Hi everyone,
I am on another fabulous blog tour organised by Anne Carter from Random Things Blog Tours. Today’s book is Attend by West Camel.
Blurb
When Sam falls in love with Deptford thug Derek, and Anne’s best friend Kathleen takes her own life, they discover they are linked not just by a world of drugs and revenge; they also share the friendship of the uncanny and enigmatic Deborah.
Seamstress, sailor, story-teller and self-proclaimed centenarian immortal, Deborah slowly reveals to Anne and Sam her improbable, fantastical life, an exquisite history of hidden Deptford and, ultimately, the solution to their crises.
With echoes of Armistead Maupin, Attend is a beautifully written, darkly funny, mesmerisingly emotive and deliciously told debut novel, rich in finely wrought characters that you will never forget.
Official blurb for Attend.
Review
Everyone loves a good drama, especially around the holidays. Whether it’s the secrets, the romance, the sudden plot twist, everyone loves drama and this new novel from West Camel is jam packed with it.
However, I want to stress that this book is not a cheesy script, oh no, far from it. It deals with real themes that plague people’s day-to-day lives and looks at them from both a dramatic and respectful perspective, going into depth of the harsh realities of life but providing a light at the end of the tunnel.
The characters are brought to life by Camel’s writing style, structuring a narrative based on imagery and emotion, evoking a whole range of responses to the events in this novel.
The characters are well thought out and have a range of connections and dramas which keep the plot flowing. I always like it when characters have relationships, and not just romantic ones, but are all intertwined somehow.
In addition to the reality of the novel, there are also some things which could twist your mind once again. As this novel fits into may genres, for example, crime, drama etc, it also fits into the world of magic realism. I really enjoy that genre style, but Camel seems to bring a further contemporary feel to his book.
Contemporary fiction is a popular notion thrown around nowadays, yet this book hits the nail on the head- emotions aren’t forced, relationships aren’t cheesy, and characters seem to effortlessly fit into the story.
This unique novel is beautifully written with an enigmatic stance that is truly one of a kind. The magnificent language of this novel is guaranteed to draw you in.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something a little bit different. This book has it all yet it is not crammed by trying to fit everything in, it just flows perfectly and will keep you hooked until the end.
How to get your hands on a copy
About the author:
Born and bred in south London – and not the Somerset village with which he shares a name – West Camel worked as an editor in higher education and business before turning his attention to the arts and publishing. He has worked as a book and arts journalist, and was editor at Dalkey Archive Press, where he edited the Best European Fiction 2015 anthology, before moving to new press Orenda Books just after its launch. He currently combines his work as editor at Orenda Books with writing and editing a wide range of material for various arts organisations, including ghostwriting a New-Adult novel and editing The Riveter magazine for the European Literature Network. He has also written several short scripts, which have been produced in London’s fringe theatres, A highly anticipated debut, blending the magical realism of Angela Carter and the gritty authenticity of Eastenders and was longlisted for the Old Vic’s 12 playwrights project. Attend is his first novel.
All images courtesy of Anne
Carter
Thank you to Anne from Random Things Blog Tours for having me! I can’t wait to see what’s next from West Camel!
Check out the rest of the tour below:
Happy reading! Lx
booksbeyondthestory 
Thanks so much for your blog tour support x
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