You can feel the air vibrating with the history of the place as well as the present days atrocities. The Brexit angle is not that obvious, and Silvie’s story is strong in its own right. Sarah Moss has explained, she did get inspiration from the ongoing Brexit discussions, but please don’t let Brexit fatigue stop you from reading this book. I should have liked to understand, what really goes through his mind. Yes, he is extreme, but he feels authentic and his longing for a period, when everything was British (historians will dispute if such a time ever existed) does not appear far-fetched at a time, where Britain and other parts of the world become increasingly more closed to foreign people and foreign goods. The book does not offer any explanations for the father’s views. The portrait of her father is superbly done as well. I just wanted to reach out to her, save her, do something. Silvie’s story is told in an understated, matter-of-fact language, which nevertheless hurts deeply. They have the life, Silvie ought to have, but she is too afraid to even aspire to such a life. Placing her side by side with the students serves as a powerful contrast. Via the dialogue and a few flashbacks, the author draws a thorough picture of Silvie’s life with her restrictive and violent father. The novella takes place over a short period.
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