from Sofia Hattiangadi
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins is a gripping and emotional read. To call it just a thriller would be a disservice to the intense emotional experience obtained from reading the novel. Set on the Scottish island of Eris, the coastal scenery is a call to our own St Andrews. Local readers will enjoy the novel even deeper, as the story's imagery is striking, especially in its descriptions of nature. The story is written in shades of blue, the colours of the sea and sky, and the sand and rain during a storm. Hawkins manages to capture the sublimeness of the natural world in a way that can't usually be bottled.
The novel follows James Becker, an accomplished art historian who embarks on a mission to retrieve missing artwork from the old house of the reclusive artist Vanessa Chapman. Intertwined with James' life, the book lays out the story of Vanessa's life before she died and the complex relationships surrounding her. An interesting aspect of the novel is how the reader is never quite sure who the main character is.
The narration moves from person to person, focusing on where you may least expect it. While this makes for an interesting read, it also doesn't allow everyone's stories to be tied up as neatly as one may hope. The book is only around 300 pages, and moments in the beginning drag where words could have been used closer to the end.
That being said, the story is gripping, with the tension slowly accelerating, making the second half a riveting read. A good thriller gently nudges a reader in the right direction of the story, dangling other possibilities to distract. Hawkins implements this perfectly; she does not rely on cheap tricks or plot twists to shock but lays the groundwork that allows you to guess without being bored. The book is equipped with quietly dropped clues, emails, diary entries, and news articles that pave the way to the novel's climax, almost giving the story an interactive feel.
Hawkins creates such a strong yet engaging read because of her focus on each character's emotional makeup. The strength of the novel lies in the fullness of the characters. Hawkins writes them with a sharp awareness; she shows rather than tells in her writing. The novel does not over explain character motivations and personalities but allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. Hawkins has a keen ability to know what to tell and what to conceal from the reader.
The Blue Hour's interaction with artwork is also incredibly interesting. The novel has an astute understanding of art in all its different mediums. More importantly, it accurately portrays the emotion that art carries, both as the artist and the viewer. The whole novel has a sense that it is being written while rooted in real emotion. Every character is convincingly passionate and driven by their motivations, and none fall flat compared to another.
The Blue Hour was published in early October last year, commemorated by an author event hosted by Topping & Co. in St Andrews. At the time of writing, there are still signed copies available, so give it a read!
コメント