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4.1 out of 5 stars
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4.0 out of 5 stars Unsettling in the best way
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2021
Review of Unsettled Ground:Every family dynamic has a secret or two, but what happens when the secrets become the reality? The very flesh from which the body and soul of the unit is built?This story is twisty.It’s uncomfortable.Struggle often is….A story about brother and sister twins that lose their mom unexpectedly, or so they thought. All having lived together over fifty years, the severing that happens when the realities of their childhood and financial situation become too much to bear.These characters had a visceral realism to me. They emitted their own vibe, their own reality really. There were some really hard moments to read and I often wondered, where does joy reside here?Where are the pockets of meaning in struggle? What happens when we get what we want, but the reality of it isn’t how we pictured it to be?A lot of complicated subject matter that left me invested and a little sad.Great writing and story that I know I will be thinking about weeks from now!🌟🌟🌟🌟
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unsettled ground claire fuller jeanie and julius beautifully written mother dot dies suddenly julius and jeanie odd jobs dot dies well written brother and sister english countryside father died still live old twins year-old twins years old tin house entire lives stop reading
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Susan
3.0 out of 5 stars Bizarre People . . .
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2023
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The story held my interest but the people are so out there. All I can say is that Dot was a horrible mother. So selfish and ignorant.
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JKWesty
3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful writing, grim story
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2023
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I really liked Our Endless Numbered Days. Beautiful writing, tragic story. And while the writing in this was equally beautiful, I struggled to connect with the characters. It was such a depressing story, but I couldn’t care about any of the characters. A lot of the story arc didn’t make sense. Why is all this happening? And for what purpose? What was the point of the musical parts? A miss for me on this one, but will keep this author on my radar.
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Erika
VINE VOICE
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars!
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2021
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“It is hard to rewrite your own history.” - Unsettled Ground.

Twins Jeanie and Julius have always been different from other people. At 51 years old, they still live with their mother, Dot, in rural isolation and poverty. Their rented cottage is simultaneously their armor against the world and their sanctuary. Inside its walls they make music, in its garden they grow everything they need for sustenance. But when Dot dies suddenly, threats to their livelihood start raining down. At risk of losing everything, Jeanie and her brother must fight to survive in an increasingly dangerous world as their mother’s secrets unfold, putting everything they thought they knew about their lives at stake.

Firstly, congratulations to this book and its author, Claire Fuller, for being included on the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist! This is such a well-written book and follows the perspective of both Jeanie and Julius as they grieve the loss of their mother and try to put their lives back together again. This isn’t a particularly happy read, and sometimes it was greatly frustrating what the twins have to go through. However, this book highlights themes of poverty, rural living, and a kind of sheltered life that I haven’t experienced in another book before. In fact, the book does take place in modern day, but it was easy to forget this because of the way the characters live and their surroundings. This is a very character driven book and really gave me quite a bit to think about. I know I will probably think of this book often. After reading this, I am eager to pick up some of Claire Fuller’s backlist books as well!
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amachinist
VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars Unspooling the Thread of a Life: Occasional Knots, Snags and Breaks
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2021
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Jeanie and Julius Seeder are peculiar siblings. Born 23 hours apart, they are 51 years old and still live impoverished existences with their widowed mother, Dot, in a rundown thatched cottage in the English countryside. The twins are puerile in terms of their naivety, life experiences, formal education and interactions with others outside of their family. Suddenly, Dot dies of a stroke. How will these child-like adults bury their mother let alone continue to exist without her?

Claire Fuller is an award winning author. Her descriptions of the English countryside verge on poetry and her characterizations are full and poignant. She uses several terms that are of particular British origin, like "wodge, trug and gurns" and that might be off-putting to some readers. Other readers might also find the story of the Seeders too depressing, but in the end, it is transformative.

Jeanie, in particular, evolves from a frightened, sickly girl, to a resourceful woman able to set the course of her own life. Jeanie's love for her dog Maude and care and concern for Julius are palpable. Along the way, painful and joyful truths are revealed that change the course of especially Jeanie's life. It gives testimony to the strength of the human spirit and well worth the read.
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Mary Lins
VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Wonderful Novel By Claire Fuller!
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2021
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It was with great anticipation that I purchased and started, “Unsettled Ground”, by Claire Fuller, having loved her previous novels!

Fuller is a master of the grotesque character type (see the protagonist in “Bitter Orange”!) and in “Unsettled Ground”, middle-aged twins, Jeanie and Julius Seeder certainly fit that bill. The story opens as their mother, Dot, with whom they still live, dies suddenly. How will these strangely-raised twins adapt? Even Jeanie knows they are “weirdos”.

Turns out that there were a lot of things Dot didn’t tell Jeanie and Julius, and the reader gets to find out along with them. This novel isn’t so much about plot as it is about Jeanie and Julius and the other denizens of their small English village, and some mysteries about the past that unfold, and that is plenty enjoyable!
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Courtney
4.0 out of 5 stars Grim & Dark -- Yet Worthy
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2021
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I enjoy this author's work. However, her subject matter chronicles the grim side of life. I felt incredibly sorry for Jeanie & Julius - 51 year old twins who are left adrift after their mother dies suddenly. Neither are prepared to navigate the world without her. Set in rural England, this tale is sad. Layers of deceit and decades old secrets are uncovered. Fuller's writing, as ever, is incredibly skilled and draws you in. I felt sympathetic for the main characters, even the dog, Maude, was a fully fleshed character, who plucked at my heartstrings. . A rather dark book, but extremely satisfying.
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Stephanie Glidewell.
4.0 out of 5 stars The Ground Finally Does Settle
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2021
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II nearly abandoned this book due to its depressing content. I carried on because I know a bit about RH.
Since my sister also had rheumatic fever as a child, missed lots of school , and graduated with home tutors, I lived with this story. I. Was disappointed that the health of Jeanie, was purely in the mothers mind. The authors leaves many unanswered questions. The end wad a disappointment.
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Aapciudas
4.0 out of 5 stars mixed
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2022
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The book as a whole is a vivid depiction of how one thing after another render the main characters’ situation desperate. The ending however is conventional, ties up loose threads improbably, and is not up to the quality of the book.
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