The Lighthouse by Alison Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my second read of the 2012 Booker Prize short list. The first, Swimming Home, didn’t grab me. The Lighthouse, like Swimming Home, is sparse and jagged, with tight writing that sometimes felt too jarring. The story follows two characters: Futh, recently kicked out of the family home, embarks on a circular walking holiday in Germany, starting and ending at Ester’s hotel. Along the way, he reminisces about his childhood, the recollections often triggered by smells or the food he’s being served. The open ended climax was superbly done, and had me cringing at the prospect of what could happen. Certainly my favourite of the short list so far, and a great debut novel from Alison Moore.