Staff Pick
Gwennie struggles with her neighbor's death, her teacher's grief, the village gossips, and her mother's bizarre behavior. To escape it all, she flies above the humming earth in her dreams. The Earth Hums in B Flat is a rare find: a superbly written novel that charms as well as fascinates. First-time novelist Strachan enchants you with her perfect gem of a story. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This debut novel by a 62-year-old Welsh novelist tells a story of dark family secrets unraveled by the shrewd insight of 12-year-old Gwenni, a child with an irrepressible spirit living in a Welsh village that is reluctantly entering the modern age.
Synopsis
The Earth Hums in B Flat is a story of dark family secrets unraveled by the shrewd insight of twelve-year-old Gwenni Morgan, a child with an irrepressible spirit living in a Welsh village that is reluctantly entering the modern age. From the small bed that she shares with her sister at night she flies up into the starry sky above her village and looks down on the lives of its inhabitants. And when the family that she babysits for is rocked by the sudden, unexplainable disappearance of their patriarch, Gwenni is determined to solve the mystery of Ifan Evans whereabouts. Turning amateur detective, she is unaware that the trail will lead her closer to home than she ever imagined.
Told with a breathtaking, irresistible blend of freshness and wisdom, the voice that sixty-two-year-old Welsh debut novelist Mari Strachan has created with Gwenni is vibrant, charming, and full of heart. An unforgettable character, Gwennis unique way of seeing the world lends her the ability to make the ordinary extraordinary. A magical novel about the trials of youth, familial duty, and understanding, The Earth Hums in B Flat will transport you to another time and place.