(#gifted | @cheltfestivals) Do you ever finish a book and just think... Well I *think* I liked it? When you didn’t love it and you definitely didn’t hate it, and just had a pretty good time reading it overall? Those are the hardest reviews to write for me! Nothing to rant about, nothing to rave about, just a solidly enjoyable read!
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Cygnet had a super interesting premise, which sees our protagonist, seventeen-year-old Kid, left on Swan by her parents, seemingly for just a few short weeks but then those weeks elongate into months. Swan is essentially a retirement community, a remote island where you have to be 65 to live there - Kid’s grandma Lolly bends the rules to allow her granddaughter a safe haven, but not all the residents are happy about it.
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Funny, dark, and melancholy, Cygnet has a realist dystopian vibe and I loved the interactions between Kid and the other residents - although some were a little odd - especially Rose and The Duchess, who Kid keeps company as her health deteriorates. Some of Kid’s thoughts were hilariously honest and weird, as well as heartbreaking when she looks back on her time with her carefree (read, neglectful) parents.
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I really liked Butler’s writing and introspective storytelling - this book is a bit plotless so be warned, but if you like character-driven, reflective narratives then give this one a try!