"An unforgettable and truly beautiful novel awaits in this journey through grief and love by a woman seeking solitude in the Californian desert."
Death Valley caught me unawares, as I read I fell hook, line, and sinker for this mesmerising and poignant novel. Slip into the reasonings of a woman in need of peace and solitude after the illnesses of both her father and husband. As she wanders the desert trails in California her thoughts expand to encompass her past as well as her present.
Melissa Broder writes with the most eloquent of pens, she captures stark truths and slippery half thoughts, setting them on the page with a beautiful clarity. There is a gloriously dark edgy humour to be found, which sometimes goes into hiding before resurrecting itself in a needed moment. The desert itself joins the woman in her isolation, the sense of place that has been created is exquisite. The path the woman’s mind takes enters an almost fantastical realm while remaining firmly present in the desert. It was all too easy to travel into her subconscious, and believe in the power of the mind as it affects reasoning and rationale. I am still caught up in this meaningful and emotional journey through grief and love. I believe this novel will forever remain a part of me and so it joins our LoveReading Star Books, and sits as one of my personal picks of the month. Remarkable in its simple yet complex beauty, Death Valley is a truly unique novel I can recommend heart and soul.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
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