Title: Sometimes A River Song
Author: Avril Joy
Published: 2016
Language: English
Pages: 194
Rating: 5/5
A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. This does not influence my review.
Summary:
Set in the 1930's in a riverboat community in Arkansas, this is the story of fifteen year old Aiyana who dreams of learning to read, which will offer her a life away from the cruelty of her father, a life away from the river she loves.
Review:
This book is really something, and quite different from anything else I can remember reading.
It's a short novel, but there's so much in here nonetheless, and I can't think of anything I don't love about it. The setting of the riverboat community is fantastic and ambient, the characters are fascinating and realistic and I really enjoyed the prevailing themes of nature, as well as the underlying air of folklore and legend.
My favorite part is the voice of the main character; right away, it swoops you into this world of the river, a world veiled with mythology; a world filled with an atmosphere you can almost touch. Getting to know Aiyana and the inside of her head is both painful and beautiful, as is seeing her grow up.
This is a poetic, engrossing and vivid coming of age story, one I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and literary fiction. It's a books I think will stay with me for a long time.
You can get this book at The Book Depository*
You can read more about it on Goodreads
Author: Avril Joy
Published: 2016
Language: English
Pages: 194
Rating: 5/5
A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. This does not influence my review.
Summary:
Set in the 1930's in a riverboat community in Arkansas, this is the story of fifteen year old Aiyana who dreams of learning to read, which will offer her a life away from the cruelty of her father, a life away from the river she loves.
Review:
This book is really something, and quite different from anything else I can remember reading.
It's a short novel, but there's so much in here nonetheless, and I can't think of anything I don't love about it. The setting of the riverboat community is fantastic and ambient, the characters are fascinating and realistic and I really enjoyed the prevailing themes of nature, as well as the underlying air of folklore and legend.
My favorite part is the voice of the main character; right away, it swoops you into this world of the river, a world veiled with mythology; a world filled with an atmosphere you can almost touch. Getting to know Aiyana and the inside of her head is both painful and beautiful, as is seeing her grow up.
This is a poetic, engrossing and vivid coming of age story, one I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and literary fiction. It's a books I think will stay with me for a long time.
You can read more about it on Goodreads
*AFFILIATE LINK
