Unsettled Ground - Book Review
Genre: Fiction | Contemporary fiction | Domestic fiction | Psychological fiction
Author: Claire Fuller
Year: 2021
Pages: 289
After months (and embarrassingly, years) of procrastination mixed in with a dash of social anxiety, I thought it was about time I come back on here and continue sharing my reviews with you fellow bibliophiles. A lot has happened during my time away from this little corner of the internet: I’ve moved countries three times (!) and I’m wondering whether I can continue to call myself Lulu’s Little Bookshelf given that my bookshelf is no longer little and also non-existent (I actually don’t have a bookshelf at the moment!). Nevertheless, to get myself back into the swing of things, I’ve found myself rereading books that I own – opting for half-forgotten tales instead of tackling my ever-growing ‘to be read’ pile of brand-new books.
I first read Unsettled Ground back in December 2021 and only remembered feeling, well, unsettled. Because I couldn’t remember much of what happened, I was intrigued to unravel the mystery of this dark, enthralling story.
“The different lives they might have lived are too enormous to comprehend.”
At 51 years old, twins Jeanie and Julius still live with their mother in a quiet, isolated cottage. Together, they play music and manage to get by with odd-jobs, produce from their carefully cultivated garden and, occasionally, killing what they need to survive. When their mother suddenly dies, lies and secrets long kept from Jeanie and Julius are gradually unearthed as their home and quiet lives become threatened…
I thought Unsettled Ground was a very moving read. It’s quite heartbreaking actually – the novel is set against a rural backdrop with our twin protagonists as they struggle to get by day-to-day following the death of their mother. As a reader you really feel for the twins, especially Jeanie, who has been kept quite isolated most of her life due to her anxious nature and weak heart.
It’s not a particularly happy read, but Unsettled Ground is an interesting and compelling book nonetheless. The writing is just beautiful – I was already hooked from the first page as Fuller sets the scene, just from the descriptions of snow settling on the family’s cottage and the surroundings. The vivid descriptions and use of language really make you feel immersed in the story, which is exactly what I look for in a book.
If you’re a fan of dark, mysterious books, or a fan of Rebecca (Fuller has been described as a ‘latter day Daphne du Maurier’ by The Times), odds are you’ll enjoy Unsettled Ground, too. It explores themes of poverty and survival, and provides an in-depth look at familial relationships, which I love to read about. It’s a bit of a slow-burner – it can be a bit slow in some chapters, but despite this, I’d say the book’s plot is medium-paced. I think the mystery and intrigue only makes you want to read on, as well as wanting to find out what misfortune will befall the twins next.
I will say that the story takes a bit of a turn in the latter part of the book, which originally took me by surprise. Upon reading Unsettled Ground again, it’s still a twist that I might not necessarily have liked, but I understand why the author did it, and it almost rounds out the story in a bittersweet way.
I quite enjoyed rereading Unsettled Ground – I think I appreciated the story and the writing more by reading it for a second time. Fuller has a new book, The Memory of Animals, coming out this month, which I’ve already pre-ordered and can’t wait to dive into next.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★.5