This book is a spellbinding tale from a child’s point of view but written for adults. It spans worlds of fantasy and reality, giving a tantalising glimpse of the lives and existence of characters that are older than imagination, from the perspective of a young boy who finds himself drawn into an adventure within which he has very little power or control. The setting is a small country lane, but the scope is vast, with hints of worlds beyond our own.
The narrative is all 1st person - from the perspective of the 7 year old boy. The perspective of a 7 year old boy ought to be childish and unsophisticated, and I would normally avoid tales from a child’s point of view for this reason. But there is a depth and richness to the writing which is very satisfying. There is a maturity to the storytelling which makes it easy to read, while not undermining the image of a youthful and immature narrator.
The fantasy elements aren’t fully explained, and this is consistent with the point of view of the narrator, but the many small insights into the Hempstock family and the world from which they came are rewarding and enjoyable and left me wanting to know more. The story was engaging and the plot moved with a pace that kept drawing me on. I would love to read further stories from this world!
My rating: ★★★★★
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