Blue Archipelago

26a - buy this book

Rating

4 stars - a beautifully written book

Description

A novel of twoness, oneness, growing-up and growing apart

Why did you read this book?

I can’t remember how I came across this book to be honest - it was sometime last year that I added it to my Amazon wish list so maybe it was one of those *another reader who bought your book also bought this* recommendations from Amazon… It was the winner of the inaugural Orange Prize for New Writers and it had some good feedback on Amazon so I thought I’d give it a go.

The Book Review

I started this book hot on the heels of finishing up a Jodi Picoult - and found the huge contrast in writing style difficult to get to grips with at first. This isn’t just a book that tells a story in simple straightforward English - this book is full of beautiful and at times almost lyrical prose. Here’s an example from early on:

On the outside of their front door Georgia and Bessi had written in chalk ‘26a’, and on the inside ‘G+B’, at eye level, just above the handle. This was the extra dimension. The one above sight, sound, smell, touch and taste where the world multiplied and exploded because it was the sum of two people. Bright was twice as bright. All the colours were extra. Girls with umbrellas skipped across the wallpaper and Georgia and Bessi could hear them laughing.

In simple terms this novel looks into the lives of a family and tells a tale of people who don’t fit, of twins who struggle to decide whether they are half of one, or two separate individuals, an incident that changes the way life is viewed, and of depression and the way it affects a life.

But it’s not a simple novel - Evans weaves a tapestry of colours and events that all come together to reflect on the heartbreaking effects of depression and the effects it has on the individual and the people around them.

I started out rating this book a 3 and felt bad for it - as I’m writing this review I feel perhaps a 4 would be more suitable - but I really struggled with this book - I can see why it won a prize, and on some level I can appreciate it for the masterpiece it is - but I just didn’t *get it* - not in the way it was intended anyway. I think this is a book that needs to be mulled over and perhaps that’s what I must do to fully appreciate it. It’s the kind of book that would be perfectly suited to a Book Club discussion as there are many themes that can be covered.

Would you like to read it?

If you haven’t read this book then now is your chance - I’m going to give my copy away to another reader - in the hope that you will read it and fully understand the beauty contained within.

Usual deal - post a comment for one entry, mention the giveaway on your own site for another entry. I’ll close the contest at midnight (GMT) on April 30. It’s a small novel so I’m happy to post overseas if required. (Edited to add: for those of you who know about my spine cracking habit don’t fear - this book is still in pristine condition as I had a feeling from the outset I would be passing it on!)

Have you reviewed this book?

If you have reviewed this book on your site please fill in the boxes below to link me up to your review - don’t forget to link to the specific post to make it easy to find:

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