When They Lay Bare by Andrew Greig (When They Lay Bare - Andrew Greig)

Member Name: Hope

Product:	When They Lay Bare - Andrew Greig
Date:	08/09/00 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: excellent story, setting and language

Disadvantages: writing style sometimes imitating

An intriguing and compelling read, set in the Scottish Borders. It tells the story of two feuding families as depicted on a set of antique plates. However, history is inextricably entwined with the present as a young woman arrives in the area and hints of her links with the past. There follows a tale of many twists, involving lust, love, envy and revenge, and this is certainly no stuffy historical novel.

I did find the story a bit difficult to get into at first and it has one feature which I found slightly imitating. It is written in the first person, but there are several major players in the story. So in each chapter it is necessary to reorient and work out which person is narrating that particular episode.

Nevertheless this is a brilliant story from start to finish, gripping and cleverly composed. It is also notable for its many similies and metaphors, some of which I liked so much that I had to underline them.

Summary: