Review - The Recent East by Thomas Grattan
I received a free galley of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book.
I’m very interested in historical fiction, especially when it is set in a time period that isn’t commonly written about. This one is set in Germany after the fall of the Berlin wall. I also tend to like books about family relationships and finding identity. This book had all of those elements, but it left me wanting.
This story centers around a recently divorced mother, Beate, who moves back to her childhood home in East Germany after the Berlin wall came down. Her two children, Michael and Adela, go with her. Beate appears to suffer from depression, Michael is exploring his sexual identity, and Adela is filled with fear and loneliness. They all struggle in different ways to adjust to their new home.
There are some things that I really liked about this book. I feel that it was well-written. The settings were vividly described and seemed very realistic. The story flows well. I enjoyed reading about the themes of complex family relationships, identity, and loss.
But I disliked almost all of the characters in this book. I didn’t feel like I could identify with any of them, except for Peter, who shows up near the end. Their communication styles are dense and confusing, or absent. As I read and read, I just kept thinking that if these characters would just have a straightforward conversation, most of the problems would be solved. But they never do. It was incredibly frustrating.
No matter how much I struggle with a book, I strive to finish it. I did finish this one and I am glad I did, as the ending provided some hope for the future. And really, Peter’s character nearly redeemed the story for me. I think this could be a great book for a group discussion because of the complex relationships and themes. If you read it, come back and comment, and tell me your thoughts about it!
The Recent East by Thomas Grattan will be available March 8, 2021.
