Review

Catching the Light

By Karen Powell

Published by Harbour Books

Kate lives a hollow and numbed existence in London.

She regularly moves from one temping job to another and sleeps with her friend’s fiancé (until he decides to confess all to his partner). In her absence of remorse for this act and her determination to keep people at arm’s length, Kate comes across as cold and heartless, but the consequence of her affair – and an unexpected death – shatter her studied detachment.

Following a breakdown and a spell in hospital, Kate is persuaded to recuperate at the seaside cottage where she grew up with her mother and sister. Gradually the solitude helps Kate to rebuild her shattered confidence, but this is tested when a desperate young mother persuades Kate to look after her five-year-old daughter Daisy.

Catching the Light is meticulously constructed and written. The first part of the book, which sets in perspective the void that is Kate’s life, powerfully summons up a few difficult weeks in her childhood; and as Kate recovers, so does the tone of her narration.

This impressive and readable first book touches carefully upon some very modern dilemmas with sensitivity and consideration.

Reviewed by James Smith, Booktrust website editor

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