Jane Rusbridge's second novel, Rook, is quite simply stunning. The novel drops you into the deep and muddy depths and allows you to explore the characters' like hidden artefacts with the changing perspective of time. I found that Nora's story is displayed from everyone else's view - Issac's teachings, Eve's all seeing eyes, Ada's secrets - even though she is central to the novel and leads the third person perspective naturally. The musically inspired descriptions, even when Nora is not present, allows her presence to be felt throughout Rook. The way in which the dialogue flows from summaries into direct speech draws the reader into the intimate conversations without redirection. Colour, along with music, features heavily - from Rook's black plumage, Harry's colourless paintings and the eyes that haunt and follow Nora. Following the final breakdown of her relationship with Issac, Nora hides in the relative safety of her family home however she finds that her mother is determined to change for the future although this leads to a digging up of the past. The puzzling child-adult shifting between Nora and Ada pulls you into their relationship, with a subtlety which provides familiarity to many reader's own experiences I'm sure. The unfolding of other relationships allows you to discover the new with Nora whilst the hidden past is also uncovered although at a different pace. The swift manoeuvre of past and present guides the reader through Nora's mind without force or confusion. Nora's thoughts spring up from the narration to hang in the air, ever present. By shrinking both time and distance, Rook is a novel that speaks to generations and educates on both historical fact and fiction whilst exploring characters that speak directly to you.

Alexa Radcliffe-Hart - 02/08/2012 Report this Review

Name  

Email  

Reason