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I have just finished reading Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor. I had previously read a couple of other novels by the author, which I had enjoyed. So I was eager to give this novel a try, especially as it had won awards and been nominated for the prestigious Man Booker Prize.
Having read previous works by the same author, I was not surprised by his writing style. I would guess, though, that the style may not be to everyone’s taste. It can appear to be spartan, matter of factual or even curt in style. The advantage of this is that a lot of events can be reported and read in a short space of time and also that events can proceed at a fast pace. This latter point is especially important in this novel as the events take place over a 12 to 13 year period, with key events recorded for each month of that period. Had this book been written in a more traditional style, then it would be a far more epic, in terms of size, work. It would, consequently, take a far greater effort to read through it.
As it, the author is to be commended on his use of style to convey clearly the key points of his narrative.
Without giving away too much of the plot. The story commences with the mysterious disappearance of a young girl and the effect this has upon a country village and its inhabitants. The account of the disappearance runs throughout the story but the novel is far more than this. It also encompasses the day-to-day lives on the villagers, their successes and failures, their plans and outcomes and how these are affected by the case of the missing girl but also by their attempts to continue life despite the limelight of the case being cast over the village.
As you read through the story, you expect the case to be revealed and solved. Slowly, clues and developments are revealed but, ultimately, the reader is an outsider who is merely a voyeur on the peoples’ lives and events. Consequently, the reader is often frustrated by some events, just as they might be in real life were they to follow the story through, say, newspaper accounts.
This is an enjoyable and provoking novel to read. It is a novel which gives you insights and also keeps you at one step removed from its characters. As such, it is a masterful work by the author.
If you are intrigued by my review, you can see more about the author, Jon McGregor, and his works on his Amazon webpage.
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