Weird. I would definitely say the author can write. That aside, suffice it to say it's quite the slow burn, with definite emphasis on the "slow" and precious little "burn". I was imagining several other (more interesting?) possibilities along the slog, I mean way, but in the end it just kind of fizzled. There was a lot of meandering without reward. I could, for sure, imagine Elisabeth Moss playing this character. Take from that what you will.
This is a tragic message delivered in a sad story. It centers around Nisha, a domestic worker from Sri Lanka serving a widow and her daughter in Cyprus. A widow and mother herself, she took the position out of desperation in order to provide for her own mother and child back home. The story is about her disappearance and the efforts made to find her, during which more of Nisha's own story gradually is told. I found myself caring about her, her family, with whom she strove to stay connected, the little girl she took care of, and the other domestic workers, but the other characters were pretty deplorable. Although fiction, the author states that it's based on factual events, which is chilling. It's a dark topic and the writing is good, but a bit too bleak for me.
Wow. WWII--check. Family secrets, pacing, suspense--check, check and check. This spellbinding story consistently ricochets between the early life of the protagonist (Gretel) and her current life as a very elderly lady resolutely living out her days in Winterville Court, among her familiar neighbors. That is, until the apartment below hers opens up and new tenants move in. She hopes to remain a remote acquantance to these newcomers but circumstances dictate otherwise. Born in Nazi Germany, Gretel has lived a very guarded life, the details of which slowly unfold with each turned page. The layers of this tale are intricately woven, and you will find your point of view bouncing back and forth, unsure of where to land. Then you'll realize you can, in fact, feel two very different emotions at the same time.
