Crimes Of The Heart
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher is a story of such simplicity but one with such emotional depth. I love the way Annabel Pitcher uses the epistolary format to gain an immediate and ultimately profound connection between her main character, “Zoe,” and the reader. In letter after letter, as Zoe spills out her heart to Stu, an American death-row inmate, she pours her story out to us as well. Sparing nothing, she peels back the layers of her personal tragedy to ultimately stand stripped and vulnerable before us
When we first meet Zoe, she’s somewhat stand-offish. She keeps Stuart, and by extension the reader, at arms length. Yet, as the story progresses, with a detail here and a detail there, she ensnares the reader into her web, showing us her secrets and the sadness they bring her. She also gives unflinching portraits of her family and friends.
But this story is no dour, drama only tale! Zoe’s funny and wry and I love her voice! She has such a witty way of looking at the world around her, that following her through the twists and turns of the events that lead her from first love to a death she confesses to be the cause of is at once so very enjoyable and still melancholy.
This story is very much character driven, but like Annabel Pitcher’s previous work, My Sister Lives On The Mantlepiece, it’s told with such an emotional freshness and a clean, pure writing style, that the reader feels more like a participant in the actions than a voyeur. Every moment flows so well into the next and the story layers upon itself to ultimately deliver a power and visceral tale.
Bottom Line
A contemporary tale of a young girl’s journey of self awareness, grief and the ultimate power of forgiveness, Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher is a story that will leave you puzzling out what comes next.
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I really enjoyed My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece so I am excited to read this one!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Missie recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday with Ruins
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I have this fascination with killer books so I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while. Glad to see you liked it!
Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed recently posted..Audiobook Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth!
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Sounds great! I haven’t heard about this until now.
Jackie recently posted..Rave: Liebster Blog Award
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My first question when I read the blurb was, “Did she really kill a boy?” The second was, “Doesn’t she realize that the prison reads all inmate correspondence?” I have the feeling I’d have to read this fast so I could find out what really happened.
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Brain Fart
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