I really liked this book and its dystopian edge. A stressful read which was an impactful writing style from the author. Parenting and marriage during an apocalypse, it did sliiiiiiightly remind me of Leave the World Behind, which even though it is a polarising book, from me is a compliment.

Briefly Very Beautiful is different to many apocalyptic/dystopian/global crisis novels in that it is very much a literary novel. It beautifully conveys an aching sadness for a lost world, and the exhaustion of a daily struggle in a hostile environment. It is lyrical and very moving. Although completely different in its time and setting, it had me frequently comparing it to George R. Stewart's classic post-apocalyptic novel, Earth Abides, my all-time favourite in the genre.

Cass is raising three children alone, while her husband is absent overseas, continually failing to live up to his promises that he will return soon. Forced to leave the city, Cass first travels to find sanctuary with Nathaniel's mother, then eventually has to escape from there too.

There is much that is beautiful in this novel, and in this harsh environment, in the midst of Cass's hard life, there are moments of beauty.

This is a wonderfully written, literary novel, but if you prefer light fiction, don't let that put you off! It is not slow or heavy to read. I was gripped by the story and fully engrossed. Most definitely a 5-star read --- I warmy recommend it.

Thank you to @NetGalley_UK, @rozdineen and @circusbooks for giving me a free copy of this book. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.

#BrieflyVeryBeautiful #RozDineen #circusbooks #bookreview

I hadn't seen or read The End We Start From when I read Briefly Very Beautiful, so it is interesting how the (environmental) collapse of society novel actually has a number of tropes already baked into it from other apocalypses. Roz Dineen starts from a similar premise to that book/film, though her environmental collapse is based more on excessive heat. All good reasons to eventually move out of the city. It is also interesting how specific my brain made her non-specificity, she mentions no place names - but to me this book was about being the local effects of a climate disaster taking place in Britain, our protagonist's flight from The City being London (there are occasionally hints - a line about the Southerners generally being seen as the oppressors fits the UK very well). And politically the story often chats about a Black Box technocratic government which did feel like an endgame of the last regime. Nevertheless my brain painted in a scenario not dissimilar to one I would later see played out in different weather and different situations in the very specific The End We Start From, though the outcome of those differences here are quite startling.

Cass is bringing up three children in the City while her husband is overseas as a doctor in a war. Not all the children are hers, but her husband has family is elsewhere in the country elsewhere in the country (including a ne-er-do-well brother) she can escape to. We have the usual trials of escaping London, the dilemmas about scarcity, transport and what to do when you find sanctuary. And these ethical issues are heightened because Cass has three children with her, and is hoping her husband will return. Societal collapse is not complete, and there are large pockets of towns as you go progressively north that won't accept newcomers. Safety is usually fleeting, and family often seem to consider Cass the weak link in her group, they want the children but don't want her (particularly with her husband's predilections which we occasionally glimpse in asides). Dineen has made a different leap in the hierarchy of needs, and its quite a cynical if possibly quite true-to-life one that when all hope has gone, what humans turn to.

As its title suggests, Briefly Very Beautiful (a description of the extreme weather events) also finds moments of joy and beauty in its trudge. Dineen has a firm hold on her anxious and self-criticising lead, showing us in action a strength that the character doesn't accept in her own self-image. The feeling of the slow collapse of society also is more convincing than most I have read, and whilst there is a meaningful amount of feminist viewpoint here with mother and children as lead characters, its sense of disaster is pretty universal. Often Very Beautiful, I found it rather riveting and frighteningly relatable.

This book was very odd but beautifully lyrical. Very different from other apocalypse novels I’ve read and slightly claustrophobic at times. The ending was mildly frustrating, it is quite open ended. However I do feel this is a good addition to the genre.

There are some things I really love about this book. It’s quite different to a lot of dystopian fiction - and I have read a lot.
I love the way it is centred around the main character and the love she has for her children - all her children - it’s great how she never questions her relationship with them. The mother-in-law dynamic is bonkers and the outcome of her marriage unusual. It’s written in a frenetic paced way until she meets someone who brings a stillness to her life.
A few loose ends so I would prefer it a bit tidier - unless a sequel is planned.