Ferney book review

Ferney by James Long
Goodreads

When Mike and Gally move to a new cottage in Somerset, it’s to make a new start. But the relationship comes under strain when Gally forms an increasingly close attachment to an old countryman, Ferney, who seems to know everything about her.

What is it that draws them together? Reluctantly at first, then with more urgency as he feels time slipping away, Ferney compels Gally to understand their connection - and to face an inexplicable truth about their shared past.

I was lent Ferney by my neighbour who raved that it was a really beautiful read. I have to say I can totally see why she thought that, there was definite moments of pure beauty with the writing style and the descriptions of the setting and characters. I think my biggest issue with this book and the reason why it didn’t rate highly was that nothing really happens all the way through. It was almost as though I spent the entire book waiting for something to happen, for the huge climax that everything seemed to be building up to. It never happened. I found that it was the most annoying part of the story, and I wish that there had been more of a pay off by the end.

The characters of Ferney was what let this book down, there was some really beautiful writing but there couldn’t be any redeeming the boring married couple and the creepy old guy that didn’t have any character. I found Gally to be particularly annoying, the way in which her life was over taken with the anxiety, I thought she was particularly selfish and her relationship with Mike was weird. I wanted there to be something more holding them together than what there was, I also thought the relationship between Gally and Ferney was underdeveloped and weird. I wanted there to be something more explained especially with a lot of it depending on it “feeling right”.

The best bit of Ferney was definitely the beautiful language used to describe the mundane character and the setting. It was a lovely way to read about the setting and the history that surrounds the book and intwines throughout the story. I love the idea of the book and I definitely thought that the writing style was well done and I am definitely interested in reading another book by the same author, but maybe n ot this series.

I think the worst bit of Ferney was definitely the waiting for something to happen. I really wanted something to happen that would make everything click into place. I just wanted for the book to be made worthwhile, it was a long read and I struggled through some of it hoping that there was something at the end of it. I also really struggled with the main characters, I thought they were all really unlikeable, I didn’t relate to any of them and that made reading the book ten times harder than it should have been.

I think this really depends, I do think there are better books out there that work with the idea of different time frames and that have a lot more that happens throughout. I think the writing style of Ferney was beautiful but I do think I would have preferred a book that had a little more action throughout.

Have you read Ferney? Or if you haven’t, what is your favourite book that contains two timelines? Let me know!