5 reasons you must read Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

Our Wives Under the Sea is an exquisite and haunting debut novel by Julia Armfield.

Read on for 5 reasons why you must read it!

1. The Structure

This mysterious story unfolds in the alternating POV of two different characters, Miri and Leah. This adds so much tension and anticipation because as soon as you think you are about to hit a revelation, the story shifts to the other character, which is wonderfully frustrating and you just have to take the bait and be compelled to read on.

2. The prose

The descriptions, metaphors and similes used are beautiful, and there is a fluidity to the writing that shows Armfield to be a talent to watch as this is surprising her debut novel despite it reading like a author at the top of their game. I can’t wait to see what Julia Armfield does next!

3. The Characters

Miri and Leah are fascinating characters, and their romance before juxtaposed with their struggles after is heartbreaking to read. I really felt a sort of affinity with Miri because of the way she thinks about things and the language she uses, which made for an even more interesting read.

4. The Horror

Subtly horrifying, the story unravels slowly but masterfully, and it gradually gets under your skin in the best way possible. It feels very much like a sapphic Cronenbergian body horror flick and I absolutely love that vibe. In fact could we get a movie? Pretty please?

5. The Themes

The book explores themes of death, longing, religion, curiosity for the unknown and the torture of waiting.

January Books

It’s been a slow start to the year in terms of reading, but I have nevertheless enjoyed all of the books I read this month, which doesn’t usually happen!

A Handful of Dates by Tayeb Salih

I read this super short story…like really super short (it’s 5 pages!) by Salih because I fell in love with his writing style last year after reading Seasons of Migration to the North, a powerful post-colonial novel set in Sudan. Again, he manages to evoke a sense of setting and lifestyle quite vividly, even in just 5 pages! Can’t wait to read The Wedding of Zein and any other translations I can get my hands on

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

I listened to The Bell Jar on audible, and I must say Maggie Gyllenhaal’s narration is perfection. I so was immersed in the story, and I really enjoyed her intonation and how she performed this very conversational and confessional text. As for the narrative itself, wow, it was dark…and uncomfortably relatable in some places. I’ve been through some dark times in my life and the toxic thought patterns and destructive behaviour that Esther partakes in felt a bit too close to home! But overall The Bell Jar is a powerful story and is perhaps overshadowed by the tragedy of Plath herself, she, unlike Esther, succeeded in taking her own life. Is succeeded even the right word here?

The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson - Book Club Pick

Norse Mythology has interested me for years, and it’s almost ridiculous that I have only just read it now. The main and one of the only surviving collections of Norse myths! Because Vikings, like the Greeks and other “ancient” civilisations, had a largely oral tradition, it is often many years later that the stories are written down. Such was the case with The Prose Edda; the believed author Sturlusson was a Christian and writing perhaps 400 years later! This makes the reading of Edda rather intriguing…or is that just my English Lit brain firing up again…ooh authorial intent…what can I infer from this.

It’s also worth noting that this text has inspired so much from J.R.R Tolkein’s legendary Middle Earth books (fun fact many names like Gandalf and Thorin (from The Hobbit) are taken from The Prose Edda!) to the wonderful American Gods by Neil Gaiman (and its fantastic TV adaptation which is currently airing its 3rd season on Amazon Prime). And, of course, you can’t forget Marvel, which with its hilarious and playful spin on the original mythology, has made Thor, Loki, Odin and Heimdall household names.

I enjoyed dipping in and out of The Prose Edda (which was the first Book Club pick, February’s selection will be announced soon!) while bundled under a blanket with a fire crackling…on my tv screen and sipping coffee. To borrow from the Danes, reading this book has been a wonderful dose of Hygge these past few weeks.

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Let me know in the comments section what books and short stories you’ve read this month.

21 Books I want to Read in 2021

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Me and my sister recently re-charged our joint youtube channel and I must say it feels great to be back making videos, there’s just something really fun and creative about it.