The Recently Read posts are not typical book reviews. As a writer, I do not believe I should be reviewing the hard work of other writers. These posts are simply books I have recently read and enjoyed and will share with you. They will not always be crime books as I am trying to widen my reading selection. I hope you enjoy some of these with me.
The Night Rainbow by Claire King
During one long, hot summer, five-year-old Pea and her little sister Margot play alone in the meadow behind their house, on the edge of a small village in Southern France. Her mother is too sad to take care of them; she left her happiness in the hospital, along with the baby. Pea’s father has died in an accident and Maman, burdened by her double grief and isolated from the village by her Englishness, has retreated to a place where Pea cannot reach her – although she tries desperately to do so.
Then Pea meets Claude, a man who seems to love the meadow as she does and who always has time to play. Pea believes that she and Margot have found a friend, and maybe even a new papa. But why do the villagers view Claude with suspicion? And what secret is he keeping in his strange, empty house?
My Thoughts;
I adored this book. (Yes, I’ve been very lucky with the books I’ve picked up recently.) The voice of Pea is absolutely adorable and absolutely believable. Yes she’s five years old and a five year old narrator can be difficult. I have put a book down in the past with a child narrator, I just couldn’t get into it, but The Night Rainbow and Pea are something different entirely. It has an innocence and sweetness, intelligence about it that just keeps you turning the pages with them – them being Pea and her younger sister Margot.
If you followed my Tweets as I read this, you will know that I loved Margot. Her voice came through Pea. As Pea Narrated, you knew all the things little Margot did to help Pea whenever Pea felt herself get sad and it was Margot who provided some of the most insightful and sweet moments for me.
It was a sad book as Mamman struggled to care for them, lost in her own grief, but the pure innocence and delight of Pea and Margot will capture you and keep you with them until the end. This is an utterly beautiful book that I’m so glad I picked up and read.
A new section for the end of Recently Read posts, will now be a link to the authors blog if they have one. It seems sensible as we’re all blog readers. So you can find Claire King’s blog Here.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – I’m glad that you enjoyed this as much as you did. You’re right that it can be very difficult to sustain a believable child narrator’s voice and still keep the reader interested. I’m glad you found that this one did that for you. And some of the larger themes here are universal and well worth exploring.
sharonsant says
I have this on my kindle and now looking forward to reading it 🙂
Linda King says
I just ordered this – sounds right up my street! 🙂
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