I’ve had an interesting relationship with Sarah Winman’s writing. I enjoyed her debut novel When God Was A Rabbit and also agreed with all the deserved critical acclaim and hype around Tin Man but for some reason, her second novel, A Year Of Marvellous Ways didn’t quite work for me. Step forward Still Life, a book that has had rave reviews but I still approached with slight trepidation. I read this as my first buddy read with @rachaelsreads_ and I’m so glad I did. I think I can speak for both of us when I say it took us a while to gel with the story but once I did, oh my goodness I was engrossed. It’s difficult to describe what this book is about, it follows so many individuals over a long time period. Ulysses is a young soldier and former globe maker and he meets Evelyn, an art historian and possible spy during the war in 1944 at a Tuscan villa as bombs fall all around them. The rest of the narrative follows both characters through the decades following their meeting. We are taken from the East End of London to Florence in Italy as they navigate their way through hardship, love and fortuitous meetings with people who change both their lives. I fell in love so hard with the writing and the characters in this book. It feels almost epic in the time period and events it covers and the reader gets to feel as if they really know and understand these individuals as their lives continue over the years. I loved the difference in personalities, the moments of humour and light amidst the darkness and troubles. If that alone doesn’t tempt you - how about a talking parrot called Claude? The only reason I’m not giving it the full five stars is that I couldn’t connect with some of the art references but that’s nothing to do with the author or writing, it’s purely my own ignorance around this subject. It’s really a wonderful novel that I’m still thinking about. 4.5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 💫 #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #stilllife #sarahwinman #beautifulbooks #bookreview #booksthatmakeyouthink #buddyreading #buddyreadswithrachael #ulyssesandevelyn #waterstonesexclusiveedition https://www.instagram.com/p/CVOEuJvg3Qc/?utm_medium=tumblr
