The Tidal Zone

I took a long time with this book - not because I wasn't interested, and not because it wasn't a good read, but because I borrowed the audiobook from the library, didn't finish it in time (because of life things) and then had to wait for the copy to be returned by the subsequent listener... I think this break did me good though. Because coming back to it, I found myself eager to hear what happens to Mimi, to Rose, to Adam, to Emma. I don't know if I would normally pick up a book like this if I had been aware of what it was really about. But I'm glad that I did. The narrative of the present day - the not knowing, the pervasive fear of loss and death - weaved in with stories of the personal past, and the history of places, built up for me a real understanding of what these moments are like for Adam. And as always, I brought to this book the experience of a very trying year where death was constantly on my mind. And I very much related to Adam. The fear, the overthinking, the guilt, the attempts to put your own emotions and experience into the context of history in order to lessen the deep-set yawn of panic and despair... I get it. And I'm glad the author resisted the temptation to tie the book together in a more dramatic fashion. I'm glad the book ends as it does, because it feels more true. You don't get things nicely pulled together really... and sometimes things are not foreshadowing, they just are. So I woul not recommend this book to someone looking for a quick read, with a traditional arc. I would recommend this book to someone looking for a thoughtful book that might make you contemplate how you deal with uncertainty, death, loss of control, etc., and how we as a society fit these realities into our understanding of the world.

Read for the 'Tis' the Damn Readathon' prompt - Reputation: Look What You Made Me do - Read a recommended book. Discard the unavailing sub-plots and you have a five star read.