Beloved

I think these days we are spoilt with the way novels are presented to us, more often than not, but not always, they tell us who, when, why and what, everything laid out nicely making our journey easy, pleasant and on the whole, very satisfying. This book does none of that and it does it unapologetically. This book shoves you around, pushes your face in the muddy puddle, holds you up against the wall by the throat.......... and then puts it's arm around you and hands you a cup of hot sweet tea.

There is horror here, the worst bits of humanity. Sometimes I had to stop and put the book down. But, there is also kindness, friendship, laughter and moments of great warmth and love.

Did I enjoy this book? I did not, but that's the point. Books that make you feel something, however uncomfortable that might be, deserve a place on the top table when they are as astonishing as this book is.