This book, by Aminatta Forna was a great suggestion from Barbara that gave us so much to talk about. On its surface, a story about fox in London would not seem so engaging. In fact, they were a stand-in for the main characters and Jean, all interlopers in ways that were unique to them.
There was a lot going on in this novel - Jean's move to London and her struggle to overcome her failed marriage and strained relationship with her adult son unfolded fairly quickly. Atilla's story took longer to develop; the loss of his wife, the longer term distance from his home country while serving societies in catastrophe around the world, his shorter term distance from a niece.
The niece serves as focal point for the story while never really entering it. Her son has disappeared and Atilla and Jean form a team to find him, using Jean's expertise tracking urban fox and her network of doormen and trash removers developed over the course of her project.
That search, the unfair treatment of the niece and Atilla's last minute involvement in the trial of an immigrant charged with arson are the fabric of the theme that change and migration, like those of the fox into London, are inevitable and that fear and hate do nothing to stem the tide and do much harm in the process. It was a lovely novel, a bit clunky in places but definitely worthwhile.
On to July! We will meet at Margo's house on July 16 at 6:30. Lucky for us, we are reading a short story, Isak Dineson's "Babette's Feast". We talked about a fancy feast in support, any ideas?
See you all there!
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