"An intelligently observed, thought-provoking and emotionally intimate novel that looks at a London community over the course of a year."
Our January 2021 Book Club Recommendation
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A complete joy of a debut, bright, observational and incredibly intimate, this book has lodged itself in my heart. Take twelve independent yet linked stories over twelve months about people who are connected to a London park community. The focus changes with each month, allowing individual stories to shine, yet they add up to a vibrantly wonderful whole. Gemma Reeves is beautifully eloquent, she has the ability with a few words, to give you admittance to someone’s soul. While she creates penetrating access to each person, there isn’t always a conclusion, instead life carries on, suggesting potential pathways. I fell in love with this powerfully blended infusion of life. The variety of characters, in age, personality, and beliefs crackle with energy. A new character might wander in for a few moments and then star in the next tale. Some connections may be obvious and linger, others lightly touch before moving on. The stories themselves tug at heartstrings and encourage thoughts to roam, the ending is simply divine and brought tears to my eyes. Thought-provoking and emotionally intelligent, Victoria Park slips with glorious ease onto our LoveReading Star Books list and is a Liz Pick of the Month, it really is very special indeed.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
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A brilliant novel examining the society in which we live.
Victoria Park is an extraordinary novel about how ordinary people live their lives. It takes a compassionate yet also analytical look at twelve near neighbours and their interactions in the course of one year. It is told through the individual perspectives of the different characters. The first chapter charts Mona and Wolfie as they approach their sixty fifth wedding anniversary which coincides with Mona's increasing dementia. There is a house robber, a couple going through IVF treatment and a mother reading her daughter's diary - so there are quite a few differing viewpoints and philosophies of life, the link between them being their proximity to Victoria Park.
I would say this is definitely a novel for today's times. with some beautifuly expressive writing that takes the reader straight to the heart of what it means to be part of a community.... Read Full Review
Really enjoyable story introducing and linking the residents of a London neighbourhood, around the central theme of their local park.
This was an interesting story featuring members of a diverse community, all living in an area of London in close proximity to the fictitious Victoria Park.
The book is divided into 12 chapters, one for each month of the year and each chapter features one of the various families who make up the community.
It starts and ends with the story of Wolfie and Mona, who are struggling with Mona’s worsening dementia. We also meet Mia and Bettie, a lesbian couple, going through the traumas of IVF in an effort to have their own family. There are many more characters, all well drawn and credible, and they have tenuous links to each other, although each chapter is a short story in its own right. I really enjoyed this book.... Read Full Review
The realisation of alienation and connection between residents in a disparate and culturally diverse area, was spot on.
Victoria Park by Gemma Reeves is a very cleverly written novel with a unique concept, focusing on twelve resident's stories, each one reading like they are an individual novella.
The twelve chapters, which are set out in the months of a year, connect all the characters who reside around Victoria Park in London. The book opens with Mona and Wolfe, who have lived on the park for over fifty years. It’s the eve of their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary and Mona’s Alzheimer’s is steadily getting worse.... Read Full Review
