Welcome to Tuesday Book Chat. This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
What’s the most recent novel you’ve read that impacted you?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation by commenting on this post or on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.
Let’s chat!
This is a tough one. I think She Gets July by Susan Page Davis. A side story which is mentioned on the blurb features a secondary character dealing with an abusive boyfriend. It shows the reality of leaving the situation. Why the character still thinks its her fault and what happens when the abuser loses control. In that they don’t want to let go. It is an important story considering we lose on average one woman a week to DV. This is only a small part of the story but it has a big impact.
Your turn.
I look forward to reading your comments here or at the FB group. Remember all comments go into the monthly drawer for a gift voucher.
Hi Jenny, This is an interesting question. I recently read an ARC of ‘The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley’ by Courtney Walsh. It’s first person single POV contemporary fiction with a romance plot underpinning the story and very light faith content. I was impacted by how Isadora’s childhood and teenage years, and the lack of supportive people in her life during those formative years, affected her adult life. She’s an only child and she mentions her mother is a narcissist. We don’t meet her mother (or Isadora’s absent and emotionally unavailable father) in the story, but we do see the damage that her mother, in particular, wrecked in Isadora’s life. I was sad to see how toxic behaviour, bullying and emotional abuse had impacted Isadora. I recommend this book to readers who like clean/wholesome women’s fiction.
Great question, Jenny. I recently read ‘Ransom’ by David Malouf. It’s a spin off from Holmer’s ‘Iliad’ and set during the Trojan War. Having also read ‘Iliad’ which was written around 7th Century BC, I enjoyed savouring the differences between the original and ‘Ransom’, published in 2009. Both stories are on war, which is not my usual topic choice. What I enjoyed, however, is comparing the differences in writing techniques and contention across the times between texts. Homer was more subtle in his message, writing at a time where there was less outside stimulation for listeners (no technology) with which to compete. Whereas, Malouf was more upfront about his message. I also enjoyed how Malouf entwined the original story but filled in gaps in the relationships that were only briefly mentioned by Holmer. I recommend this and the ‘Iliad’ to anyone who is fascinated by the changing writing techniques and topics across time.