Monday, December 28, 2020

THE BASS ROCK, by Evie Wyld

    


Literature -- 1 1/2 stars

Three women, from three different historical periods, live within sight of a large rock just off the shore.  Sarah is fleeing for her life after being called a witch.  Ruth is navigating her newly married, post WWII life.  Modern day Viv is cleaning out her late aunt's (Ruth's) house. ----- With a scenario like this, you expect some connection between the three women, but you won't find it here.  The three disjointed stories never connect beyond the fact that each can see some big rock from their windows.  At least Ruth and Viv share a blood relationship, but Sarah's inclusion makes no sense and adds nothing whatsover. I kept waiting for Viv to find something in the house that would connect the women, but she spends most of her time traveling back and forth to London to help a sister who is getting divorced and complaining about the real estate agent who is trying to sell the house.  And the writing is confusing.  Some chapters switch between characters--some don't--with no way to identify whose story you're reading, so it takes several paragraphs to figure out that important detail. Add in the fact that, other than Ruth (to a point), none of the women are particularly likable.  Taken separately, each story probably could be expanded into a novella on its own.  Shoving them between the same covers seems as pointless as the rock in the title.

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