All the Birds Singing; Evie Wyld
Pantheon - 2014
When I first heard about this book, I was so intrigued and anxious to try it as it seemed to have many of the elements I like in a novel: a woman living alone in isolation with animals as companions (dog and sheep) and supposedly a story of survival and redemption.
Briefly, the central character, Jake Whyte is the woman
who is living in isolation on a small island off the coast of England,
along with her dog named "Dog". She tends a flock of sheep, a skill she
picked up when she lived in Australia. She is not interested in
connecting with locals even though she has been in the area for 3 years.
Lately, her solitary life finds Jake a bit unhinged. Someone or
something is killing off her flock of sheep. But, what brought Jake here
in the first place? Is she trying to hide from someone and why?
Bit by bit the readers learns about Jake's horrific
past in Australia where she first learned her sheep shearing skills. Why
does she suffers from bad dreams and paranoia, why is her body heavily
scarred? How much of her fear is real and what is imagined, and, why
does she sleep with a hammer under her pillow?
Told in two timelines, the book is deeply menacing. I
thought it was a tough story to read and, although the book was just
225 pages, it ultimately was a hard one to finish for me. The writing
was very good --vivid and it left a lasting impression, there was an
element of mystery and psychological suspense. In the end there was just
too gore for me. A very bleak story, definitely not for the faint of
heart.
(review copy)
The cover is very interesting. Would have to be in the right mood for this book.
ReplyDeleteI would've been intrigued by the blurb as well but I'm glad I read this review first! While I like mystery and suspense to heavy on gore and terror tend to not make a book enjoyable for me.
ReplyDeleteHm, I can read gore that I could never watch so this one might not bother me the way it bothered you.
ReplyDeleteI started it, but decided not to continue. Now I'm glad I didn't! :--)
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of another book I read, title of which I cannot remember but it was horribly written. At least this one was written well but the disturbing, mysterious aspect you mention makes me not want to read it. I like dark and can handle bleak but it's not calling to me.
ReplyDeleteHuh. Sounded like it could have been something I would potentially like, thanks for the warnnig!
ReplyDelete