Claire North

I liked this book, I liked the writing style and the plot was quite engaging, it kept me reading until the very end. There were a few unnecessary digressions here and there but overall it was not very disturbing and did not interrupt the flow of the story. I have to agree however with some of the reviews here, that the evolution of the main character in terms of personality and wisdom etc. over the many centuries he had lived is not apparent and it is something that has probably been left underdeveloped or neglected. Some science-fiction elements were left also underdeveloped, either on purpose or unintentionally, I don't know. The ending could have been slightly more embellished because it seems (as in many novels) to have been cut a little too short.… (altro)

This is the second novel of Claire North's that I've read, the first being [b:The End of the Day|31408829|The End of the Day|Claire North|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484652403l/31408829._SY75_.jpg|52102281]. Based on these reading experiences, I think I prefer North's genuinely fascinating ideas to her writing style. I find the latter involves a lot more tell than show, manifesting in verbose inner monologues that wear a bit thin. This is entirely personal preference, of course. I found a lot to appreciate in 'The Pursuit of William Abbey' and definitely enjoyed it more than [b:The End of the Day|31408829|The End of the Day|Claire North|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484652403l/31408829._SY75_.jpg|52102281]. The concept is this: in 1884 William Abbey stood by and watched while an African child was brutally lynched, and the child's mother placed a curse upon him. The shadow of the murdered child follows him relentlessly at a walking pace and as soon as it touches him, the person he loves most dies. When the shadow is merely near, however, he is essentially psychic, able to 'read the truth of someone's heart'. Once he and the reader understand this, which takes a little while, the substantive plot begins. While I found the pace rather inconsistent, the latter half of the book is really involving and builds considerable tension. Two moments stand out in particular. The revelation that Hideo has been lobotomised by Albert into permanent truth-speaking and the tragic death of Margot's daughter were both shocking and powerful. However it may not be coincidence that neither revolved around William, as I was less invested in his fate.

The overarching theme of the novel is the damage caused by colonialism. While this is certainly conveyed very effectively, the tell-not-show approach was not always to my taste. I would also have preferred the narrative to be grounded more concretely in historical events. Many of the main characters are spies and agitators, yet their activities are not woven into actual political debates and upheavals of the late 19th and early 20th century. It would have been great for actual politicians and revolutionaries of that period to appear. As it is, the novel generally felt more like an alternate universe than a historical novel with supernatural elements. Still, I did appreciate the sense of technological change over time. Although I didn't find William Abbey himself a very interesting character, he made a good foil for a cast of appealing secondary characters. Above all, I loved the exploration of how the truth-speaker's curse was experienced, interpreted, and exploited very differently in a range of cultural contexts. The story is one of continual movement to evade pursuit and the dread this evokes builds very well indeed. However, after this impressive level of tension had been built, I found the ending rather a cop-out. One can only assume that William and Albert were both killed in no man's land. This ambiguity was a bit disappointing. I assumed William would allow Langa to catch up with him, killing Albert who is perhaps the only person still alive that was once his friend. Despite my doubts about the style, I found 'The Pursuit of William Abbey' thrilling and involving.… (altro)