Set in small town New Jersey, Unsheltered alternates between two stories, one from the 19th century, and the other very much of the 21st. In each storyline the central character finds themselves living in a house that threatens to collapse any minute, and in a society whose ignorance threatens them in other ways. Kingsolver is such a good storyteller, drawing you into the lives of her characters with skill. I particularly loved the women in this novel, each of whom struggle against the restrictions placed upon them, using a combination of humour, intelligence and downright stubbornness. She clearly had a lot of fun with the 2016 part of the narrative, incorporating some of the craziness of the presidential election into the story to great effect. Often I can’t stop myself from gobbling novels, but with Unsheltered I forced myself to slow down, to make it last - because I was enjoying it so much I didn’t want it to finish. Highly recommended.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook