The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

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Synopsis:

Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a bird.

In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.

That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo.

First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human. 

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My Review:

“Love makes us such fools”

TW: death, violence, rape

This book took me a while to get into, and I’m not usually a fan of magical realism. This book, however, became one of my favourites.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender is a story about a family, spanning several generations. It’s a story about life, love and desire. It’s is breathtakingly honest with fantastical elements.

Walton’s writing sets a beautiful and heart-breaking atmosphere. She masterfully weaves in magical realism without pulling you away from the story. She captures the intense desires of youth and first loves. There are a lot of characters in this novel, but Walton takes time to show and develop their complex natures. This book walks you through not only the life of Ava but her mother Viviane and grandmother Emilienne. It’s a wonderful exploration of their genealogy and allows you to connect to everyone involved in the story.

There is a scene of sexual assault, that Walton alludes to before the scene happens and it is utterly heartbreaking. Though Walton doesn’t describe the scene in detail, it is difficult to read.

This is not a happy story. It’s sad and tragic and turns dark and violent, with murder, suicide and broken hearts. It explores isolation, both physically and emotionally and how we can become trapped – confined in our isolation and it explores love, and how it can blind us.

Overall, I’m impressed by Leslye Walton’s debut novel. It has many layers and is beautifully written. I’m glad that I carried on reading it and would recommend it.

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