- ASIN : B08KHSMPJL
- Publisher : Atmosphere Press; 1st edition (November 15, 2020)
- Publication date : November 15, 2020
- Language : English
- Print length : 251 pages
- Genre: Family Life Fiction
The BookViral Review:
A genuinely affecting novel The Tattered Black Book approaches its adult themes with intelligence, maturity, and rare authenticity.
Duck’s writing is light and easy to read, her plot vibrant and a pleasure to follow, but what sets her novel apart is a clear understanding of how family dynamics, in their differing guises, shape our years, with character development at the heart of her narrative.
There’s real soul to this family life story as she beautifully renders the sights and sounds of a bygone era. All are meticulously observed as she explores the veracities of love, family, and calamity. But Duck’s most remarkable achievement in The Tattered Black Book is her ability to find the right narrative balance between uplifting and sad events and moments of deep truth whilst remaining so firmly in control of its tone that we believe we are reading about real people.
Duck doesn’t go for a raft of big melodramatic revelations but rather for the accumulation of emotional investments and although there are parts of The Tattered Black Book that are heart-achingly sad, she is ever mindful to keep a kernel of hope alive.
To this end, Duck gives us wholly endearing characters that exude strength of personality and purpose. Reminding us of the different spheres we inhabit as our lives evolve and not to take any given day for granted, leading to the realisation that our relationships, for good or bad, are ultimately defined by the choices we make.
A timeless story with all the hallmarks of a classic, The Tattered Black Book is nothing short of superb and is recommended without reservation.