Diving Belles by Lucy Wood - reviewed

Lucy Wood- Of Mothers and Little People review

This short story written by local author Lucy Wood is intriguing, to say the least. She has cleverly devised an original novel with a different almost haunting twist. Of Mothers and Little People is written in the third person, creating an almost supernatural feel of watching over and participating in the events.

Although interesting in structure, this story is in many ways confusing. At times this story is so complex, to the stage that you struggle to understand the full meaning of many of the vital parts. Its many elements fuse together, therefore creating a difficult read requiring you to concentrate at all times, which is not ideal. It lacks an apparent story line, with no obvious beginning or end, making the story drag. Once finished, in reflection, you realise you have no understanding of what has happened or what you have been reading about.

However, Lucy Wood uses many creative techniques. For example, she uses strong adjectives to help the reader understand and picture the scenarios more. She describes the events in depth including the minor details, bulking out the story. The explanation of the woods (in which we have no idea why or how she got there!), caught our attention: “The trees are in the last glorious stages of autumn colour. The ground is wet and there is moss everywhere, pushing up in thick cushions.” The vivid description makes the story a better read and shows the true talent of Wood’s articulate skills. Wood also uses a variety of punctuation, breaking up the story and adding to the drama.

Even though Wood uses impressive vocabulary and an interesting structure, this story doesn’t really appeal to our taste in literature. Nevertheless, anyone can appreciate the hard work and different, more modern approach to short stories that she uses. We believe that she is an inspiration to us, as the younger generation, coming from a similar background, proving that determination and perseverance can reach high goals.

Keep an eye on Lucy Wood as she progresses into a well renowned author. 

By Charlotte Whitfield and Ellie Townsend