I must admit that I haven't read much Shakespeare, so when I hear that a current work of fiction is a version of one of his classics, I'm not automatically interested in picking it up on the basis of that alone. But Julia Armfield is one of my favorite contemporary authors; check out his collection of stories. slow saltand his first novel, Our wives under the sea – that's how his new book, described as a speculative reinvention of King LearIt was an immediate purchase for me. In Private ritualsThe world is underwater and it rains incessantly. Society has built itself up to survive, thanks in large part to the designs of a revered architect. But he's kind of a horrible person. When she dies, her estranged daughters are reunited and it is a complicated reunion.
private ritual It follows sisters Isla, Irene and Agnes, after the death of their father, as they uncover dark family secrets while dealing with their own interpersonal issues. And all of this is happening at a time that is basically the end of the world. It is beautifully written, with a haunting and melancholic tone that draws you in instantly.
