A sweet yet keen exploration of the bonds of friendship and self-discovery…
A blend of sci-fi and the fine genre tropes of women’s fiction, Stewart’s meticulously researched, delightful latest, the story of five different set of people who channel their creativity into personal growth after getting quarantined with complete strangers, is captivating by itself, but achieves further meaning through the many lessons her characters learn during their confinement. It’s 2020, and COVID-19 is in full swing. To fight the upcoming second wave of pandemic, the health authorities, after identifying the super-spreaders: the individuals who carry the virus for weeks put them in immediate quarantine for 42 days. With premises sealed, the people present in close proximity to the super-spreaders are also quarantined. What happens when complete strangers get stuck with each other for days? Will they make the best out of the situation or drown in the absurdity of their circumstances? Stewart’s narrative has all the usual genre tropes of women’s fiction: dramatic tension, intense emotions, and exploration of relationships, family ties, and friendship bonds. At the same time, it’s full of plain wisdom, about revealing and expelling one’s uncertainties and self-doubts in order to have the most fulfilling life possible. The characterization is thorough with the characters’ tendency to wax philosophical, and the prose has both the wit and charm of a sweet fairy tale. The novel offers a memorable depiction of humanity’s relentless aptitude for adaptation. With its engrossing narrative, poetic prose, intriguing premise, and taut plotting, the novel makes for a sweetly exotic tale. Lovers of women’s fiction and literary fiction will be delighted.
My Darlin’ Quarantine
Intimate Connections Created in Chaos
By Elizabeth Stewart
Buy now
Flandricka House Press
Pub date June 30, 2020
ISBN 9780998102559
Price $35.00 (USD) Paperback, $5.03 Kindle edition
Categories: Fiction, Women's fiction
Leave a Reply