The Favourite by S V Berlin
| The Favourite by S V Berlin | |
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| Category: General Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Luke Marlowe
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| Summary: A sister returns home for her mother's funeral in the debut novel of author S V Berlin and old family secrets and arguments are brought to life with a vivid intensity in this intricately plotted novel. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 352 | Date: August 2017 |
| Publisher: Myriad Editions | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0993563386 | |
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Siblings Edward and Isobel Vernon haven't spoken in years and live on opposite sides of the Atlantic. When their mother Mary dies unexpectedly, they are thrown together to sort through the family home. With Edward's diffident but devoted girlfriend, Julie, making an awkward threesome, each stumbles through the practicalities of funeral preparation and house clearing, trying to make sense of their emotions and their feelings toward one another. Isobel makes a disturbing discovery and her fateful decision has consequences for all of them, challenging their beliefs about the past, hopes for the future and understanding of Mary's role in keeping them at once apart and together.
Author S V Berlin was born and raised in London, and has worked as a copywriter, facilitator, speechwriter, and, in a rather surprising career move, a Wilderness search and rescue professional. She now lives in Manhattan, and The Favourite is her debut novel.
The death of a loved one is the starting point for a lot of novels - families drawn back together, secrets uncovered and conversations opened up by the raw rage that grief can bring. As much as that sounds like ripe pickings for an author to create a fantastic plot, it can also lead to a predictable lead - a family member dies, a secret is uncovered, drama happens, and everything is resolved with an element of closure. Sound familiar? Thought so. Don't be expecting that here though - S V Berlin has taken those elements and brought them together to craft something original, surprising, and immensely skilled considering it's a debut novel.
It's in the character work that Berlin really shines - creating a trio of people who are real - at turns relatable and unlikeable. Telling the story from the perspective of the three characters, sometimes showing the same moment from the three distinct viewpoints, allows the reader indepth access into the thoughts and motivations that drive these characters. Berlin's skill is such that one character can come across as wholly unpleasant and unlikeable in one chapter, then turning things so that the same character seems good and relatable the next moment. It's a real balancing act, and one that must take some considerable skill. Those characters take part in a plot that initially seems rather mundane - a daughter returns home after the death of her mother, and is met by her brother and his girlfriend. From there, the plot forges a new and rather fascinating path - twisting in unexpected directions and keeping the reader on their toes throughout. Underneath the gentle suburban drama that appears to be on the surface here is an intricately crafted plot featuring three fascinating characters - it's a read well worth your time, and a fantastically assured debut. Many thanks to the publishers for the copy.
For further reading I suggest The Crossing by Andrew Miller - another read that features complex characters in a plot that's layered, gripping and keeps the reader hooked to the very last page.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Favourite by S V Berlin at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Favourite by S V Berlin at Amazon.com.
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