THE EARTH HUMS IN B FLAT BY MARI STRACHAN
I READ THIS BOOK FOR THE 2016 ALPHABET SOUP READING CHALLENGE. CANONGATE BOOKS (EBOOK), 2009
320 PAGES
Young Gwenni Morgan has a gift. She can fly in her sleep. She's also fond of strawberry whip, detective stories and asking difficult questions. When a neighbour mysteriously vanishes, she resolves to uncover the secret of his disappearance and return him to his children. She truthfully records what she sees and hears: but are her deductions correct? What is the real truth? And what will be the consequences - for Gwenni, her family and her community - of finding it out? Gwenni Morgan is an unforgettable creation, and this portrait of life in a small Welsh town on the brink of change in the 1950s is enthralling, moving and utterly real. Mari Strachan's debut is a magical novel that will transport you to another time and place.
I fly in my sleep every night. When I was little I could fly without being asleep; now I can't, even though I practice and practice. And after what I saw last night I want more than ever to fly wide-awake. Mam always says; I want never gets. Is that true?
The Earth Hums in B Flat is a lovely book, magic, unforgettable, happy yet incredibly sad at times. I absolutely loved it. Gwenni is a brilliant character. She's got her head in the clouds a lot and has a good heart. She was so real she almost stepped off the page. I think this is the first book I've read set in Wales. The author does a brilliant job of bringing a small Welsh town in the 1950's to life. I felt like I was really there, with Gwenni trying to investigate a murder because she wants to be a detective and unwittingly discovering some secrets in her family closet. I laughed and cried as I read this incredible book. I wanted to hug Gwenni and shield her from the painful truths she'd unwittingly stumbled into. This is one author I'm keeping on my radar.
I'd highly recommend The Earth Hums in B Flat.
