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Strange Sally Diamond

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I HIGHLY recommend the Audible version, narrated by Jessica Regan, Stephen Hogan and Jessica Lyman. (10 hours, 2 minutes) Sally is the most compelling character here though, and she is clearly no monster. When she begins to blossom as a person, the tone of the novel noticeably changes. She becomes more optimistic, the world appears more benign, life gets easier. All in all, this was terrific read. While hard to read at times, it’s also hard to put down. While I would have liked for a different ending, I realize things don’t always work out like they should either. Kind of how Sally realized at the end that her therapist Tina had been wrong about everything- “I was right to trust nobody. They all let me down in the end.” Me too, Sally. Me too… Nugent does a fine job with her complicated main character and with her intense storyline that will take us from Ireland to New Zealand. It is rare to come across a central character as multi-layered and complex as Sally Diamond. And in its telling, Strange Sally Diamond evokes compassion and deep understanding as these episodes play out. But Nugent doesn't shy away from the causal factors as well. This novel shines a light upon unspeakable incidents that hit the headlines more and more often. How do we try to understand the perpetrator while protecting the rights of victims? Believe me, Liz Nugent will give us plenty here to discuss, to mull over, and to make inroads into identification and prevention. Hope is the greenest of seeds.

Book Review: Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent Book Review: Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

This is the story of two people: Sally and Peter. We first come to know Sally in her 40s when her father dies. Sally is socially stunted to the point where she pretends to be deaf when in town so she doesn't have to interact with anyone. Sally's father had made an off the cuff remark to her that she should just "put him out with the trash" when he passes away, and she took him literally and burns his body with the rest of the trash. This sets forth a cascade of events where Sally learns the secrets of her past and has to learn to move forward with this news. Peter is a mysterious character that we meet in the early 1970s when he is a young boy. He too learns some secrets his father has been keeping from him. It's compassionate and challenging, letting us imagine the lives that are forgotten when the news cycle moves on . . . a very special book Val McDermid It’s compassionate and challenging, letting us imagine the lives that are forgotten when the news cycle moves on … a very special book.”Having seen 'Sally Strange Diamond' by Liz Nugent on the Irish bestselling lists and every other bookstagram post, I thought it was about time I got around to seeing what all the fuss was about. I felt like I was going to be the last person in Ireland to read this. Although I wasn’t satisfied with the conclusion, this book is probably my favourite thriller of this year. In all, uniquely plotted, psychologically disturbing, 'strangely' addictive, but brilliantly executed, with an adorable but vulnerable central character. Although strange you will not regret meeting Sally Diamond. I really enjoyed Sally's perspective, cared for her, wanted to discover her past and found humour in her inner commentary:

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent | Goodreads

I absolutely devoured this book. Sally Diamond is the most fantastic character. Liz Nugent has created a dark, twisted, gripping, intriguing, heart-stopping tale full of characters who, despite the horrors they inflict, are victims in their own right Sinéad Moriarty Liz Nugent worked as a stage manager in theatres in Ireland and toured internationally before writing extensively for radio and television drama.Sally is strange. And quirky. She has a tendency to interpret things quite literally which draws unwanted attention to her now, at the age of 43. People remember Strange Sally Diamond. Her autism; her odd behaviours. Some even remember the horrors she endured before she turned 7. She doesn't. But now those memories are creeping to the surface. Captivating . . . Hypnotic and terrifying, her story seeps into the imagination and leaves behind a haunting memory Daily Mail Liz Nugent has written a haunting and poignant tale with a full palette of emotions, one that won’t be easy to forget any time soon. A skilled author, she has certainly done her homework and her storytelling is powerful and captivating. As always with Liz Nugent, there are many possible triggers including but not limited to Captivity, Pedophelia, Rape, Mental and Physical Abuse. No animals are harmed. I did not want this book to end! What a brilliant character and a wonderfully woven story. So very dark and clever and it completely broke my heart Susi Holliday

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent | Goodreads Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent | Goodreads

Nugent is also careful in humanizing everyone, the good, the bad, and the ones caught in between. It’s not delved into deeply, but we are given windows into explanations of why some people have turned out the way they did – no one is ever blameless, but very few people shoulder all the blame. The only person who is depicted as ignorant and entirely at fault is a racist shopkeeper that’s run out of Sally’s small town. Strangely this woman pops up later in the plot to do some more racist ranting, so her character reminded me more of an internet troll than anything else. Sally Diamond — the first of two narrators here — is different though. She is not so much unreliable as eccentric — “strange “. With characteristic subtlety Nugent explores how her unusual personality is rooted in the horrors of her childhood. She is a fascinating, even magnetic character — endearing yet exasperating, well-intentioned yet still potentially dangerous. A brilliant, brilliant book. I don't have the skill to give this novel the kind of praise it deserves. It's devastating. It's beautiful. It's mesmerising. Clever. Surprising. Completely immersive. In total awe Imran Mahmood

A far less optimistic character is the novel's second narrator, Peter. He is the kidnapper’s son who tragically turns into a version of his father in many ways. He is both victim and villain, damaged beyond repair by what he has seen. His narrative is deceptive — appears to be confessional but is ultimately an exercise in self-justification. We immediately intuit that his world will eventually collide with Sally’s. When they finally meet it is handled deftly and subtly. No-one quite writes flawed characters like Liz Nugent does and Strange Sally Diamond is full of them. This book grabbed me from the very first sentence and when a book does that, you just know it's going to be a good'un. A masterpiece in characterisation and another 5 ***** read as brilliant and gripping as all of her previous books. I urge you to read it. But who is the man observing Sally from the other side of the world? And why does her neighbour seem to be obsessed with her? Sally's trust issues are about to be severely challenged . . .

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