Off-Island by Marlene Hauser (Book Review)

Off-Island by Marlene Hauser

A woman’s right to choose:

Marlene Hauser’s

debut novel focuses on the
individual and not the “issue”.

Today I am taking part in the blog tour for Off-Island by Marlene Hauser. Thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours, Matador Books, and the author for a copy of the book , which I have reviewed honestly.

Krista Bourne has always been surrounded by the strength, love and wealth of her family and their homes in New York City and Martha’s Vineyard. She has never had to think for herself. When she realises she’s pregnant, the decision whether she and her boyfriend want the baby or not bring a crossroads to their relationship, and
ultimately Krista rejects all support, isolating herself at a time when she needs most support. And when she returns home, she discovers she doesn’t know her family history as well as she imagined.

Purchase Link

My Thoughts

Off-Island is the story of a young dancer, Krista who finds herself in a position which brings on some deep soul searching, both about decisions she made in the past and how she wants the future to unfold. Krista comes from a privileged background and I found her very self-absorbed and hard to connect with. The author eloquently portrays Krista’s memories, dreams, hopes and regrets and a sense of poignancy develops. This is a short debut novel, by a talented author who approaches a divisive subject with respect and sensitivity.

 

Marlene Hauser is a professional writer who lives in Oxford and a member of
the Society of Authors. She has edited The Writer’s New York City Source Book and
also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University