The Instant by Amy Liptrot
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. At times the writing was beautiful. At other times, the only words that came to mind were self-indulgent and twaddle. I came to this book because of the author’s previous work, The Outrun, although a look back through my reviews shows me I only rated that three stars as well. Perhaps I should have considered that before I launched into reading this one.
Representing a very personal journey, as the writer sought to leave the healing isolation of her island life, she charts her travels to Berlin, seeking love, life, something to shift the axis of her world, which had become somewhat fixed. Referencing the chapters by the cycle of the moon was a clever idea, but somehow became a bit pointless, as the book was less of a reflection and observations on nature and natural cycles, but more of a heartrending confessional about dating in the modern world, and the obsessional tendencies of the author when it came to love.
By the end of the book, I had really stopped caring. She needed to leave him, leave Berlin and get on with her life. I think, for me, the book was much like the author’s life at that time – a bit pointless, as she drifted, from page to page, with not a lot going on to alleviate the tedium of the journey.
All that is left to say, is to remind myself to read over my reviews before I buy another book from an author where they haven’t quite hit the mark.
View all my reviews
Deborah Siddoway 