by Allegra Goodman

• Historical Fiction
• Religious
• Survival

I enjoyed the overall story of Isola, and there’s a lot here that had the potential to be really powerful. The novel explores some strong themes, including abandonment, control over women, grief, child loss and survival, but I found myself wishing some of these elements had been explored in a much darker and more emotionally challenging way.

I particularly found it interesting that the character who seems the most naïve is ultimately the one who survives. There’s something compelling in the idea that her youth, innocence and refusal to give up become her strength.

However, I struggled with the heavy presence of religion throughout the story. At times, it felt less like historical fiction inspired by a true story and more like a Christian religious novel, with faith being pushed quite strongly onto the reader. I also wasn’t entirely convinced that the main character genuinely found religion herself, or whether faith became something she used as a means of protecting herself and making sense of what was happening to her.

That said, I thought the writing itself was very well done, and I’m definitely curious to read more from Allegra Goodman. While Isola didn’t quite give me the depth or darkness I was hoping for, there was enough in the writing and storytelling to make me want to see what else the author has to offer.