The Essex Serpent
by Sarah Perry
A book that promoted lots of discussion.
Most people were at best ambivalent about the book and at worst thoroughly disliked it.
The beginning of the book was felt to be difficult to get into and had only tenuous links with the rest of the book.
Although it was felt that the links between Colchester, London and the little village were forced, the description of the tiny village with its superstitious villagers came in for some praise.
It was felt that Sarah Perry knew the Essex estuary.
The book presented different kinds of love: The friendships between Martha and Cora and Spencer and Luke.
Francis was felt to be particularly well drawn and the touch where Francis and Cora were reconciled was praised.
The book had one champion who loved it.
She felt that the book was about relationships and it was set in a time of great change.
Cora represented the emergence of feminine emancipation.
To be fair to the book, most of its detractors failed to finish the book and the latter chapters do seem to have been particularly vital.
3 stars JMC
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