This week we reviewed “A Hundred Pieces of Me” by Lucy Dillon. It was an easy, engaging, heart-warming read, if sometimes a bit slow in places plot wise. The characterisation was really strong with each character well defined. All the characters were very personable and I found myself liking them all which made the book easy to engage with.
The story flits between the past and present via the connections that Gina (the protagonist) has with various items. This was quite clever, but as the story progresses and Gina discovers photography, the focus of the chapters becomes more about the photographs. Whilst this doesn’t detract from the story as such, I’d have preferred some continuity: it feels like there are two ideas jostling for position. The only other slight negative for me was that the ending wrapped everything up rather too neatly and I was a bit disappointed.
I found it interesting how Buzz (the dog) relaxes as Gina rediscovers herself and accepts herself, linking in with the novel’s themes of love and forgiveness. The book also picks up on themes of friendship and living simply, with the overriding message being to make the most of the present by collecting moments. I thought this was a lovely premise on which to base a novel as so often we live our lives in the past or future, and get caught up by the web of consumerism. The novel made me assess how I live my life and made me wonder which one hundred items I’d keep. I do enjoy a novel that makes me think, so overall I’d definitely recommend it.
Creative Musings from StripedKat 