I was recommended to read this book and it is certainly an interesting and unusual plot, with fascinating characters.
I liked the obvious close relationship between grandfather and grand-daughter. I could identify with this, having talked to my own grandma about just about everything. The way in which the grandfather’s life unfolded through the memories, and then finally first hand experience, by Natalie the grand-daughter was poignant; both doctors too.
Some of the characters seemed to do a personality change through the book, which was a bit disconcerting, but then the storyline, for several, was tragic to say the least. Occasionally, I found the jumping of years and locations a bit disjointed and hard to follow, but that’s maybe because my memory isn’t what it used to be.
The Tiger’s Wife skipped between reality and pure fantasy and I kind of liked that element, and the descriptive, almost poetic qualities of Tea’s writing is exceptional for a young writer. It certainly would provoke discussion in a book club. Well done for winning the Orange Prize for Fiction and being a best seller in The New York Times!
Diana Jackson 