A Kind of Eden

This was a truly compelling book with a great storyline. The themes were well executed with escapism and detachment at its core and love, hatred, paradise etc. circulating around it like veins of an anatomy. I loved the characters as they became the heroes and villains of each other; they became closer and then estranged themselves again. It is a truly poetic experience reading this and having that feeling you get when you read "Paradise Lost" by Milton for the first time. 

I found this book on GoodReads somewhere, and then it just stuck. I don't know why it did - it was just an instant connection. Like love at first sight. 

Characters:

My favourite character was Martin because of his lack of true self-centred ability. He tries to get his own way and tries his hardest to make himself loved by the ones around him yet is completely unaware that his migration is detrimental to the very fabric of those relationships. He goes to chase the dream of living in the Caribbean he's had for so long - it is truly a man manipulated by his own mind. 

Themes:

Escapism is the best theme here. Not only does Martin want to escape but so do some of the other characters being discontented with things such as the weather and they start to mirror that self-manipulation that they knew Martin once had. 

Storyline:

My favourite part was exactly that. When the other characters mirror the behaviour of Martin before he left for the Caribbean. He finds there a new life - but hates to break it to his wife and now is caught up in a love triangle. His daughter then mirrors this behaviour and the poor wife is left to try and talk her out of herself. It is very psychologically complex. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8/9

100% for characters: I really liked the exploration of various characters and I tended to concentrate on how each of them develops as a result of another's actions 

2/3 for themes: I wanted more senses of parallels, kind of like the social awkwardness of "Girl, Interrupted" or something. It would've created a little more drama. 

100% for storyline: I could've read that over and over again :) It was brilliant and clever with a stunning and complex narrative of incomplete individuals