I’m so thankful to be a part of the blog tour for Namelss Lake by Chros Parker. Thanks to Helen Richardson PR and Salt Publishing for my gifted copy of the book to write my honest review.
‘Nameless Lake focuses on the moments that shape our lives but go unregarded because we don’t know how to talk about them’ – CHRIS PARKER
Chris Parker’s debut novel fearlessly but tenderly probes the emotional underbelly of family life and captures the push-and-pull of long-term friendship in all its complexity.
Nameless Lake illuminates a life in kaleidoscopic fragments, ranging from the 1970s to the present day, through Britain, France and Germany, encompassing parenthood, art and architecture. It is a novel about the unspoken pressures of gender and desire, told through the shifting dynamics of a lifelong friendship.
Emma and Madryn grow up with dreams of escaping their seaside hometown, sustained by an obsession with photography and secret acts of vandalism. But adulthood brings its own limitations, and Emma yearns for connection beyond the constraints of her family.
Drawn deeper into Madryn’s private life, Emma feels new possibilities awakening within herself, but when Madryn faces a backlash from her controlling partner, Emma must finally break out of her role as passive observer.
Chris Parker’s debut novel, Nameless Lake, is one that took me by surprise with the intensity of what I felt as the fragmented tale unfolded.
The way Chris Parker writes about Emma and Madryn’s friendship gives an almost kaleidoscopic view. One in which I felt like i was a spectator to everything playing out before my eyes.
Spanning the years from 1970 up until the present day. Chris Parker doesn’t present the time chronologically. He flashes back and forth over the years. This storytelling really resonated with me, I was caught in a myriad of feelings, thoughts, and events as their friendship and everything surrounding it is brought into the forefront.
There is such depth to this novel with a multitude of layers that are examined through Emma’s eyes. As each layer is stripped away, it’s almost like the focus sharpens, and the beauty begins to shine through.
I have to say, I dont think I have done this novel justice with my review by any means. It’s superbly written, with a depth of understanding, and all I can say is, I absolutely recommend this novel.
Author Bio
CHRIS PARKER is a screenwriter for television who
has written for shows ranging from EastEnders and Coronation Street to Bedlam, a Sky TV drama series he co-created for Red Production Company.
He is also a prolific animation writer, working for
Aardman Animations, DreamWorks and many others, with hundreds of credits including Peppa
Pig, Clangers, Postman Pat and Shaun the Sheep.
He was born in South Wales and lives with his family in Cambridge.
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 