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Vanda

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( 163 ratings, 26 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Vanda by Marion Brunet, readers are taken into the life of Vanda, a fiercely independent woman living with her young son in a coastal town. Their lives are disrupted by an unexpected visitor from their past, which leads to tension and a confrontation with buried secrets. The novel intricately explores themes of motherhood, freedom, and resilience against societal expectations.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this gripping narrative if you're drawn to stories that explore the complexities of human emotions and relationships against the backdrop of a small, intense community. With its rich character development and poignant themes, it offers a compelling glimpse into the struggles and resilience of its protagonist. Perfect for those who appreciate a deep dive into the lives of vividly depicted characters.

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Devoted to her six-year-old son Noe, Vanda lives with him in a derelict shed on a beach near Marseilles. "The two of them against the world", as she says. But when Noe's father shows up after a seven-year absence, the tension becomes unbearable, both parents fully capable of extreme violence.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Beautifully etched portrait of a woman who knows only extreme love. Wild, ferocious, she smells her son without biting him, but would suffocate him in her arms rather than see him leave her. - Figaro

Set in Marseilles, this is the story of Vanda, a beautiful woman in her thirties, arms covered in tattoos, skin so dark that some take her for a North African. Devoted to her six-year-old son, Noe, they live in a derelict shed by the beach. She had wanted to be an artist; she is now a cleaner in a psychiatric hospital. But Vanda is happy living alone with her boy. 'The two of them against the world', as she says.

Everything changes when Simon, the father of her son, surfaces in Marseilles. He had left Vanda seven years earlier, not knowing that she was pregnant. When Simon demands custody of his son, Vanda's suppressed rage threatens to explode. The tension becomes unbearable, both parents fully capable of extreme violence.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Vanda by Marion Brunet has been well-received, with reviewers praising its intense and poignant portrayal of societal failures impacting individuals. The book is described as a taut psychological thriller, highlighting the visceral and heartbreaking depiction of a woman's struggles. Set within the noir genre, it delivers a significant commentary on societal violence against the vulnerable, with an evocative portrait of a fiercely protective single mother.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781913394653

Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 March 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bitter Lemon Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 218

About the Author

Marion Brunet, born in 1976, is a well-known Young Adult and Literary Fiction author in France. Her YA novels have received over 30 prizes, including the 2017 UNICEF Prize for Youth Literature. Marion has previously worked as a special needs educator and now writes her fiction in Marseilles.Vanda follows on from the success of Summer of Reckoning (ISBN 978-1912242-269/8.99) and is her second work to be translated into English.

Katherine Gregor lives in London and has recently translated works by Alexander Pushkin from the Russian and plays by Carlo Goldoni and Luigi Pirandello from the Italian.

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