Reading is like breathing...

Review completed February 25, 2014. Probably the best three-star book I've ever read. I loved it. And I hated it.



As much as I want to marginalize the bad to let the beauty shine in all its brilliance, I just can't do that. It wouldn't be fair because I want to stay true to myself. My rating simply reflects my conflicted feelings.



Barber's Adagio for Strings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KylMqx...

All around me the ocean swayed gently, the sun shone brightly and the world was falling apart.
I was falling apart.

(view spoiler)






Sky lanterns. Letting go of their troubles...

The two of us were intertwined in ways I didn't know how to unravel, even if I wanted to.

Adele's Rolling in the Deep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3...

(…)
The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
And you played it
To the beat

(…)
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Making a home down there
It reminds you of the home we shared

Maybe I can compare the lyrics to a deep, passionate love as well as a deep and searing pain caused by betrayal and despair. The depths of the endless and dark sea, a man or a ship rolling in the waves of the ocean; the sea luring him into its depths. An Immoveable Solitude and Rolling in the Deep form quite a nice symbiosis.

In a nutshell
After having lost his dive shop and the man who meant the world to him, Hash decides to accept Kelle's offer to work as a co-captain on a private yacht. Hash feels betrayed, rejected and misunderstood. He's got a tough time to get over his ex-lover and spends a lot of time out on the sea, far away from South Africa and he tries to lose himself in casual hook-ups. Yet it's not the cure against all the pain, anger and anguish. When they arrive in Fiji's capital, Hash comes face to face with his former lover. Three years ago Kiernan simply vanished without a trace and left Hash groping in the dark. Why did he leave and will they have a second chance at love?


What I loved
The writing is intensely beautiful and I love the author's 'voice'. I think her narrative skill is excellent. Also, I really enjoyed the magnificent setting. The author has a wonderful talent to convey the mystery, the silence and the infinite vastness of the sea in a way that could almost tempt me to go diving myself. And I'm a self-professed non-swimmer. Hash's love for the sea and the sharks could be considered as poetry. I loved Hash (Erik). Despite him being kinda needy, too weak and a hothead to boot I still fell for him. That he looked like a gorgeously hunky, long-haired, blond surfer dude didn't hurt either. Besides, I really liked his soft and vulnerable side and he blushed so nicely. He's able of conveying great empathy, compassion and love for those who are dear to him. I felt the main protagonists communicated best when they had sex and I gotta say the passionate and well-written smexin' was something that could inflame me as well. There were lots of unspoken emotions conveyed through their erotic encounters which can be positive as well as negative.

What I disliked (hate might be too strong of a word)
There was not enough (vocal) dialogue between the MCs and there was clearly too much crying for my taste. Kiernan (Kerry) ruined the book for me. Did I say that I hated disliked him? Did I? He may be unemotional, calm and introverted for all I care, I just wanted him to talk to Hash. Kiernan was a selfish, egotistical and thoughtless bastard and I didn't accept the lame excuse that he was apparently too young. If he'd had any backbone and brains he would have come clean to Hash. I didn't appreciate the strange plot twists, the reasons behind his leaving Hash. WTF?(view spoiler) And what the heck was up with that f@cking (view spoiler) A divine intervention? What for? Sure, the descriptions felt real; all the pain and anguish ripped through me as if I had been there myself. Still, I can't help and feel manipulated. Should that have made me like Kiernan more? Should I have forgiven him? To this day I do not like him.

Overall An Immoveable Solitude made my heart ache. Numerous times. It ripped me apart and I had to put the pieces back together. I closed the book with many conflicted feelings and to be very honest, I felt quite often as if I should manhandle my Kindle. Regardless, S.A. McAuley is a very gifted and talented author and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

Recommended read. Yes, I do recommend it because there's a lot to love about it and I hope that the myriad of emotions will sweep you off your feet. On the other hand, chances are the anger, pain, frustration and some inexplicable deeds will choke you and bring a hurtful mess in its wake. It's all about CONFLICTION. Despite my average rating, it's actually the first three-star story that I would read again in a heartbeat because at its core it's a beautiful book.

I should have asked for a shorter chain.

Oh, let's not conjure up any connotations now. Of those I've had too many already.


P.S. Just a fleeting thought…a chain to (view spoiler) :)

If you'd like to read my spoilers then check out the GR link below.