters. The book contains some beautiful prose. The event that triggered Kathleen no longer being in their lives is not revealed until later in the book. The mystery, intrigue, and suspense are well maintained.

The descriptions of the harsh reality of living with a schizophrenic are daunting. There’s a surprising twist at the end, which was really well done.

This is the first of Brown’s books that I have read. I was quite taken with it, and I will seek out her other books. I recommend this intriguing read to others.

Thank you to Booksirens and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a frank review.

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Oct 01, 2020 MicheleReader rated it really liked it

Hinterland is a family drama that takes its time developing and unraveling its characters. Nicholas Giovanni is devoted to Kate, his five year old daughter. He takes her to school, tends to her needs and drives a taxi to support them and Kate’s mother Kathleen. We learn early on that Kathleen suffers from a severe mental illness. Their next door neighbor is Tilly, who was close friends with Nicholas’ late mother. When Tilly has an accident, her daughter Ina returns to town to take care of her mo ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Silpi rated it liked it

Kate wakes blur-eyed one morning to find her mother gone. She remembers her father running with her on his arms to Ina’s house. When did her world change so suddenly?

Hinterland deals with a dysfunctional family and portrays how the differences between parents affect children. I liked the theme. But I don’t know how I feel about the book. It felt... incomplete.

Honestly, I too strongly dislike people like Nicholas even in real life to like him in fiction. You cannot save a person by lying to them. ...more

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Aug 10, 2020 Matt McAvoy rated it really liked it

Slow burning and hugely atmospheric, Lorna’s work always simmers below the surface, with an intensity which grows and engulfs the reader; this thought-provoking composition is no different. With a palpable feeling of menace growing gradually throughout, there is also an element of mysterious ambiguity, in this tale of a man with a history of violence struggling to raise his wayward daughter, whilst protecting her from the dark truth about her mentally ill mother. Be warned, it is as bleak as it Slow burning and hugely atmospheric, Lorna’s work always simmers below the surface, with an intensity which grows and engulfs the reader; this thought-provoking composition is no different. With a palpable feeling of menace growing gradually throughout, there is also an element of mysterious ambiguity, in this tale of a man with a history of violence struggling to raise his wayward daughter, whilst protecting her from the dark truth about her mentally ill mother. Be warned, it is as bleak as it sounds, but it oppresses cerebrally, rather than hitting you with melodrama and shock.

It feels physically heavy reading this book – in part because much of it is suggestion and implication; it often takes time to reach its next point, taking the reader through the author’s chosen route of poignant reflection to get there. Lorna does this mood well – much better than most authors I’ve come across – but don’t expect resolution or closure around the next corner, because you won’t find them. Perhaps for this reason, I was left feeling a touch unsatisfied by the end – but, of course, it was never going to be that type of book. It requires concentration, patience and solitude to get the best from this work, and to follow much of it, because there is so much in the way of suggestion. You really do need to get yourself on Lorna’s wavelength; there is a great deal of absent perusing, and to fully appreciate her melancholy style it is important that you envelop yourself into an understanding of this musing.

Hinterland is understated, self-consciously unimportant and pure slice of life; its story and characters are as gritty as they come. We enter, we observe, then we leave, and there are no clean edges at any of these stages; like a length pulled, rather than cut, from a baguette. And with Lorna that is what you get, as is undoubtedly her trademark, and her objective – no frills, no dressing, and no superficiality; it is real, it is dark, and it is rough, but it is very high quality, and unquestionably it is exactly what Lorna wants to share with you. A good read – a very good read, in fact – for those to whom superiority comes first, entertainment second. ...more

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Aug 07, 2020 Pallavi Sareen rated it really liked it

Kate’s life is shattered by her mother’s desertion. No-one will tell her where Kathleen is. Although Ina is like a mother to her, Nicholas keeps her at arm’s length. He cannot bring himself to tell Kate or Ina the truth about Kathleen’s last day, until Kate runs away, and he realizes his silence has torn everyone apart. To find Kate and to keep Ina in his life, there are truths he must face, if it’s not too late.

Hinterland is a book about a dysfunctional family. There needs to be a lot more unde Kate’s life is shattered by her mother’s desertion. No-one will tell her where Kathleen is. Although Ina is like a mother to her, Nicholas keeps her at arm’s length. He cannot bring himself to tell Kate or Ina the truth about Kathleen’s last day, until Kate runs away, and he realizes his silence has torn everyone apart. To find Kate and to keep Ina in his life, there are truths he must face, if it’s not too late.

Hinterland is a book about a dysfunctional family. There needs to be a lot more understanding about mental illnesses and this book tries to create some awareness. Kathleen has schizophrenia. She hallucinates, gets mood swings and sometimes doesn’t know what she is doing. Nicholas is just a family man who wants to do what is best to make sure that his wife remains sane and daughter Kate remains happy. But Kathleen’s mental illness takes a toll on him as well. Their differences have a negative influence on Kate so when Ina, the sister-in-law of Nicholas and someone with whom he has had an old acquaintance starts living next door, things become more complicated.

The initial chapters of the book are so gloomy and melancholic. It felt like with the nuances of the dysfunctional family, even the air had turned toxic but after a few chapters, the situation became more mysterious. After a major event, things take a turn. But the detains of the actual event are hidden till the second half of the book. While reading this book, I started doubting Nicholas. He had this air of evil around him which could only be sensed not seen. The first half of the book is definitely more intriguing and mysterious than the second half but I remained engaged with each chapter as it kept on revealing new things. The book gives a real-life portrayal of what it is like to have a family member with a mental illness but with a dramatic twist of fiction at the end.

There’d been moments throughout the last twelve years when they’d been in each other’s company and the tension was such that Ina would never have walked into a room that held only Nicholas. The air would have been too thick, and she felt something of that now when the door closed behind him.

The book had wonderful prose with many memorable quotes. But its true strength was its characters. ...more

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Nov 06, 2020 Dianne rated it really liked it

Hinterland is a heartfelt story about a family torn apart due to mental illness. Kathleen Lehanne, the partner of Nicholas Giovanni and mother of Kate Giovanni, has been struggling with schizophrenia for several years. When Kate is five years of age, Kathleen stops taking her medication for treating her condition, and this leads to a traumatic event involving Kate that negatively affects the familial relationships. Questions arise as to Kathleen’s awareness of her actions surrounding the inciden Hinterland is a heartfelt story about a family torn apart due to mental illness. Kathleen Lehanne, the partner of Nicholas Giovanni and mother of Kate Giovanni, has been struggling with schizophrenia for several years. When Kate is five years of age, Kathleen stops taking her medication for treating her condition, and this leads to a traumatic event involving Kate that negatively affects the familial relationships. Questions arise as to Kathleen’s awareness of her actions surrounding the incident, and she is sent to a psychiatric hospital. Nicholas is unwilling to talk about what happened or share where Kate's mother is located, and Kate grows more and more resentful and perturbed about her mother’s disappearance. As the relationship between Nicolas and Kate deteriorates, Kate makes choices in her life that could have detrimental consequences. Will Nicholas relent in his determination to keep Kate from finding out why Kathleen is no longer in their lives? If Kate learns the truth and is able to visit her mother, how will this affect not only herself but also the relationship with her father?

Readers are given a first-hand look into the symptoms of schizophrenia, and the breakdown of the relationship between Nicholas and Kate, who goes from age five to fourteen in the story. L.M. Brown does a good job of portraying the flurry of emotions experienced by individuals who are in close contact with someone diagnosed with a serious mental illness. Brown deftly shows the characters’ struggles and their reactions and behaviors to a difficult situation, the reality of schizophrenia and the psychological impact and emotional distress it causes, the impact on the diagnosed individual, how family members and friends are affected in different ways, and the significant changes in how people live their lives. A prison term, lost letters, a rocky romantic relationship, a defiant child turned teenager who misses her mother, a father who is hiding secrets from his daughter, and a mother who has trouble differentiating between reality and fantasy are woven together into a moving story that will keep readers engaged until it is finished. The story could use some minor editing, but that does not take away from the overall reading experience. ...more

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Sep 21, 2020 Arun Tankasali rated it it was amazing

Hinterland by L M Brown is an emotional drama that portrays an unconditional love of a father to his daughter. The story has been uniquely written with different situations that make it an interesting read. The main protagonist in the story is Nicholas Giovanni, a caring father and a good husband.The story revolves around his life and his young daughter Kate.

It is the story of a man so committed to his family. Nicholas drives a taxi for his living and lives with her daughter and wife Kathleen wh ...more

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Nov 24, 2020 Happy Booker rated it really liked it

Hinterland is a fictional story written about family, love and the importance of a father’s love for her daughter. Nicholas has a five-year-old daughter named Kate. Kate’s life falls apart when her mother disappears, and Nicholas does not reveal the real reason that has happened. This causes a lot of friction and ultimately results in Kate running away. At the same time, Ina, Nicholas’s childhood best friend and neighbor, is an outstanding person in Nicholas’s life. With the added drama, she too ...more

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Aug 08, 2020 Pamela Scott rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, review-copy, l-m-brown

https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpres...

I’ve read other books by the author and really enjoyed them so I had high hopes for this, her first novel. I liked the title because it’s the same as my favourite crime show. I loved the cover, it begs to be read. This is an incredibly sad but beautifully written book. Kathleen and Nicholas’s life is complicated. Kathleen is mentally ill and this puts a strain on their relationship. They fight a lot, Nicholas is not always patient with Kathleen or tolerant ...more

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Dec 13, 2020 Karen rated it really liked it

This book introduces you to Nicholas Giovanni and his daughter Kate.

With "Hinterland", L. M. Brown has created a story with incredibly authentic characters. Each chapter takes you closer to the protagonists, their agonies, and their actions. L. M. Brown presents an intense and well-elaborated story which is intriguing, occasionally disturbing, and that offers food for thought at the same time. The protagonists are believable, complex; their behaviour might not always be reasonable - yet quite un ...more

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Oct 10, 2020 Kareena rated it really liked it

I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book was a rollercoaster of emotion. This definitely isn't a book you pick up for merely a few minutes of reading, it's the kind you dedicate an entire afternoon to.

The story is told from the perspective Nick and for a few times Kate and Ina. The writing is nothing short of beautiful and descriptive. It's detailed but still to the point, the flow emulates the emotion perfectly in the story.

The author draws you into a story ri ...more

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Nov 06, 2020 Kara Marks rated it liked it

Really interesting book, but disappointing overall. I was a bit lost at first as to where the book was taking place—I assumed it was set in the UK due to using “garden” instead of “yard,” and other things like that. Then Logan Airport is referred to, so I looked it up—Boston. Ok, strange—now I see the author is originally from Ireland, so it makes more sense. Although we’ll-written overall, and fascinating at times, the book was rather sad. It dealt not with just mental illness, but violence, od ...more

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Oct 31, 2020 Anneliese Grassi rated it liked it

Shelves: the-review-crew

What a story this was. The storyline has a lot of moving pieces to it, spanning over many years and multiple characters. When the mother of Nicholas’s daughter “disappears,” he takes care of his daughter, Kate, on his own with the help of an old childhood friend, Ina. As Kate grows older and has more questions about her mom and her mom’s whereabouts, Nicholas’s refusal to be honest with his daughter has her doing things that no parent wants to deal with!

This book is filled with all kinds of iss ...more

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Sep 14, 2020 Portia rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-by-author

Hinterland is an emotional story of a father and a daughter and the decision they take in their lives to protect our loved ones.

It’s a fascinating story built in layers. As the reader progresses through the chapters, they peel each layer to reach the essence of the book. One rides through various emotions from shock to feeling insecure to understanding the depth of the plot. The story takes up the shape of mystery, and the reader navigates through these mysteries to understand the characters. Th ...more

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Aug 05, 2020 Amy Shannon rated it it was amazing

Magnificent read, indeed!

Brown pens a powerful and dramatic story in Hinterland. I am already a big fan of Brown's work, and this story is just a wonderfully, dramatic page-turner. The characters, such as little Kate, and Nicholas meld perfectly in this story. It's full of drama, and both heartfulling and heart breaking intensity. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). A very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. It is always a joy to read this author's stories. I've read Brown's wo ...more

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Oct 13, 2020 Lisa | Read Between the Spines rated it liked it

Before my review, I want to mention that I received an e-ARC as part of @teabooksandtours book tour in exchange for an honest review.

I think how much you like 𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 really depends on how much you enjoy fiction that solely focuses on family drama. For me, this story just didn't have enough going on. I wanted more. But I also know that this will be a book other people will really like.

As for me, I was left reading waiting for something more to happen. It wasn't that the book wasn't rich; I ...more

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Nov 06, 2020 Sharon rated it it was amazing

This book is a deeply moving compilation of many human emotions and experiences. It spans decades of family relationships, childhood friendships and inner struggles. Two of the main characters grew up as next door neighbors and eventually are living as adults in their childhood homes. There are so many intricate threads of history of many of the characters and the reader is slowly brought into each person's back story and how everyone is intertwined with all the other characters. The author bril ...more

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Aug 18, 2020 Ali Bacon rated it it was amazing

Nicholas works nights as a taxi driver and is rushing to get home to be with his daughter Kate because her mother Kathleen isn’t able to look after her. The reasons turn out to be Kathleen’s long-standing mental health issues which have been severe enough for her to have been hospitalised in the past. When Nicholas’ old girl friend Ina moves in next door, Kathleen is destabilised and the neighbours are suspicious.
In the first half of this book Lorna Brown deftly builds up a picture of the diffic ...more

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Nov 06, 2020 Kathy rated it really liked it

Not sure what I was expecting but this wasn't it! It was good but slow. It's definitely not a cozy and it's not really a thriller either. But it is a good story. You just have to stick with it.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
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Sep 30, 2020 Rutuja Ramteke rated it really liked it

Hinterland is one of those books that will leave you thinking. I was so intrigued by the cover and couldn't stop myself from reading it. Nicholas Giovanni’s life revolves around his five-year old daughter Kate. When he isn’t driving his taxi, he is taking care of her and her mother Kathleen, whose last involuntary admission to hospital was while pregnant. Tension start to rise with the return of Ina, Nicholas’ childhood best friend, to the house next door. Kathleen doesn’t trust her or Nicholas. ...more

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Aug 30, 2020 Shiny Jain rated it it was amazing

✍️The story of Nicholas Giovanni who is a caring husband and father. His entire life revolves around his daughter Kate who is too young. It was a normal story until his childhood best friend Ina returns home, Nicholas' childhood best friend, to the house next door. Kathleen doesn't trust her or Nicholas. Already unstable, Kathleen's suspicions culminate in a day of violence, and Kathleen's disappearance. Kate's life is shattered by her mother s desertion. No one will tell her where Kathleen is. ...more

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Sep 16, 2020 Nancy rated it it was amazing

What is a "hinterland?" Depending on which specific definition, it can be the land adjacent to the coastline of the ocean or a large river; or it can be any land that is away from the cities - the back country.

In its own way, both definitions apply to this novel. It takes place near the port city of Boston, and in the unmapped territory of family relationships, mental illness, and in the confusion of the heart. The main characters are neighbors - a elderly mother, Tilly, and her daughter, Ina, w What is a "hinterland?" Depending on which specific definition, it can be the land adjacent to the coastline of the ocean or a large river; or it can be any land that is away from the cities - the back country.

In its own way, both definitions apply to this novel. It takes place near the port city of Boston, and in the unmapped territory of family relationships, mental illness, and in the confusion of the heart. The main characters are neighbors - a elderly mother, Tilly, and her daughter, Ina, who was married to one of two brothers, Nicholas and Stefano, who lived next door, and the wife and daughter (Kathleen and Kate) of Nicholas. Another set of neighbors, Adrial and Manuel, also figure into the tale.

Tangling the relationship is the fact that the Nicholas had been in love with Ina, who is now separated from Stefano. Nicholas had been in prison, and is now returned to his angry, troubled wife, his confused young daughter, and his brother's wife returned to her girlhood home as she seeks a divorce. And one further complication: Kathleen is a paranoid schizophrenic who attempts to injure, perhaps kill her child.

L. M. Brown is a master of what is not said - the purposeful silences of characters; the missed opportunity for a character to speak, or the economical phrase that is laden with deeper meaning.

Kathleen to Nicholas: "You're always leaving. Every time I come into a f-ing room you leave."

Kate, returning from a visit to Tilly and Ina, conducted under Kathleen's watchful eye. "Mom shouted."

Kathleen, in court, for the attempted murder of her daughter: she will not speak.

Tilly, in the hospital, to Ina: "You need to get back to your life."

Ina, to Tilly, explaining why she has left Stefano: "He has a child... You were wrong about him. He isn't one of the good ones."

Do you begin to read between the lines? L.M Brown's work, reviewed in this paper before, has always been eloquent in few words, but where short stories can demand such skill of a writer, a novel will sometimes tempt a writer to fall in love with words. As writers are told, you have to "kill your darlings," but I suspect that Brown is not given to over-writing. This is not to suggest that the writer can't be descriptive - her descriptions draw the reader in immediately to a picture that comes together with perfect clarity. Her description of the elderly Tilly, now in a nursing home, is a lovely, delicate example. We don't really know what she "looks" like. We know her hair is fine and flyaway, and that she is slight of build, but not much more. As she sits in her bed, a book in her hand, she is examining Nicholas as he enters her room. "Tilly seemed expectant and proud and he would have hated her for that if he wasn't so drained." It doesn't matter where the bed is in the room, or whether the room is small or large, the covers hospital beige or a colorful quilt from her home. Each of us will draw a picture in our heads. What's important is that she is, in this reader's mind, a watchful mother bird of a woman, but proud - such a perfect choice to describe an attitude of watching, waiting, observing, judging. Brown writes past the colors and into the substance of the characters, leaving us to populate the scenes with details that suit each of our imaginations.

What is also surprising is the deep complexity of not only the relationships among the characters, but of each character individually. There are layers upon layers of emotions and ideas, spoken and not, and every character has a history that challenges us to come to grips with it - divorces, mental instability, aging, prison, loves and losses - and in the midst of it all, a little girl for whom everyone is concerned and who quietly struggles to make sense of a world no one has explained to her, possibly because no one can.

Brown is, I suspect, just reaching her stride as a writer, and I'll look forward to following her career as she continues.

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Oct 04, 2020 David Harris rated it really liked it

I'm grateful to the author for an advance e-copy of Hinterland to consider for review.

Hinterland is an intense, closely observed study of one family living in a Boston suburb over a decade or so in the early 2000s.

We meet Nicholas ‍Giovanni, a taxi driver, whose main focus in life is the protection of his young daughter, Kate. When first introduced, he is sneaking away from his nightshift and back into the house while baby Kate and her mother Kathleen sleep, to check that all is well with Kate. I'm grateful to the author for an advance e-copy of Hinterland to consider for review.

Hinterland is an intense, closely observed study of one family living in a Boston suburb over a decade or so in the early 2000s.

We meet Nicholas ‍Giovanni, a taxi driver, whose main focus in life is the protection of his young daughter, Kate. When first introduced, he is sneaking away from his nightshift and back into the house while baby Kate and her mother Kathleen sleep, to check that all is well with Kate. A devoted father, or just this side of creepy?

Kathleen herself is a troubled woman - how much so we'll only slowly discover - who is riled when Ina moves back in next door. Ina's mother Tilly has had a fall (Nicholas discovered her in the snow in her back garden) and Ina has returned to look after her. Nicholas, Tilly and Ina know each other well (Nicholas is still living in his childhood home, he and Ina grew up together) - and it's soon clear there is history here ('it had been hard to be in the same room as Ina'). What, exactly, and what sort, you need to discover for yourself - Brown will reveal this slowly as the months and years move forward and a catastrophe strikes Nicholas's little family, leaving him to care for Kate alone (alone, with help from Ida).

The characters will grow on you. Nicholas is always uneasy, trying to control everything, especially Kate (for example, he's unwilling to let her go to the playground alone, following her even when she tells him not to). At one point we are told of Nicholas that 'It was impossible to know exactly how to feel', as though he is an actor on stage waiting for direction.

Kate misses her mother ('She wondered constantly where her mother was, if she had fallen and hurt herself, if she had forgotten where she lived...'), aware of a great absence that nobody will talk about. Nicholas won't be frank with Kate about the thing that has happened - understandably, you might think, but it leaves Kate so wounded and he refuses to do the one thing that might set things right. Why, we can only speculate.

And Ina, Nichola's sister-in-law, who seems part of, and not part of, this odd family, helping out, but resented, resenting. There is, as I said, history here - and secrets to be revealed - with Ina's and Nicholas's relationship now playing out a pattern that's rooted in events of twenty years before. The tension that Brown sketches between the two is electric, one almost feels the words crackle as one reads them, and there is a sense in which everyone else in the book - even Kate - is in their shadow, having to work round them, make space for them, if unconsciously. So Kate and, for example, Nicholas's brother Stefano and son Cooper, when they turn up, are all puzzled, stepping round in a dance they don't comprehend to accommodate Nicholas and Ina.

It's a dance that Kathleen never learned to perform: so early on, she has to leave the stage and this fascinating woman is mostly seen in glimpses, memories, the reports of interested parties and experts. She's always interpreted by others, analysed, argued over. Yet even in her absence Kate seems to have a bond with her and a major theme of the book is Kate's quest for her mother, a quest that's sometimes overt but sometimes hidden even from her. An inevitably that quest opens up a rift with Nicholas, who's so wound up in keeping the truth from his daughter that he seems almost stop knowing her, his understanding of her personality drifting from that seen by everyone else ('he never thought that Kate could be a completely different person outside her house.')

That does give the book a vein of melancholy, but it's never maudlin. And Brown's characters are complex and real enough that - while one may not like all of them - one comes to understand them and want the best for them (even Nicholas, who, as I have said, does sometimes exhibit a worrying degree of obsession and control). ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Ginny Dutt rated it it was amazing

Hinterland by L M Brown
“The abandonment was the worst cruelty.”
The story opens with a very caring father Nicholas Giovanni, a taxi driver living with his five year old daughter Kate and her mother Kathleen in the same house where he grew up and in the neighborhood who knew him as a child, teenager and now as a father. He is a kind of that over-protective parent that even we’d grown up with but the thing that sets him apart from other parents is that he is trying to save his daughter from her own Hinterland by L M Brown
“The abandonment was the worst cruelty.”
The story opens with a very caring father Nicholas Giovanni, a taxi driver living with his five year old daughter Kate and her mother Kathleen in the same house where he grew up and in the neighborhood who knew him as a child, teenager and now as a father. He is a kind of that over-protective parent that even we’d grown up with but the thing that sets him apart from other parents is that he is trying to save his daughter from her own mother. With such a powerful opening and the enigma around Kathleen the story proceeds further and an accident in his neighborhood results in a comeback of his old flame, Ina. But it’s interesting to note that Nicholas had changed a lot and his life revolves around his only daughter and sick wife (her illness had been revealed after some pages, so far we know that she has some mood swings issue). Just like real life people all the characters in this story had a past which shaped their present and the way they’ll react to future events.
There has been some big revelations as the story proceeds further and the plot really thickens with each chapter. The language is lucid and pace is good. The story is addictive and in a way it’s un-put-down-able book because there is lot of things happening and the omniscient narration lets you dive into private thoughts, narrating secret or hidden events.
The author had very skillfully portrayed the different type of motherly love- one mother who meddled the love life of her daughter, the other who aged so quickly because she was concerned for her son. The one who subconsciously raised a bully and the one who isn’t there for the longest part of her daughter’s life but whose absence spoke for her love and regret. The one who couldn’t had one herself but loved the one kid that crossed her path.
Apart from that, the way Schizophrenia has been dealt without any presumptions is praiseworthy.
We even saw the different shades of love, the love that was torn apart and again blossomed in hotel rooms where the lovers traveled back in time without letting their present stop them. The love of a lonely girl trying to find someone who’ll listen to her without any judgments or pity. The love of a bully for a girl he used to bully.
The way these different themes of – motherly love, haunted past, father’s concerns, forbidden love and Schizophrenia have been intermingled set forth a great tale. The ending had some unexpected turns of events and also the fact that it’s an open ending gives reader a lot to think about. I am yet to figure out how this novel will end for me. Indeed, the author had done a marvelous job in portraying real life characters. ...more

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Oct 19, 2020 Marci rated it liked it

"Apart from funerals, Nicholas hadn't been inside a church in years, yet he made the sign of the cross whenever he passed St. Joseph's, and thought of his daughter."
That's the first sentence. I was blown away - strap in, this is going to be a serious book, I said to myself. The writing hit me as methodical, sonorous, full of weight - I was fully expecting a deep philosophical journey after that great opening line, and the first chapter, as a whole, is very well-written. We are introduced to Nic "Apart from funerals, Nicholas hadn't been inside a church in years, yet he made the sign of the cross whenever he passed St. Joseph's, and thought of his daughter."
That's the first sentence. I was blown away - strap in, this is going to be a serious book, I said to myself. The writing hit me as methodical, sonorous, full of weight - I was fully expecting a deep philosophical journey after that great opening line, and the first chapter, as a whole, is very well-written. We are introduced to Nicholas, a Boston-bred taxi driver who dotes on his young daughter, Kate - so much so, that he can rarely make it through his overnight shift without stopping home to watch her sleep. But that's really because, as we quickly learn, his wife/partner (I was never really sure of the relationship) is mentally ill and not to be trusted alone with their child. She really proves that to be true as the book moves onward. I was fully expecting a heart-heavy read about mental illness, the travails of co-parenting especially when one partner has a mental illness, and perhaps the dysfunction that may create for the child as she grows up. But instead, Nicholas' former childhood neighbor/first love turned sister-in-law, Ina, returns home to watch over her ailing mother, and that rekindles an old spark between Nicholas and herself, and the novel veers for awhile into a different direction. I went from "I am blown away" to "meh, this is okay" fairly quickly after about the third chapter. Without giving too much of the plot away, we learn about Nicholas' dark past, Ina's overbearing mother, and Ina's troubles with her marriage (to Nicholas' brother!), with a few afternoon trysts at hotels thrown in because even though they live right next door to each other and have access to an empty house, they prefer the La Quinta. Then we get back to the story of the wife/partner and his daughter, and yes, there is plenty of dysfunction for young Kate to deal with, primarily because her father never realizes that honesty truly is the best policy. When the story again centers on the dynamic between father and daughter and the complexity of their relationship as Kate reaches young adulthood, it is really good.

As an aside, although the setting is in Boston, I feel the author must be British. She describes Ina's running shoes as "trainers" and states that Kate is strong in "maths." That doesn't detract from the story, but I found it a tell that the writer doesn't "speak American." ;) Or perhaps that occurs in Boston, too?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ...more

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Nov 25, 2020 Rose Auburn rated it really liked it

Hinterland is set in Boston and involves the reader in the lives of Nicholas Giovanni, his young daughter, Kate and Kate’s mother, Kathleen. Kathleen suffers from mental illness and her instabilities have been exacerbated by Kate’s arrival. Nicholas works nights so he can care for their daughter. When his childhood friend and old flame, Ina, moves back to the neighbouring house, simmering tensions within and between all characters escalate leaving five-year old Kate without a Mother and no expla Hinterland is set in Boston and involves the reader in the lives of Nicholas Giovanni, his young daughter, Kate and Kate’s mother, Kathleen. Kathleen suffers from mental illness and her instabilities have been exacerbated by Kate’s arrival. Nicholas works nights so he can care for their daughter. When his childhood friend and old flame, Ina, moves back to the neighbouring house, simmering tensions within and between all characters escalate leaving five-year old Kate without a Mother and no explanation as to where she has gone…

Hinterland is literary fiction in its purest form. The writing is skilfully descriptive, nuanced and poetically beautiful. From the outset, there is an air of foreboding; hints of the mental turmoil engulfing this small family unit dropping like crumbs throughout the narrative. It’s atmospheric, intense and uncomfortable. When Ina arrives and then the fateful day of Kathleen’s removal, the pace quickens and the novel briefly assumes the mantle of a thriller. Subtle twists appear and the reader is not too sure who is to be entirely trusted and what exactly happened. This evens out and focus shifts to the relationship between Nicholas and Ina. Their exchanges are heavy with the weight of regret and the unsaid. Nicholas becomes unpleasant towards her, emotionally dead and lacking in any self-awareness or empathy. Ina’s passivity fuels his introspection and overbearing attitude and I did sometimes find both characters resultingly frustrating. Occasionally, Hinterland, was a little overworked and, in places, the story falters against the beauty of the prose.

Just after halfway, the narrative takes us further forward and Nicholas is dealing with a teenage Kate which is a welcome shift. The challenges with fourteen-year old Kate are manifold and Ms Brown’s writing conveys Nicholas’s raw despair and Kate’s slow-burning resentment and loathing of him. It’s painful reading that is draining in parts; although Kate’s behaviour is understandable given the trauma surrounding her, I desperately wanted her and Nicholas to find some common ground. I would have liked to have understood Kathleen more. It would have been interesting to know what she thought in her lucid moments. She is an elusive character, wraith-like and as fragile as her mental health and yet you felt there were layers to this story within her that could have been explored.

Hinterland is a beautifully written novel, exposing the frailties and flaws of the human condition in emotionally descriptive and elegant prose. Well worth reading.
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Oct 24, 2020 Namrata Ganti rated it really liked it

Hinterland is a story of one family's experience with mental illness as well as the choices they make and the subsequent consequences. The main protagonist Nicholas is a devoted father to his daughter Kate and takes care of her mother Kathleen. Initially we are introduced to these three characters and their neighbor, an elder woman named Tilly. She has known Nicholas since his youth. Nicholas has a strained relationship with Kathleen and we can see how that indirectly affects Kate, a five year o Hinterland is a story of one family's experience with mental illness as well as the choices they make and the subsequent consequences. The main protagonist Nicholas is a devoted father to his daughter Kate and takes care of her mother Kathleen. Initially we are introduced to these three characters and their neighbor, an elder woman named Tilly. She has known Nicholas since his youth. Nicholas has a strained relationship with Kathleen and we can see how that indirectly affects Kate, a five year old child at the time the story begins. We also follow along as Nicholas maneuvers his job as a taxi driver and taking care of his daughter, shielding her from anything bad as only a loving parent can do.

As the story progress, we are introduced to Ina, Tilly's daughter and someone Nicholas has always had feelings for. With her arrival, things are set in motion as tempers run high, jealousy creeps in, doubts arise. This leads to one incident that changes all their lives. The author's style of writing is unique and something I have not come upon very often. She leaves a lot unsaid and gives space for the reader to read between the lines and come up with their own interpretation. It's an interesting way of handling the plot.

The characters are intriguing and I enjoyed reading about them. However, Nicholas was quite confusing and at times I did not like him. In addition, we observe as Kate grows up from a shy five year old to a rebellious teenager who does not know the truth about her mother or why she just disappears one day never to be seen again. This forms the crux of the plot leading to strained relationships and the family's struggle to deal with the absence of Kathleen but the constant reminder that she exists/existed. I enjoyed reading about Ina and the support she provides in a quiet manner.

Though the story is slow in the first half, it picks up pace in the second half leading to an interesting open ended finish. This gives the reader space to imagine the kind of ending they want for the characters. The author has handled the concept of mental illness very well, bringing about an awareness among the readers of it's effects on the person dealing with it as well as the effect on the people around. Even though I do have some mixed feelings about this book, I did enjoy reading it. It was a roller-coaster of emotions and finally, the truth always comes out! This book is well worth the read! ...more

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