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Generation by Paula McGrath (view source)
Revision as of 10:10, 8 August 2020
, 10:10, 8 August 2020no edit summary
Áine is a single mother in her thirties who seeks excitement and new horizons. Following advice from a friend, she takes a working holiday on an organic farm near Chicago, where she begins a relationship with the owner, Joe; a troubled young man who lives like a slob and is addicted to cannabis. Despite his obvious shortcomings, Joe can be quite charming and soon has the vulnerable Áine under his spell. Upon returning home, she plans her next visit to Joe's farm, but this time she takes her young daughter Daisy along. Áine has no clue as to the impact that this decision will have on Daisy's future life.
The book uses a 'revolving door' style of narration, which gives it a unique appeal. Áine's story is at the heart of the book, but the story bounces off at all sorts of tangents along the way, revealing snippets of background information that fill in the bigger picture. Joe, in particular, is a captivating, multi-layered character, with plenty of depth. We read about his promising beginnings as a piano prodigy and how decisions made by his parents led him down a different path. Each new narrator gives the reader a fresh slant on the story and ensures that the resulting journey is never dull.
As the book went on, the storyline became more intense and gripping. I couldn't put it down. In fact, one night, I put the book down before bed and I had to get up and finish it at about two in the morning because I needed to know what was going to happen next!
I enjoyed reading ''Generation'', especially because of the unique narrative style and complex characters. The book felt fresh, new and different and I will be interested to see what this promising author comes up with next. Many thanks to the publishers for my review copy.
If you like stories with a multiple-narrative style, try [[The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf]]. We've also enjoyed [[A History of Running Away by Paula McGrath]].
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