The Lace Reader
by Brunonia Barry
William Morrow, HK$200
Unfortunately the accolade 'best-seller' does not accurately reflect a book's literary merits. Rather it points to a compulsive, or at least effortless, read.
Brunonia Barry's debut novel, The Lace Reader, is such a book. It is already topping America's reading charts. Yet while it is easy enough to wander through it is far from being a remarkable piece of work.
The plot - a mystery with a twist - does offer enough snippets to maintain the reader's curiosity. There are also certain descriptions of places or activities, such as lobster trapping, and even of local trivia, which are genuinely evocative. These give the novel some grit.
However, Barry's writing style is often strained, her change of perspectives discordant. The characters are largely unbelievable and most are forgettable.