Unsettled Ground
Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2021
By Claire Fuller
Harry Hartog's review
Fuller is masterful at creating suspense; I was drawn in immediately with the parental lies and manipulations. The narrative is unsettling and intriguing with bits of hope interspersed throughout. It is full of well constructed characters, rich descriptions of nature and the harsh life conditions the 51 year old twins, Jeannie and Julius must endure after their mother dies unexpectedly. I found Fuller's writing style fascinating and despite it being a dark story, I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of her books. - Bibi, Bookseller
Description
When you live on the edge of society, it only takes one step to fall between the cracks
Twins Jeanie and Julius have always been different. At 51 years old, they still live with their mother, Dot, in rural isolation and poverty. Their rented cottage is simultaneously their armour against the world and their sanctuary. Inside its walls they make music, in its garden they grow (and sometimes kill) everything they need for sustenance.
But when Dot dies suddenly, threats to their livelihood start raining down. At risk of losing everything, Jeanie and her brother must fight to survive in an increasingly cruel and unyielding world as their mother's secrets unfold, putting everything they thought they knew about their lives at stake. This is a powerful novel of betrayal and resilience, love and survival. It is a portrait of life on the fringes of society that explores with dazzling emotional power how we can build our lives on broken foundations, and spin light from darkness.
- ISBN:
- 9780241457467
- Format:
- Paperback / softback
- Pages:
- 304
- Published:
- Publisher:
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Imprint:
- Fig Tree
- Weight:
- 219 g