Initially released in 2023, and long-listed for the prestigious Booker prize, Sian Hughes’ gorgeous novel, Pearl, is being re-released by Knopf.
Marianne narrates the novel as an adult, returning to the Cheshire village in which she grew up for a yearly ritual/celebration called The Wakes. Hers has been a troubled life, her mother went missing when Marianne was young, leaving an indelible mark on her. Combine that grief with the trials of growing up, relocating, and eventually becoming a mother herself, it is hard not to fall in love with Marianne.
There are many reasons why this book appealed to me personally. The book is set in Cheshire, which is very near to where I grew up, so I recognize a lot of the references, and a vibe that is incredibly hard to capture in words. The jump rope/skipping/clapping rhymes at the beginning of each chapter firmly brings me back to my adolescence. And Marianne is just such a wonderful character. She is so strange, yet so appealing. The poor girl needs a hug.
I really like unconventional, yet accessible fiction. Pearl reminds me of the brilliant A Girl is a Half Formed Thing, by Eimear McBride. Lyrical yet simple, Pearl is an absolute joy to read.
California Reading 