The Q

A fellow “Buzzer” recommended this book so enthusiastically that I knew I needed to read it. I’m glad I did. It is the story of a young girl with a tragic past who has built a rather rigid life for herself as the COO of a newspaper insert called The Q. She faces a year of trying to meet the requirements of her uncle’s will without knowing exactly what those required tasks are. She is helped by the company solicitor along the way. This is a story of friendship, loss, betrayal, but above all love. Highly recommended!

I delight in the sheer individuality of this novel. There are parts that are familiar and yet somehow, taken in its entirety, it is just so different. There is nothing quite like it out there, from the diverse cast of characters to the dynamic streets of Rhysdon. The characters practically pop off the page and into reality, and I would so dearly like to visit Rhysdon for a few days – or longer – and explore.

The Q is entirely charming, unassuming in its brilliance and an absolute pleasure to read. I had no notion of what the book would be like before I read it, and even after finishing, I didn’t know exactly what to make of the book, except that it dug tiny hooks into my heart and wouldn’t let go. Prepare to feel things deeply with this book: love, frustration, amusement, heartache, sorrow, and satisfaction. It is both a light read and a heavy book. That contrast is perhaps what makes it so intriguing.

The book is long, and all the better for it. I love books that allow themselves time to grow, to fully lay out their characters, to slowly unveil the setting, and to let that very unfolding of the story be the plot itself. It’s certainly a slow-burn novel on every level. I think the author could have cut down much of the book, but ultimately I’m delighted that she didn’t because I now get to enjoy a much fuller and richer picture of the world she created.

I’ve always found something endearing in the domestic, day-to-day experiences that life offers, and that idea plays out as one of the fundamental concepts of The Q. I also loved experiencing Quincy’s slow progress to vulnerability. I eagerly awaited any scene with James Arch, and I experienced a thrill of delight whenever Crow appeared on the page. Every single character in this book has layers and layers to uncover. There is much to learn from The Q about the value of relationships and looking deeper than the front that people often present of themselves to the rest of the world.

I found myself in little corners of this book. It was a somewhat arduous process, because I did not expect to encounter such a thorough self-examination while reading what I thought would be a light-hearted novel. But I am so glad I did.

The Q is different and engaging. It’s a bit of a wild card, in that I never knew what would happen next or in which ways the story would twist (a bit disheartening for me, as I like to think I am good at figuring books out, but also interesting, as this book was often undefinable and kept me guessing until the end). Although the book was unpredictable at times, it was never inconsistent. Beth Brower is a master of writing creative and original stories, and The Q, in this way at least, is no different.

Read this book! Then come leave a review because I love hearing what people think about it.