I know what you're thinking...i'm late to the party on this one, it was released last year BUT... I recently read Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo, having read and enjoyed the hilarious and sweet Mr Loverman back at the start of lockdown. Imho it's worth its rave reviews.
Would go as far to say this novel truly is a work of art. If you're not a fan of a multi-perspective novel stop reading here. I love them! This novel however is character juggling at its best, with twelve (i think) different characters sharing their stories.
Let's talk about Bernardine Evaristo's character development. As perspective shifts between chapters, we come to understand more about their story past, present, and future, and one of my favourite things is how in just a few paragraph, such a vivid picture of each is created. We know their experiences in life and in Britain, and how they came to arrive at the point at which we meet each of them, both physically, and mentally. Winsome, Shirley, Carole, Bummi - were some of my favourites - but each of the novel's characters is pushing themselves forward in life in some way. Pushing boundaries, silently healing themselves from various traumatic experiences over which others might have completely fallen to pieces, overcoming prejudices, getting older, living. The stylistic choices really add to this rich tapestry because the syntax and lack of punctuation add a poetic phrasing to the prose, playing with emotion, adding dramatic rise and fall in some places, in line with startling revelations, and adding a sense of urgency in others. Moreover, the thread which intertwines their stories is really delicately managed, mothers, daughters, great-grand daughters, friends. They are brought together in such a way that you feel like you're reading about people you know, the generations, their history, their life experience and their choices. Powerful, moving and beautifully written.
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