Format: ebook
Published: April 11th, 2024
Age: Adult
Genre: Literary – Historical
Rating: 3/5 Stars
I will admit upfront this one just wasn’t for me. I usually quite like novel-in-verse, but I just didn’t gel with this. Maybe a bit too on the literary side? I found a lot was a bit too jumpy for my personal taste, switching back and forth between third and first, different characters, and moving back and forth in ways sometimes difficult to follow. The formatting also wasn’t great, which made for difficult reading. However, if you do like historical literary fiction, I think you’ll like Keep A’Livin’.
Things change for Mandy on her mother’s birthday, when she wakes up with a pounding headache and an angel at the foot of her bed. It’s July 4th, 1963, and we join Mandy at a point in her life where she’s starting to question the way the world is around her.
I liked the voice and character of Mandy, and she had an interesting arc, but it felt like we too often jumped out of her head, or experienced a time jump after a significant event, rather than seeing Mandy fully react to the tragic events happening in the States in the ‘60s, and events in her own life. Alexander writes in a lyrical way, and there were some really poignant moments conveyed beautifully, but it felt like the novel gave no time to breathe before we were rushing into the next ‘event’.
For me, it would have been more interesting to see the immediate aftermath of these national issues within Mandy’s community. She’s surrounded by a lot of people, but it feels like we barely ever get to know them, flickering in and out and briefly mentioned before maybe taking on a more pivotal role later.
Mandy’s mother Belle just wants to keep her children safe, but she sees them doing things that are downright reckless (a likely near-universal experience for parents, but in varying ways) – her son dates a white woman, and for Belle, it’s always white women who bring the worst to her family. He also gets involved with Civil Rights, but Belle puts her faith in God and doesn’t see why people are so ‘up in arms’, not appreciating what they already have. Belle is a woman who has suffered blow after blow against her and her family, and we come to fully understand her actions, even when her children can’t.
Something I did find frustrating was that there was a lot of repetition – it felt like we were being told the same thing about Mandy and her feelings towards situations, people, etc. There are teases towards big moments, but while whatever it’s leading up to might have a big impact, the story leaps ahead.
The characters here are engaging, with really strong, vivid voices, but I struggled with the structure and jumpiness of it. I wouldn’t not recommend this one, but just say it wasn’t for me, despite being penned by a clearly talented writer.
Reading Challenge
Musicals Reading Challenge 2024
Prompt: Hair – Aquarius – Set in or about the 1960s
Progress: 14/24 Completed
Unwrapping Words 