That'll be a weighty tome then,,,, Oh god how many big words can I handle when i'm in my sunlounger recouperating from my op..
LOL cheeky. I remember I saw this advertised ages ago on the Tube and it looked really interesting, and I think Peavis recommended it to me to (about a year ago!).
Basically it's set in a v small settlement in Canada. Someone is murdered, and the prime suspect is a teenage boy who has mysteriously left the settlement. His mother wants to clear his name so she sets out to track the boy down and try and figure out who the murderer is.
I really enjoyed the book, it was very easy to read. There were several well rounded characters, I quite liked how many of them had flaws and were honest and self aware enough to admit them. There is a lot to do with the inherent prejudices of the white settlers against the native people, who are shown to be a diverse lot, neither good nor bad, just people. Although, none of them ever get to narrate from their point of view except for a brief scene with Jacob, so for the most part they remain seen through the eyes of the white people. There are several strong female characters - Mrs Ross, Elizabeth, Maria. You start off thinking one thing about the characters, only to learn more about them later and changing your opinion of them entirely.
The writer does well at evoking how cold and hostile the environment is, and how ill equipped most of the settlers are if they leave their safe little home and dare venture out into the wild. The main narrator, Mrs Ross, is quite intriguing, I was hoping for there to be more to her story in the asylum.
