beautyland

by Marie-Helene Bertino

Sharp, tender, arrestingly precise and beautifully written, this novel is extraordinary. Adina—the out-of-this-world protagonist—tries to find her place in a world full of people who look like her, yet she cannot fathom. As she tries, her observations range from cute to astute, are often humorous, sometimes tragic, but always contain wisdom, unearthing grief and retail politics, desire and the awkward labor of staying alive. It’s impossible not to empathise with Adina as she battles constant loneliness and a longing for “home”.  Warm, witty and touching, Beautyland doesn’t offer tidy consolations—only strong writing that reminds us how complicated people are.