Consent | 
so-soI honestly don‘t know? Certainly well written, and a great many intelligent things could be said about the themes of love and loss, secrets and ideals, the things we agree to, both with others and with ourselves. But honestly, it just made me so sad. Every section seemed more laden with defeat and despair than the one before. Something to be said for inspiring really strong feelings? I can‘t say I enjoyed reading it, but it still has value? Ugh.
so-soI‘m not sure how this got on my radar. It was long-listed for the 2021 Women‘s Prize.
It left me somewhat confused. Is it a domestic drama, a novel about sisterhood, a thriller, a literary novel about consent for those unable to make choices due to disability or illness? It is all these things but not successful enough any of it IMO. Also the novel hinges on a very big coincidence which I didn‘t quite buy/believe.
My 3rd #JoysofJune book! 😀
pickDark, uncomfortable and very interesting. This story of two sets of sisters whose stories intersect in a tragic way really drew me in. Themes of ableism, grief and complex family dynamics but I do wish Lyon had addressed the actual consent issue more directly, particularly with Mattie but also with Jenny. There are only outside views and compared to guilt and resentment consent didn't really feel like the focus. @TheAromaofBooks #bookspin
panI am incredibly disappointed in the judges if the Women's Prize for this one. While I enjoyed Lyon's writing, I hated everything else. Her flagrant use of racial and ableist slurs, to the extreme ableist main characters, to just their general nastiness (and I don't mind a terrible character but there needs to be a point beyond them just being a shit person or at least some balance). It is so awful makes me hope I never meet the nasty author.
My library pickup this week is PINK 😆
All Baileys Women Prize Long List reads.
pickThis book is hard to describe. Two separate women lose their sisters in two seemingly unrelated tragedies. They are eventually brought together by this, but only briefly. It is about the relationships between sisters, how there can be both love and hate. It‘s also about grief and guilt. The complexity of the relationships here is deftly navigated in what is a rather bleak, unflinching story about loss. 4⭐️
pickThis was a quick read (had a lazy afternoon and read it in one go). It‘s about two pairs of sisters, duty, familial ties, love and addiction. It‘s one of those books where hardly any of the MCs are likeable but you still love the book. I preferred the two separate stories; it sagged a tiny bit for me when they came together.
I can really see how this made the #womensprize longlist and it‘s clever / different enough to make the shortlist.
so-soOne of the Women's Prize long listed books. Story about two sets of sisters, loss and ultimately revenge. I had trouble connecting with the characters. It felt like I, as a reader, were being held at arms length. I listened to this on audio and may have felt differently if I had read the physical book. 3 🌟
pickThis is a somber, dark story about two sets of sisters. About family responsibility, love, grief and regret and how far thoes emotions will push us. I really enjoy interconnected storylines and Lyon does a good job here connecting these unrelated sisters and the recurring theme of permission throughout. Lyon gives us much to ponder here with the concept of consent, here it leans more towards familial responsibility. #canlit #gillerprize
These are the six Canadian titles that I predict will be on the Giller shortlist. The official announcement will be tomorrow morning! #shadowgiller #canlit
pickI put this on my Giller shortlist predictions and now after finishing I truly do hope to see it on the official shortlist!
Strange at times but always compelling!
#ShadowGiller @Lindy
Thinking this will be the last book of the longlist I can finish before the shortlist announcement on Monday.
pickTwo pairs of sisters. Two storylines that intersect. Characters with complex emotions, the real stuff of familial love: loyalty, resentment, guilt & regret. Tragedy strikes both families & grief permeates, but it's not all doom and gloom. There are surprises & touches of wry humour. There‘s a plot & I love it. Full review:
https://lindypratch.blogspot.com/2020/09/consent-by-annabel-lyon.html?m=1
#shadowgiller #gillerprize #canlit
“Play with me. You have to play with me or I‘ll set your book on fire.”
She would, too, in the bathroom sink, with the barbeque lighter. She got a spanking last time, but it would not deter her from doing it again. Only Saskia could save her, by giving in. That was her one power. Still: “You‘re not the boss of me!”
A lie. Jenny always got what she wanted, always.
Delivery from Audreys, my local bookshop. So happy to have the final two on the Giller longlist that I‘ve yet to read. AND Arundhati Roy‘s new collection. #shadowgiller
