Swashbuckling novel set in early 17th Century VENICE
A novel of family set in West Altadena / CALIFORNIA
25th August 2026
Bug Hollow by Michelle Huneven, a novel of family set in West Altadena / CALIFORNIA
This novel starts out in the 1970s and focusses on the Samuelson family. Ellis, the young brother in the family, takes off for the Summer and won’t commit to a date for his return. College awaits and given the uncertainty of his of absence, the family can’t go on their scheduled holiday, so they decide to track him down. He has fallen for Julia, a young woman slightly older in years and, together with others, they live in a rundown house with other similar minded people. He agrees to return to resume his life, attend college, with the proviso that he continues to see his girlfriend. However, a life changing event occurs and this situation initiates a change for the family. The ripple effect can be felt across decades.
There is a flashback to an expat community living in Saudi, the ‘relentless country…the dusty monochromatic desert and towns, the flat blue-green Gulf, this stifling wet heat‘. I had to really concentrate on the implications of this inclusion and eventually it made sense: connections are made that have an impact on the family in later years, although I found myself slightly thrown initially.
This is a beautifully written story of complicated family dynamics, there is considerable and terrible loss, there are moments of fun and wry insight, there are observations of the interchanges that can occur between family members. The prose is light and very readable, although at times I found my mind wandering as I was reading, so it didn’t prove as immersive as I had hoped. However, there is a great deal in this novel keep the reader entertained as it moves through its paces. This could be the story of many-a-family anywhere around the world.
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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