Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy - Review - Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist 2024

A review of Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy. The Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist 2024.
Mentions - ‪@benreadsgood‬
In her first novel for over a decade, Claire Kilroy takes us deep into the early days of motherhood. Exploring the clash of fierce love for a new life with a seismic change in identity, she vividly realises the raw, tumultuous emotions of a new mother, as her marriage strains and she struggles with questions of love, autonomy and creativity.
As she smiles at her baby, Sailor, while mentally composing her own suicide note, an old friend makes a welcome return, but can he really offer a lifeline to the woman she used to be?

[@benreadsgood]

Yes!!!! Wonderful review giving the book all the stars it deserves. Absolutely hit the nail on the head that you are just completely inside her mind. I’ve rarely felt so transported to properly inhabiting a character. And I found the husband’s uselessness hilarious.

[@TKTalksBooks]

This book is perfect. It has reached the pinnacle in my library: the TOP SHELF of the best books I’ve ever read .. very few books make it to that shelf.

[@IsabelHickford-yr4eq]

I would actually say the lack of story is very much what it is like to have a newborn! Thank you for this review. It’s now the top of my list.

[@katrianamacmillan3342]

Great review, I loved your enthusiasm for the book. It’s a book that will be universally loved by most mothers but it’s always interesting to hear how others feel about it too. You mentioned that sometimes Soldier was unreasonable given that her husband couldn’t understand what she was going through, and I don’t disagree, but it does bring up an interesting point. Why doesn’t her husband, and why do most men in general not get it? How many men will read this book? Obviously you did, but the overwhelming majority of its readers will be women. Until men start taking an active interest in what mothers are going through, they will never get it and mothers will continue to be overwhelmed, exhausted, and at times, irrational. That being said, I LOVED this book. It’s officially a favourite. My boys are 6 and 3 so those difficult early years are only recently behind me and I found this book to be such a validating, relatable read. And the ending, I can’t think of a book with a more beautifully written ending. Someone compared it to the series finale of Six Feet Under and I thought it was a perfect comparison.

[@alandowney5851]

Very fair review. Claire’s writing, her prose, is superior to any other contemporary writer. She has been overlooked for too long and The Booker was devalued by her absence. Try Tenderwire for an earlier book with more plot. You won’t be disappointed.

[@elinafilander7748]

I hope you are getting ARCs from publishers or a discount at Waterstones besides what monetization the channel deserves because this review is at least the third time your take made me purchase a book I either had no previous interest in / never heard of!

[@jaimee-kate]

This one has been on my list and hearing you give it 5 stars means I need to bump it all the way up!

[@ariannefowler455]

I'm so glad you mentioned the humor. I have not read it yet, but worried it was all doom and gloom. I feel better picking it up now.

[@joangavrilik3009]

The first time I tried to read this book, I got as far as the "brambles," decided it was not for me & donated it. Then it was shortlisted. I ordered it again, started over, & ended up loving it. (Actually, I can't stop thinking about it.) I was looking forward to your review & am glad you liked it. (Also a fan of Ben & Bowie)

[@heatherkirkland9056]

So glad you enjoyed book totally agree, glad you also found it very funny. I think author wanted reader to focus on the inner thoughts not to take you away with other story lines. It showed empathy for both but he just didn't think at times and those were the times 😂 her hand full than he says " the wine !!! How she handle that situations not wanting to make bigger issues. By that point would have lost it !

[@flufftronable]

I loved this book.

[@jsjim]

Would you recommend reading it to someone who is trying to become a mother? I'm afraid it might be too pessimistic for someone who is already very aware of how life-changing and brutal the experience is.

[@rororeads]

It would always depend on the person. Sometimes that realism can really ground someone, and make them mentally ready…in others it might simply scare the hell out of them haha. I think honesty is always good, too many things are romanticised.

[@jsjim]

@@rororeads Fair enough, I think the fact that you also say it's a balanced book and laugh-out-loud funny is enough for me to give it a go. Thanks for the passionate and honest review ✨

[@jsjim]

Hey @rororeads! Thought I'd come back after reading it in case it helps anyone. I absolutely adored the writing, the honesty, the rawness, and the humour. I think it's a must-read for either soon-to-be parents (fathers, please, read this and do better!), people who've had children and even teenagers as it can help empathize with your parents... Or help prevent teen pregnancies haha. It touched me immensely and I know it's a book that is staying with me. ✨

[@BookishTexan]

I thought it was brilliant and I hope it wins The Women’s Prize.

[@drawyourbook876]

This is my favourite, I want everyone to read it and I want it to win the womens prize so much. And maybe because I am a mother, but the husband was trash.

[@lkvistad]

I agree the writing of this book was excellent, it was Booker worthy, and I hope it wins the Women's. But I found the little shit so infuriating I had to DNF. Can a book be so good that I have to quit? I'm childless by choice and after reading this pretty sure that was the right decision.

[@rororeads]

😂😂😂

[@jobuckley2999]

I am reading the Men's Prize for fiction short list. All of them.

[@andreluissoriano]

Oh no. At last, we disagreed. I hated this book so much. 😂 I love motherhood stories, but this one is just so pretentious and tryhard to me. All characters are caricatures and the messages are so in your face. But I digress.

[@rororeads]

It was bound to happen eventually haha