Pages:
371
Publisher:
Simon and
Schuster
Release
Date: 14th
February 2013
Edition:
UK hardcover,
for review
When
Iris’s mum leaves home, her brother, Sam, goes off the rails and her dad is
left trying to hold it all together. So when a family of travellers sets up
camp illegally in front of their farm, it’s the catalyst for a stand-off that
can only end in disaster. But to Iris it’s an adventure. She secretly strikes
up a friendship with the gypsy boy, Trick, and discovers that home cam be something
as simple as a carved-out circle in a field full of corn...
CJ Flood’s debut is beautifully
written just as I was promised: soft, poetic and thoughtful.
The entire novel oozes with a
warm and dreamlike atmosphere of a beautiful English summer. The Derby farm
that Iris and her family live on makes everything seem magical and hazy and
Iris’s love and knowledge of nature only made the setting come even more alive.
The arrival of Trick and his family of travellers in Iris’ paddock was almost
romantic and gave the novel an overhanging sense of threat.
I expected a certain level of
prejudice to be directed towards them but I wasn’t quite prepared for the
lengths that people would go to: the rudeness, the jibes, the force. It was
really interesting to see them from all angles and I was torn as to which side I
fell down on. I completely understood the stance that they leave a huge mess,
cause trouble and don’t pay their way but I also saw what Iris saw. She knew
the travellers themselves and learnt that they didn’t seek out trouble and that
it’s often others causing issues for them and that they’re really not doing any
harm. It was a fascinating look at a different lifestyle and it’s one I’d love
to learn more about.
The presence of Trick and his
family and the conflict with their presence was obviously building up to
something big and tragic which was hinted at on the back cover of the novel and
it culminated in something sad and heart-breaking, but effortlessly
understated. I have to admit that I expected the tragedy to go the other way – I
was stunned when it didn't and it was horrible. Really, really horrible. It made
me cry embarrassingly on the train back to uni.
Infinite
Sky is a
stunning debut and I think that CJ Flood is definitely one to watch. I can't wait
to see what she has up her sleeve for us next.
For my 2013 British Books Challenge, 2013 Debut Author Reading
Challenge and 2013 YA Contemporary Reading
Challenge
Thank you to S&S for
sending me a copy for review.
Sophie
Sounds fantastic and heartbreaking, gonna have to keep my eye out for a copy!
ReplyDeleteYour review has brought all of the memories back up! I was also quite emotional when I read this last week but I didn't cry like you did. I was close though!
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Sophie! :)
Isn't this a gorgeous book? I loved it utterly and entirely.
ReplyDelete