Saskia Sarginson turns to almost-twins

Without You

By Saskia Sarginson,

Redhook, 400 pages, $15

The latest book by Saskia Sarginson follows a familiar theme, resonant with her earlier book, “The Twins”. It is about the bond between sisters.

Interestingly in the earlier book the siblings were connected by birth. In “Without You” it is the link of love between a little girl Eva and the family that has adopted her, especially younger sister Faith.

The writing is much tauter and the storyline briskly paced. The characters are reasonably well formed with Faith being the strongest in portrayal.

Sarginson has written the novel in first and third person. Eva and Faith have direct voices while their parents are observed. This flow of narrative doesn’t affect the readability and is almost cinematic in perspective.

The fourth character in the book is an island, which is perhaps the most fascinating, along with its sole resident Billy. Bleak, dark, cold with a stark beauty marred by abandoned bomb-testing structures, it is a subtext to the plot that lingers like the shadow in the mist.

As you experience Eva’s time on the island, the reader can almost feel the bone-chilling cold, shingle beneath the feet and its silence. The birds and waves create a soundtrack to this eerie landscape.

Perhaps the only weak spot is the rather stereotypical portrayal of a French au pair. She is lazy and a thief — perhaps a completely unnecessary element, especially when she attempts to seduce the father of the house. Sophie in no way enhances, connects or moves the plot other than for one frame of her with Eva’s pink pearls.

Sarginson’s second book is a good read with structure, form and a strong sense of human connection. I enjoyed it much more than “The Twins”. I look forward to “The Other Me”.