Honestly I found this book hard to get into. Once I did I enjoyed the book though. I like that you get to know the main character through each important person in her life and each person has a different story to tell. Astra is a unique woman who at times you love and at times you hate she’s just as mystic as her name and dice.

This novel tells Astra’s story from the perspectives of other people in her life at various ages and stages — starting with her father before she’s born. Each chapter is devoted to a different character’s point of view.

This is an interesting way to tell a story, but it’s more than just a novelty. I felt that by constantly making the reader’s perspective shift, the author was making a point about identity. How much of our identity is intrinsic to each of us? And how much does it depend on how others perceive us? In each chapter, I also felt my perspective shift on the point-of-view character for that chapter too. Initially, I’d be puzzled, not knowing anything about the person whose perspective we’re taking (especially at the beginning of the book), then I’d get a handle on who they are… and then Bowers pulls the rug out from under the reader’s feet and we realize we’ve pegged the character all wrong. It was brilliantly executed.

Another thing that Bowers does well is that even though the reader doesn’t especially like a lot of the characters, we’re still drawn to understand them. And, for me, that includes Astra. She was more than a little frustrating — but we’re sympathetic because we literally understand ‘where she’s coming from’. She grew up in a remote commune in British Columbia, where her father basically neglected her — while believing he’s following high principles.

Lastly, because I live in BC, I also enjoyed the references to places I know and also to Calgary, which I visit often.

This is a stunning debut novel, and I look forward to reading whatever Cedar Bowers writes next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced reader copy — although I didn’t manage to read it before the publication date and bought a copy anyway!

Great book. Very interesting way to discover Astra, a little girl raised in a communal farm. Through friends, family, husband, you learn her story.

Astra by Cedar Bowers
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
.
Description from NetGalley…
“Born and raised on a remote British Columbia commune, Astra Brine has long struggled to find her way in the world, her life becoming a study of the thin line between dependence and love, need and desire. Over the years, as her path intersects with others—sometimes briefly, but always intensely—she will encounter people who, by turns, want to rescue, control, become, and escape her, revealing difficult yet shining truths about who they are and what they yearn for.
     
There is the childhood playmate who comes to fear Astra’s unpredictable ways. The stranger who rescues her from homelessness, and then has to wrestle with his own demons. The mother who hires Astra as a live-in nanny even as her own marriage goes off the rails. The man who takes a leap of faith and marries her.
 
Even as Astra herself remains the elusive yet compelling axis around which these narratives turn, her story reminds us of the profound impact that a woman can have on those around her, and the power struggles at play in all our relationships, no matter how intimate. A beautifully constructed and revelatory novel, Astra explores what we’re willing to give and receive from others, and how well we ever really know the people we love the most.”
.
Thank you to @netgalley @penguinrandomhouseca @mcclellandstewart for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
.
My thoughts…
Simply Complex. I’m glad I kept reading this book. It didn’t grab me right away, but after the second chapter, I got where the author was going with it. Then, I didn’t want to put it down. I’m glad it was a quick read. I like the idea of this book. I like that it felt like a collection of short stories, but the stories were about only one person’s journey. I like that Astra was unpredictable, and people around her seemed as well. It made it more real. Have you ever played the game, where you narrated a total stranger’s life while watching them do whatever it is they were doing? Or is it just me and my husband? Because, this book read like that to me. And, I like that Bowers is Canadian.

I received a very poor quality pdf of this book from net galley and so I struggled with the tiny font and numerous blank pages etc but I persevered because the book is well-written and its main character, Astra which is also the book's title is quite intriguing. Astra is a perfect example of a book with excellent character building. I love how this book takes the reader chronologically from Astra's birth to her golden years. It is definitely not a slow crawl as it often skips a few years in between and moves along from childhood to young adult to motherhood to middle age etc. very quickly. Each chapter is titled after a character with whom Astra's life intersects; each providing a point of view on Astra while enlarging the reader's perspective about this fascinating protagonist.

Astra is born in a commune in a remote area of British Columbia. A place she describes quite early as "... a place that isn't even real, that only exists as an idea. A place filled with irresponsible dreamers like them and leftover kids like us". Her father, Raymond, is not thrilled that he has somehow fathered a child and due to a lack of proper medical services at the commune, Astra's mother dies during childbirth. Astra is raised by a neglectful father in the commune where there are transients and people who are all running away from one thing or another. Without any parental or adult supervision, Astra is almost mauled by a cougar; lucky to be alive and escaping with permanent, distinct scars on her face. Astra roams freely and wanders the very under-developed and primitive property referred to a Celestial.

Astra befriends a young girl of similar age and from an adjoining property. She comes across as manipulative, mean, and controlling. Her survival skills are already very honed. Next, Astra meets Clodagh, a previous resident at Celestial who returns having tried to survive in the city without any luck. Clodagh knows Astra's mom and was actually present when Astra was born. She attempts to be a surrogate mother to Astra but Astra is not interested in any mothering in her teenage years. Clodagh arrives at Celestial with her two children - Freedom (son) and Sativa (daughter) - both becoming important components of Astra's life.

Astra leaves the commune for the city and winds up at a mall looking for a job. She meets Brandon who is willing to give her a job, and a place to stay thereby saving her from homelessness. Astra then crosses paths with Tabitha who helps her with make-up to minimize her scars and also offers to share her apartment at a low cost to help Astra cope in her new life in the city. All of these people including Chris, the guy who runs the mall security are all taken in by Astra's naiveté and her unconventional upbringing.

Astra's life seems to be always heading upward. She lives in luxury at Chris' house while she tends to her newborn baby, Hugo. Astra assumes motherhood with fervour even hiding the baby's existence from his biological father. At her mother's instigation, Sativa, Clodagh's daughter, comes to live with Astra to help her with the new baby. Sativa sees Astra as manipulative and very successful in getting people to feel sorry for her and helping her when she encounters some difficulty. Astra is however, very resilient, resourceful and self-sufficient. She is able to move on and take care of herself when warranted.

Astra connects with Doris who actually owns Celestial, the result of her "live off the land" and "no waste" ideas. Doris and Astra's dad are childhood friends; her dad being the son of the groundskeeper of Doris' family luxurious estate. When Doris inherits the estate, she denounces what she sees as capitalism and materialism; she alters the estate profoundly. The lawns are no longer cared for and the property is hacked into many apartments and leased out to people trying to get their lives together. Into this run-down mansion and new environment surrounded by hippie-type neighbours, Astra settles down to raise her son. When it becomes apparent that Astra and her son have completely invaded Doris' space, privacy, and generosity, Doris reluctantly asks Astra to leave.

Another man comes to her rescue. Lauren's husband discovers Astra at his son's school where the two boys are friends. Astra is able to secure free lodging in exchange for after school care for Lauren's son. Lauren tries to give Astra a chance at betterment by mentoring her towards college. As Astra's life progresses, it is mind boggling how she prods forward and how her path intersects with others revealing and unburdening their own baggage.

Astra's journey is a continuum of an abused, broken soul to an heiress and a maturity where her life is no longer guided by the toss of a die or by words declaring her "child of the cosmos, ruler of the skies”. Astra Winter Sorrow Brine marries, divorces, mothers a child, becomes a grandmother, and finally allows herself the chance to heal and grow as she returns to the derelict commune of her childhood and an aging father who needs care and attention. Nicely wrapped up. A powerful debut novel from a writer with great promise. I look forward to what next she produces.

Favourite quotes:

I’ve found it’s much, much harder to lose the people who never gave you enough, than it is to lose the ones who gave you everything.

We're one human life stacked on top of the traumas and the tragedies of another.

A beautiful coming of age story told in a unique way through the different perspectives of people that we encounter through our lives. I loved how while reading this book my opinion of Astra constantly fluctuated between her being self-absorbed, troubled, confused and apathetic. I think it shows just how much we evolve over time and we never truly are the same person as we age and grow. While Astra herself was quite fleshed out, I felt that some other characters seemed forced or unbelievable, but overall I enjoyed seeing Astra move through the world armed with her unique upbringing on the commune, Celestial. Overall it was a great read and I am looking forward to more of Bowers work.

ASTRA by Cedar Bowers is a very good debut novel! It follows the life of Astra, who grew up on an isolated farm commune, told through ten different people in her life. I really enjoyed the unique storytelling as we learn about Astra chronologically but indirectly. She was forever mysterious which probably led to her charm but overall this is a depressing read. I truly loved the Canadian setting. I’d definitely be interested to continue to read books by this author.
.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley for my advance review copy!

This is a really impressive debut that I think many readers will enjoy!

Boasting an interesting structure, Astra is told chronologically over six decades - we follow Astra, always through the eyes of those in her life - characters both on the periphery and centrally in her story. While the structure is interesting I am happy to report, at least for me, it is seamlessly well done - an apt vehicle for a special character-driven story. Not merely a gimmick, the ten people’s eyes on Astra at various points throughout her life give us flashes of insight into this complex, enigmatic woman. Each chapter has its own unique, rich voice - it felt like each one could really be fleshed out into its own novella.

Astra experienced an unconventional and difficult upbringing, and as she’s evolved and grown as a person pieces of that past expresses itself in a number of different ways. As I was reading, I was thinking about how we really only ever have an incomplete picture of a person, even our closest loved ones. No one we meet truly knows Astra; Astra herself was still figuring it out over the years, evolving. As readers we also have the added challenge of seeing Astra through these different lenses - what is bias, unreliable narrators, and what is truth? Our perspectives are coloured by the impressions of the eyes we’re looking through.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book is the circular view we get of Astra’s life. Beginning with her birth story in a roundabout way, we finish with a chapter in her own voice. Healing, moving forward, resolution are implied but not served up syrupy sweet in conclusion. It was excellent. There’s so many beautiful passages and takeaways… it’s impressively written.

This would make for a really great book club pick. Each viewpoint makes for lots of musings and discussion. Many of the characters are unlikeable, and they feel real in all their flaws, with inner turmoils on display.

Overall, a wonderful reading experience. Definitely pick this up if your at all interested - it’s a gem. Congratulations to the author on such a special debut.

Thank you to Mcclelland & Stewart /Penguin Random House Canada, Netgalley and the author for access to a free e-copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“I’ve found it’s much, much harder to lose the people who never gave you enough, than it is to lose the ones who gave you everything.”

Born on a remote British Columbia commune, on an evening when a prolific meteor shower begins, Astra Winter Sorrow Brine, “Child of the cosmos, ruler of the skies”, has long endeavoured to find her way in the world. Through her lifetime, as her path intersects with others, she will encounter people who, by turns, want to rescue, control, become and escape her, revealing truths about who they are and what they yearn for.

There is Kimmy, her childhood playmate, who comes to fear Astra’s unpredictable ways. Brendon, the stranger who rescues her from homelessness, and then has to wrestle with his own demons. Lauren, the mother who hires Astra as a live-in nanny even as her own marriage goes off the rails.

As Astra herself remains the elusive yet compelling axis around which these narratives turn, her story is a reminder of the power struggles at play in all our relationships.

Cedar Bowers is an asset to contemporary literature. Her debut novel is so engrossing that I read it in one sitting. I love how she has constructed the novel in ten chapters, each one dedicated to a character whose life has been touched by a sometimes vulnerable, sometimes loving, sometimes dislikable, mostly selfish, always complex Astra.

Here are “the many selves we all contain — those we conceal, those we perform, those we try to outrun in our search for love, belonging, and home”. The characters are fascinating and so completely developed that I wouldn’t be surprised to bump into any of them on the street.

Astra is unknowable as a still, black lake: there’s just no way to tell what’s underneath or how deep down she goes. Come and meet her.

A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @PenguinRandomHouseCa for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

<b>A truly unforgettable story. I couldn't put this engrossing book down.</b>

<img src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/12/09/USAT/e1b3165b-0987-4298-9fe3-396646d0b136-2488_TP2_00155R.jpg?crop=2235,1676,x575,y0&quality=50&width=640"/>

Astra, as seen through ten different characters' perspectives, is a complex "forever wild child." She practically raised herself and was allowed to roam freely on the extensive grounds of the Celestial commune in B.C.'s back country . This novel had so much to say about the sham notions of "freedom" of commune life. Invariably, the heavy work was left to the female members, on top of the child rearing. The price of the freedom provided by the Celestial commune often came at a great cost: Astra's mother Gloria died due to inadequate medical care, Astra had little or no education or social skills, and Doris (one of the narrators) had to supplement the farm's income from her own resources because the inhabitants were often transient, unreliable or untrained for farm work.

<img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/01/14/t-magazine/14tmag-separatists-slide-45YC/14tmag-separatists-slide-45YC-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg"/>

Each chapter is narrated by a person who closely impacts Astra at each stage of her life. We learn about Astra over the years through each successive narrator, some of whom are, of course, self-serving and unreliable witnesses.

Raymond: Astra's emotionally distant, irresponsible father who has retreated from life, taking shelter and solace in his nihilism. His hands-off parenting style almost gets Astra killed by a cougar. She will bear those scars, and many others, for the rest of her life.

<img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/phFod8fEv_Q/maxresdefault.jpg"/>

Kimmy was Astra's first childhood playmate. Kimmy was also in need of a friend, and at first she loved Astra's inventive games, but she soon realized that Astra was too wild and socially backwards to be trusted with her and her baby sister's lives.

Clodagh, who would tell Astra that their lives were destined to follow the same path - flitting from one bad or abusive relationship to the other. She tried to be a mother to Astra, but Astra had outgrown the need for a mother by the time Clodagh returned to the derelict commune years later.

Brendan, Nick (and Chris) were indicative of the many men and women who fell under Astra's enticing spell. (Astra is bisexual.) They would see Astra as someone who needed to be saved because of her "unfortunate" beginnings. Some of them would abuse her or wanted something from her that she had never learned to receive, much less give. It was only with the birth of her son, Hugo, that Astra was able to fully love another human being, without reservation.

<img src="https://nurtureparenting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Mother-and-baby-000008828487_Large.jpg"/>

Sativa, Clodagh's daughter, is perhaps the one person who truly saw Astra as she really was. Yes, Astra could manipulate others into feeling sorry for her and into helping her when she was in a tough spot, but Astra was also remarkably resilient and self-sufficient. Brendon believed he was rescuing Astra from the dangers of sleeping at the bus station, and Chris gave her a place to live after Hugo was born, but Astra was usually able to move on and take care of herself when she was no longer welcome or able to endure her current circumstances.

Lauren was the most neurotic of the narrators. What a strange family dynamic! What a riveting chapter - no spoilers here!

> . . . . . . . . . . .<img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR_DrdnoPb7luOBSMpdLGIgcQWaRb9w1eRRfw&usqp=CAU"/>

Dom and Hugo - the two most important relationships in her life - also weigh in on the Astra that they knew and loved.

<img src="https://images.indianexpress.com/2020/11/timothee-chalamet.jpg"/>

For a while, you don't know who to believe. Fortunately (don't worry, no spoilers here) there is an Epilogue, and the truth about Astra finally comes out. My take is that what you see is what you get with Astra, although other NG reviewers would disagree. There was never any pretense from her. I suspect that many of the narrators didn't know how to deal with such forthright behaviour, uncluttered with the polite niceties and manners that we were all taught as children.

I loved this author's candid, flowing writing style. I also enjoyed wrestling with and pondering why the author never capitalized the letter "y" in the word "you" when it was used in the beginning of a sentence in conversation. Ultimately, I decided that the author (or Astra) was perpetually debating the "why" in "y". Do we ascribe too much importance to what other's think of us, hence the refusal to assign a capital letter to someone else's pronoun? Perhaps Raymond was right after all, and we humans don't matter at all? Or perhaps Astra came closer to the truth when she states: : "We're not just matter. We're not f***king stars in the cosmos. We're one human life stacked on top of the traumas and the tragedies of another." I have to admit that, like so many others in this story, I came to love and admire Astra: she was such a strong, independent woman! I loved the ending of this story: it came full circle and left me feeling hopeful for Astra. This was one of the most intelligent, candid, simply written stories about one woman's complicated path in this complex world! Highly, highly recommended.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the different views of each person involved in the evolution of Astra. With each narrative you get a deeper picture of the the rough around the edges woman and start to realize each stage of her life shaped the person she becomes. The resilience shown by her and the family she’s connected with is exceptional and keeps you emotional invested in their journey. Loved the settings and the family dynamics woven through every persons narrative.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

This book is unique as each chapter is a different character relaying their relationship with Astra. While I appreciate the emotional trauma Astra has experienced I just couldn’t get into her character. I found her difficult to like, but that is the same for many of the characters. There was nothing about them that was likeable.

I do thank Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

This is a captivating story with fascinating character development. I loved how each character was connected to Astra at different points in her life. As each new character is introduced, Astra's character development is enhanced. I couldn't put it down.

💫 Book Review 💫 ⁣
𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚 by 𝘊𝘦𝘥𝘢𝘳 𝘉𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴⁣
⁣
“𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳”⁣
⁣
How is it possible to begin the novel hating the character and by the end just want to scoop her up and save her....Astra is manipulative, scheming and mean but also vulnerable, abused and broken. And she doesn’t need saving. ⁣
⁣
Astra is an enigma moulding into other people’s lives as her own years fall away silently. This complicated woman lays out her story bare while the reader is obsessively turning the pages to see where Astra lands next. ⁣
⁣
What a unique read this was. The writing alone shocked me from a debut author and I guarantee there is more in her future. Thank you to @netgalley for suggesting this one for me and for @mcclellanandsons for gifting it to me in return for an honest review. ⁣
⁣
𝐀 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬. 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭. ⁣
⁣
“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯”

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: June 1, 2021
Fans of “The Girls” by Emma Cline will adore this debut novel by author Cedar Bowers. The story centres on Astra, a girl who grew up motherless in a decrepit commune, constantly surrounded by random strangers, with no rules or expectations. Uniquely, Bowers tells the story of Astra through the eyes of ten people who knew her, so we are able to watch Astra grow and develop from the perspective of those in her life.
Bowers weaves a beautifully emotional, character-driven tale, and manages to tell it in a unique way. The novel is broken down into sections, narrated by a different person in Astra’s life, at different times in her lifespan, and it is not until the end of the novel when we hear from Astra herself, as a middle-aged woman charged with caring for her aging father. It is interesting to learn about Astra this way, and it adds to the creativity of the novel, to have a protagonist so central to the plot, but who does not contribute to the main narration.
Astra is a very powerful character, eccentric and misunderstood, but she is easy to root for. Having overcome her incredibly sad childhood, desperate for friends and relationships, will touch a chord with any reader. Right from the start I felt for Astra, and wanted her to succeed.
Told in chronological order, the story starts with Astra’s mother who dies when giving birth to Astra, then proceeds through Astra’s childhood up through her adulthood. Because of this format, we do not get every second of Astra’s life and large chunks are missed, but all of the important aspects that form who Astra is manage to be told to us all the same.
“Astra” is a unique, moving and powerful story about childhood lost that begs the question- what would our lives look like if viewed from the eyes of those who love us? Bowers has created quite a debut novel, and I have no doubt that “Astra” is award-worthy. I eagerly anticipate another novel from Bowers, told with the beauty and depth of this one.

Astra drew me in from the very first page. The characters are richly drawn and I cared about each one of them as I saw Astra through their eyes. This book was hard for me to put down, and I found myself mulling over the story when I had to set it aside. What makes a person who they are? Can you ever really know someone? How do we come to terms with our past, with who we are versus who we want to be? The author has given us a beautiful character story in a brilliant, artistic and unique way. Highly recommended!

‘Astra’ is an enjoyable read for it’s interesting construct of the protagonist as we learn about her through the perspective of 10 people she encounters over 60 years.

As she struggles though life and has various interactions with them we learn that she is complex at best, due to her upbringing and vulnerability she adds to these relationships.

Cedar Bowers demonstrates her gift of writing by the creation of this complex protagonist, and her troubled relations. It leaves the reader at times emotional and creates an opportunity to contemplate their own interactions with others and a pause to consider how they are received by others.

I enjoyed the construct of this book, through its interesting perspective and the intricate relationships even when they weren’t the best at times for Astra.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher Random House Canada for the advanced ecopy of this book, in exchange for a review.

Astra tells the story of a complicated womanv through the perspectives of the many people whose lives she's touched.

I absolutely loved this concept - and found that Bowers did an amazing job executing it throughout the book. The only problem is that by the end of the book, I had no sympathy for the main character. Instead, I felt terrible for the people damaged in her wake - and in awe of those who were able to put themselves back together.

Despite this one criticism, I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read - and I honestly couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Bowers herself for giving me the chance to enjoy this!