Category: Book Reviews

4 out of 5 Stars ✯✯✯✯

Bitter Orange is the third book published by Claire Fuller, after ‘Our Endless Numbered Days’ and ‘Swimming Lessons’. I have not yet read Swimming Lessons, but I read Our Endless Numbered Days years ago and it is still ingrained in my mind. I remember a story so well written, and I still feel the same shock as when I read that bombshell of an ending. So, Bitter Orange is a book which I was looking forward to reading.

About the book
The book begins with Frances Jellico on her deathbed with Victor (‘Victor the Vicar’, as Frances later jokes). The story switches back and forth between a younger Frances Jellico who has been tasked with inspecting the Lyntons and creating a report on her findings, and the older Frances Jellico who is making her dying confession to Victor. And this dying confession forms the basis of the story.

As the story progresses, we learn more about young Frances who, hoping to discover a Palladian bridge, instead finds her first true friends in Cara Calace and Peter Robertson, a couple who are living downstairs from the room in which she is staying. We are also introduced to Victor the Vicar who, though he does not make many appearances in the story of young Frances, becomes a close friend of Frances – but also utters warnings against her developing friendship with Cara and Peter.

A seemingly innocent friendship, all three get along well and make the most of their time together. However, as the three tell their own stories from their own perspectives (often with one of the three not present), it slowly becomes apparent that something is not quite as it seems. As some untruths are revealed, and warning signs appear, we are taken through the mystery of what happened all those years ago. As the tension builds, we assume the position of Victor – the concerned friend who is waiting for the final confession.

My Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars ✯✯✯✯
Claire Fuller is a master storyteller, and her book is a prime example to show that a book does not have to be jam-packed with action to be thrilling. The story is so wonderfully told that, even when little out of the ordinary is happening, you will find yourself hooked and anxiously reading each line with anticipation.

While it is nice to switch off while reading a book, so as to enjoy the story without having to pay too much attention, I felt it was worth paying extra attention to Bitter Orange. Claire Fuller’s level of detail was, at times, incredible. Sentences which appeared to have little relevance to the story, would later turn out to be of great significance when read together with a later (and of seemingly equal relevance) sentence.

An example of this level of detail is Cara speaking of how great it would be to be a cat and cats only wanting to be loved. At first, this seemed irrelevant and merely something to show Cara’s character. But when a dead mouse was later found on Frances’ windowsill I felt that this, along with Cara’s musings, actually had a very clever and symbolic relevance. I will, of course, allow you to read the book and make your own interpretations (particularly as I do not wish to go so far as to include potential spoilers) – but from the interpretation I took, it really hit home for me the level of detail of Claire Fuller’s storytelling.

Claire Fuller also explores several themes – love, religion, loneliness, death, control – wonderfully and subtly. Sometimes with a passing comment which would be easy to miss if you were not paying enough attention, other times through the actions of the characters. Which is another reason why it is worth paying extra attention to this book, because this is a level of detail which makes you fully appreciate the tremendous effort which must go into writing a book like Bitter Orange.

While the book is not filled with action and excitement, the wonderful storytelling and level of detail of Claire Fuller earns this book the high rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Conclusion
If you are looking for a book full of action and adventure, this is probably not the book for you. If, however, you are looking for a great book with high levels of suspense and a well-told story, then I would recommend giving Bitter Orange a read. It was a pleasure to read, and I am still astounded by the level of detail which allowed me to fully appreciate the hard work which went into creating the book.

Thank you for reading my first book review. I hope you enjoyed, and I hope to have another book review soon (the next book to be reviewed will be introduced shortly).