This is a dual purpose post. It is a Recently Read post, reviewing a book I’ve read and I am also including it in the 2014 Global Reading Challenge I posted about Here.
I’m doing the Easy Challenge
Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2014:
Africa, Asia, Australasia/Oceania, Europe, North America, South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent (here you can either choose Antarctica or your own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it).
From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.
This is my North America book.
The Recently Read posts will tend to be books I have enjoyed. For a full roundup of books I have read and their reviews you can find me on Goodreads Here.
Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little
‘As soon as they processed my release Noah and I hit the ground running. A change of clothes. A wig. An inconspicuous sedan. We doubled back once, twice, then drove south when we were really headed east. In San Francisco we had a girl who looked like me board a plane to Hawaii.
Oh, I thought I was so clever.
But you probably already know that I’m not.’
LA IT girl Janie Jenkins has it all. The looks, the brains, the connections. The criminal record.
Ten years ago, in a trial that transfixed America, Janie was convicted of murdering her mother. Now she’s been released on a technicality she’s determined to unravel the mystery of her mother’s last words, words that send her to a tiny town in the very back of beyond. But with the whole of America’s media on her tail, convinced she’s literally got away with murder, she has to do everything she can to throw her pursuers off the scent.
She knows she really didn’t like her mother. Could she have killed her?
My Thoughts:
As you can see from the blurb, the book is told in the first person narrative of Jane Jenkins AKA Janie Jenkins and starts when she is released from prison for the murder of her mother. A murder she doesn’t believe she committed, but doesn’t know if she did or not. Unknown due to the stressor of finding her mother and alcohol consumption at the time.
Jane isn’t very likable at first. In fact that is an understatement. The tone of her voice nearly put me off continuing to read the book when I was not far into it, but I’d heard a lot of great things about it and I did like the clean and acid sharp prose of Little, so I continued on. And I’m glad I did.
As I kept turning the pages Janie started to grow on me. I found her spiky but veracious dialogue amusing – in a way that I was glad I wasn’t on the wrong side of it!
Her journey took her to a small town where we got to know a set of small town characters through Janie’s eyes. A set of characters she needed to get to know while all the time pretending to be something she wasn’t – kind! – in order to get answers to her questions.
There is tension as a country we know is obsessed by celebrity tries to track her down and news reports and blogs punctuate the book as they draw ever closer to their prey. And Jane draws ever closer to her answers on whether she killed her mother.
This book keeps you hooked right until the very end to get your answer and then when you do, the last page provides another twist you don’t expect. It’s one I’m annoyed at Little for but at the same time can see why it was perfect for her to do that.
If you fancy a book where the protagonist isn’t clean-cut and perfect but is sharp and troubled with brilliant prose and thought from the author, then this is worth picking up. I loved it.
writenote1 says
An enjoyable review and a book I’ll keep an eye out for.
Good luck with the challenge!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you! It’s a great book. If you get chance give it a try 🙂
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – You’re now the second or third trustworthy person to recommend this book to me. I’m very glad it grew on you. Perhaps I ought to add this to the list…
Rebecca Bradley says
You should Margot. It’s definitely an interesting and enjoyable read.
elsie elmore says
The global reading challenge sounds so intriguing. What a great concept!
Love your honest reaction to the book, the protagonist, and the author :). Adding this one to my list. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca Bradley says
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. The challenge is great because it makes you read books you may not have otherwise read. I think next year I’ll go up and do a harder level 🙂
diannegray says
I love the sound of the Global reading challenge, Rebecca – what a great idea! 😀
…and another great review xxx
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Dianne. The challenge is great isn’t it. I only came across it late this year so went for the easy challenge. I think having the whole year next year, I’ll go for a more difficult one.
Jacqui Murray says
Just from that beginning, I’m intrigued. Love the author’s voice. And IT–that’s my area. I will be checking it out.
Rebecca Bradley says
I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to hearing what you think.