Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini SinghMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
View all my reviews
| Review | I found this gem to be among the best of 2021. Singh’s atmospheric writing simmers, never truly reaching a boil, but instead treating the reader to myriad sensory details that gently and sensually breath into one’s psyche. The plot is fairly straightforward. Aarav is the product of two Indian parents, currently living in the lap of luxury in New Zealand. When we meet him, his mother, Nina, has been gone for ten years, though it’s a mystery to everyone whether she absconded with a quarter million of her husband’s money or disappeared involuntarily due to the nefarious actions of….well, someone. When she is then found, in the clothes in which she disappeared, nestled in her emerald green Jaguar less than a mile from her home, she has been reduced to a skeleton—and a homicide victim. The book weaves through introductions to each of those living in the cul-de-sac Aarav calls home. He pokes at his memories of the night Nina disappeared and recalls her complicated relationship with each neighbor, as he simultaneously battles a leg injury—the result of an accident that has left him muddled and confused. Aarav’s own relationship with his mother is also examined as he remembers it, complete with vivid images of her as she laughs, smiles and dances her way through his memories. The unreliable narrator is clearly an issue for the reader, as one attempts to separate fact from fiction when it seems as if Aarav himself is unable to do so. The genius here is the way in which Singh crawls into Aarav’s mind and explores the world through a misty lens that leaves the reader off-balance and unsure. It’s an almost poetic read. If you’re looking for a barn burner with action and suspense, this is not the best choice. If, however, you are willing to follow Singh through Aarav’s journey, you will be rewarded with top notch writing that tickles the senses and challenges one’s sensibilities. | |
