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Book Reviewed by:An electrifying debut about a young man faced with a fraught decision: escape a dangerous past alone, or brave his old life and keep the woman he loves.
Sayon Hughes longs to escape the volatile Bristol neighborhood known as Ends, the tight-knit but sometimes lawless world in which he was raised, and forge a better life with Shona, the girl he's loved since grade school. With few paths out, he is drawn into dealing drugs alongside his cousin, the unpredictable but fiercely loyal Cuba. Sayon is on the cusp of making a clean break when an altercation with a rival dealer turns deadly and an expected witness threatens blackmail, upending his plans.
Sayon's loyalties are torn. If Shona learns the secret of his crime, he will lose her forever. But if he doesn't escape Ends now, he may never get another chance. Is it possible to break free of the bookies' tickets, burnt spoons, and crooked solutions, and still keep the love of his life?
Rippling with authenticity and power, Moses McKenzie's dazzling debut brings to life a vibrant and teeming world we have read too little about. In its sheer lyrical power, An Olive Grove in Ends recalls the work of James Baldwin and marks the arrival of an exciting and formidable new voice.
Some readers may struggle with the messages this novel sends. There are few repercussions for the lawless behavior exhibited throughout the book. The author poses controversial questions about selling drugs. Life is cheap, with casual murders occurring regularly and mostly without remorse. Although I feel a bit uneasy with the author's point of view on these subjects, I love his honesty about them. It adds to the book's authenticity. Overall, I found An Olive Grove in Ends to be wholly original, and Sayon a unique and fascinating narrator...continued
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(Reviewed by Kim Kovacs).
Moses McKenzie's debut novel, An Olive Grove in Ends, is set in Bristol, UK, a port city in southwest England, about 120 miles due west of London.
The Romans built a settlement in what is now Bristol early in the 2nd century CE. The oldest castle in the area — Bristol Castle, at the confluence of the Avon and Frome Rivers — was first mentioned in print in 1088 CE, and the city was incorporated in 1155. Its location made it ideal for trading and manufacturing, and during the 14th century, Bristol imported raw wool from Ireland, wove it into cloth, and then exported it to Spain and Portugal in exchange for sherry and port. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the city was used as a clearinghouse for sugar, tobacco and cacao from...
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At times, our own light goes out, and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
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Donal Ryan, two-time Booker Prize nominee and author of The Spinning Heart
An Olive Grove in Ends is magnificent. Moses McKenzie's talent is off the scale. It's a long time since a novel gripped me so tightly...This is a phenomenally good novel, tense and thrilling and complex, with breath-stealing moments on every page.
