Member Review

Cover Image: Elizabeth Finch

Elizabeth Finch

Pub Date:

Review by

Linda F, Book Trade Professional

I liked the beginning and end of this book much better than the middle. The "bookends" of the book read like literary fiction. As Neil writes about his teacher, Elizabeth Finch, I started to develop a picture of an enigmatic, private person. Neil seems to want to crack the code of this woman, to perhaps understand her better.

Neil is equally as private. As the book progressed, I thought we would learn more about Neil as we learned about Elizabeth.

But then the middle of the book turned into a completely non-fiction essay about Julian the Apostate. I couldn't decide how that section made me feel. I spent quite a bit of time making notes in my reading journal that amount to Christian apologetics. Not sure if that was the point or not. Neil (and the author) don't reall give us a definitive answer to that question, either.

But in the way of true literary fiction, this book makes you think. Decide things for yourself. Agree or disagree. And I rather liked it.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.