Unsettled Ground is a novel by Claire Fuller, published May 18, 2021 by Tin House Books.[1]

Unsettled Ground
AuthorClaire Fuller
PublisherTin House Books
Publication date
May 18, 2021

Reception edit

Unsettled Ground received starred reviews from Library Journal[2] and Booklist,[3] as well as positive reviews from Publishers Weekly,[4] NPR,[5] Los Angeles Times,[6] The Times Literary Supplement,[7] The Wall Street Journal,[8] The Guardian,[9] and Shelf Awareness.[10]

Writing for Booklist, Poornima Apte wrote, "Fuller ... paints a devastatingly haunting picture of abject poverty, especially in her descriptions of the houses they dwell in, each of which becomes a character in its own right. This tale offers a remarkable peek into how the embrace of family can completely smother other aspects of life. Nevertheless, human ingenuity persists."[3] Shelf Awareness's Alice Martin echoed Apte's sentiment, stating, "Fuller's ability to craft nuanced and affecting characters."[10]

NPR's Ilana Masad called Unsettled Ground "a terribly beautiful book," noting that "although its premise may seem quiet, it is full of dramatic twists and turns right up until its moving, beautiful end."[5]

Kirkus Reviews provided a mixed review, saying, "At once unsettling and hopeful, [Unsettled Ground] checks all the boxes of an engrossing mystery, but it falters in its pacing. And when the book's big dark secret is finally exhumed, the reader feels just as cheated as its protagonists do."[11]

Good Housekeeping named Unsettled Ground one of the best novels of the year.[12]

Awards edit

Year Award Result Ref.
2021 Costa Book Award for Novel Winner [13]
2021 Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist [14]

References edit

  1. ^ Fuller, Claire (2021-05-18). Unsettled Ground. Tin House Books. ISBN 978-1-951142-49-0.
  2. ^ Bettencourt, Donna. "Unsettled Ground". Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  3. ^ a b Apte, Poornima (2021-04-01). "Unsettled Ground". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  4. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller. Tin House, $26 (336p) ISBN 978-1-951-14248-3". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  5. ^ a b Masad, Ilana (2021-05-20). "'Unsettled Ground' Lets Its Oddballs Stay Defiantly Odd". NPR. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  6. ^ "Review: In a year of loss, two novels help Susan Straight rethink family and home". Los Angeles Times. 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  7. ^ McLoughlin, Kate (2021-03-19). "Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller review: How things fall apart". The Times Literary Supplement. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  8. ^ Sacks, Sam (2021-05-14). "Fiction: Claire Fuller's 'Unsettled Ground' Review". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  9. ^ Kent, Christobel (2021-04-24). "Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller – fierce, angry energy". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  10. ^ a b Martin, Alice (2021-05-18). "Unsettled Ground". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  11. ^ "Unsettled Ground". Kirkus Reviews. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  12. ^ Schumer, Lizz (2021-12-01). "These Are the Best Books of 2021". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  13. ^ Sorell, Traci (2022-01-01). "Awards: Costa Book Category, Aussie Prime Minister's Literary Winners". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  14. ^ Wynne, Phoebe (2021-04-29). "Awards: Women's Fiction Shortlist; Anna Dewdney Winner". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2022-01-07.