Rocks and hard places

     "The mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of Hell, and a hell of Heaven". Those lines from Milton's "Paradise Lost" are quoted in Linda Gillard's novel Emotional Geology, where the premise behind them is explored with skill, insight and a very sure grasp of character. This is not a comfortable read: Linda deals unflinchingly with difficult and painful issues and her language is strong, direct, and without the niceties and conventions which a lighter tone and subject-matter might require, but although it is powerful, uncompromising stuff, it's very well executed.

     We meet Rose on the Hebridean island of North Uist. She is alone, self-absorbed, anguished and in voluntary isolation from a tormented past. She meets Calum, a younger man with his own demons to exorcise, and recognises a kindred spirit of sorts. A relationship begins, but it's a rocky road their romance must follow, made all the harder by the arrival of Rose's grown-up daughter Megan.

     Rose is a textile artist, and the piecemeal approach to creativity which she uses in her work is adopted to great effect in the novel's own construction. The narrative shifts easily from first person to third, from reminiscence to present tense observation. As Rose says, "My mind is buzzing with ideas - cross-sections, layers, pleats, folds, distortions..."; there are flashbacks, letters and poetry, but the book's episodic nature has a strong cohesive quality, and like the best patchwork quilts, it's worked with an eye for colour, texture and tonal values. In this way, Linda Gillard gradually exposes each character's emotional layers and the past events which caused them to develop as a geologist might identify a rock's strata and means of formation - it's no coincidence that rocks and mountains are crucial to the story. But whether it's the seismic shifts in people's lives that Linda is describing, or a collage of more mundane moments that she's putting together, she does it very well indeed.   

Comments

[Barbara MacLeod]

Beautifully described! I must rush out a buy a copy!

[Bluestalking Reader]

I love Linda Gillard's writing. Have you read her 'A Lifetime Burning'? It's spectacular!!

[Linda Gillard]

Thank you so much, Cornflower, for your very generous review. I loved the co-ordinated knitting by the way. And I thought my publisher had done quite well producing a matching bookmark. ;-)

[Margaret Powling]

I'm so glad to read your excellent review of Linda's book and, needless to say, love the colour co-ordinated knitting. It makes me wish I could knit, but at my age I really think that this old dog is beyond learning this particular new trick! If you like Emotional Geology you will adore A Lifetime Burning ... and that's not all. Next May Linda's third novel, Star Gazing, is being published by Piatkus.

[carol]

It sounds like a must read for me based on your excellent description. Thank-you.

[adele geras]

So glad you enjoyed Linda Gillard's book...and I too love the colour-coordinated knitting!

[Danielle]

You write about this book so eloquently! I read it earlier this year and you really do capture the tone of the book. I also really enjoyed it and should pull out her other book as well, which has been sitting on my bookshelf. Isn't the cover of the book gorgeous?!