Genre Fiction
![Claire Fuller - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_claire_fuller.jpg)
Unsettled Ground
Winner of the 2021 Costa Novel Award
Finalist for the Women's Prize in Fiction
Named a Best Book of the Month by Entertainment Weekly, PopSugar, Bustle, Chicago Review of Books, PureWow, a Best Book of Summer by Daily Beast and one of Good Housekeeping's Best Books of 2021
"Full of dramatic twists and turns right up until its moving, beautiful end." ―NPR Books
At fifty-one years old, twins Jeanie and Julius still live with their mother, Dot, in rural isolation in the English countryside. The cottage they have shared their entire lives is their only protection against the modernizing world around them. Inside its walls, they make music, and in its garden, they grow everything they need to survive. To an outsider, it looks like poverty; to them, it is home.
But when Dot dies unexpectedly, the world they've so carefully created begins to fall apart. The cottage they love, and the security it offered, is taken back by their landlord, exposing the twins to harsh truths and even harsher realities. Seeing a new future, Julius becomes torn between the loyalty he feels towards his sister and his desire for independence, while Jeanie struggles to find work and a home for them both. And just when it seems there might be a way forward, a series of startling secrets from their mother's past come to the surface, forcing the twins to question who they are, and everything they know of their family's history.
In Unsettled Ground, award-winning author Claire Fuller masterfully builds a tale of sacrifice and hope, of homelessness and hardship, of love and survival, in which two marginalized and remarkable people uncover long-held family secrets and, in their own way, repair, recover, and begin again.
Finalist for the Women's Prize in Fiction
Named a Best Book of the Month by Entertainment Weekly, PopSugar, Bustle, Chicago Review of Books, PureWow, a Best Book of Summer by Daily Beast and one of Good Housekeeping's Best Books of 2021
"Full of dramatic twists and turns right up until its moving, beautiful end." ―NPR Books
At fifty-one years old, twins Jeanie and Julius still live with their mother, Dot, in rural isolation in the English countryside. The cottage they have shared their entire lives is their only protection against the modernizing world around them. Inside its walls, they make music, and in its garden, they grow everything they need to survive. To an outsider, it looks like poverty; to them, it is home.
But when Dot dies unexpectedly, the world they've so carefully created begins to fall apart. The cottage they love, and the security it offered, is taken back by their landlord, exposing the twins to harsh truths and even harsher realities. Seeing a new future, Julius becomes torn between the loyalty he feels towards his sister and his desire for independence, while Jeanie struggles to find work and a home for them both. And just when it seems there might be a way forward, a series of startling secrets from their mother's past come to the surface, forcing the twins to question who they are, and everything they know of their family's history.
In Unsettled Ground, award-winning author Claire Fuller masterfully builds a tale of sacrifice and hope, of homelessness and hardship, of love and survival, in which two marginalized and remarkable people uncover long-held family secrets and, in their own way, repair, recover, and begin again.
Editorial Reviews
"Timeless. . . . [a] shadowy family saga, which is marked by illicit love, violence and blood debts."
― The Wall Street Journal
"Engrossing."
― Entertainment Weekly
"A simple but powerful story of rural poverty, sibling relationships and, perhaps above all, resilience."
― PureWow
"Powerful. . . . fascinating."
― BookRiot
"A quiet tale of loss and survival."
― Good Housekeeping
"Transfixing."
― Chicago Review of Books
"A winner."
― The Center for Fiction
"An unnerving and emotional novel of family secrets, vulnerability and resilience."
― Shelf Awareness
"Rapturous."
― The San Diego Union Tribune
"One mystery after another arises and two siblings who have been left behind by the modern world face changes both gentle and profound."
― The Daily Beast
"A darkly poignant novel about an unusual family."
― Texas Public Radio
"Revelatory. . . . a powerful, beautiful novel."
― The Times (UK)
"Fuller explores the painful realities of poverty and social isolation with immense sensitivity in this multilayered and emotionally astute novel."
― The Guardian
"An intriguing premise made more so by the paucity of novels featuring vulnerable older adults."
― Financial Times
"Superb."
― Daily Mail
"If you're a reader who lives for contemplative storytelling and perfectly wrought characters, this author is for you."
― BookPage
"Ambitious."
― The TLS
"A page-turner. . . . reflecting the humble beauty of country life in every page, Unsettled Ground will appeal to a wide array of readers."
― Harvard Review
"An ...
― The Wall Street Journal
"Engrossing."
― Entertainment Weekly
"A simple but powerful story of rural poverty, sibling relationships and, perhaps above all, resilience."
― PureWow
"Powerful. . . . fascinating."
― BookRiot
"A quiet tale of loss and survival."
― Good Housekeeping
"Transfixing."
― Chicago Review of Books
"A winner."
― The Center for Fiction
"An unnerving and emotional novel of family secrets, vulnerability and resilience."
― Shelf Awareness
"Rapturous."
― The San Diego Union Tribune
"One mystery after another arises and two siblings who have been left behind by the modern world face changes both gentle and profound."
― The Daily Beast
"A darkly poignant novel about an unusual family."
― Texas Public Radio
"Revelatory. . . . a powerful, beautiful novel."
― The Times (UK)
"Fuller explores the painful realities of poverty and social isolation with immense sensitivity in this multilayered and emotionally astute novel."
― The Guardian
"An intriguing premise made more so by the paucity of novels featuring vulnerable older adults."
― Financial Times
"Superb."
― Daily Mail
"If you're a reader who lives for contemplative storytelling and perfectly wrought characters, this author is for you."
― BookPage
"Ambitious."
― The TLS
"A page-turner. . . . reflecting the humble beauty of country life in every page, Unsettled Ground will appeal to a wide array of readers."
― Harvard Review
"An ...
Readers Top Reviews
J. E HouseMary Li
Sensitive portrait of two siblings facing a crisis and learning of their mother’s flawed effort to protect them and herself
amachinistJ. E Ho
Jeanie and Julius Seeder are peculiar siblings. Born 23 hours apart, they are 51 years old and still live impoverished existences with their widowed mother, Dot, in a rundown thatched cottage in the English countryside. The twins are puerile in terms of their naivety, life experiences, formal education and interactions with others outside of their family. Suddenly, Dot dies of a stroke. How will these child-like adults bury their mother let alone continue to exist without her? Claire Fuller is an award winning author. Her descriptions of the English countryside verge on poetry and her characterizations are full and poignant. She uses several terms that are of particular British origin, like "wodge, trug and gurns" and that might be off-putting to some readers. Other readers might also find the story of the Seeders too depressing, but in the end, it is transformative. Jeanie, in particular, evolves from a frightened, sickly girl, to a resourceful woman able to set the course of her own life. Jeanie's love for her dog Maude and care and concern for Julius are palpable. Along the way, painful and joyful truths are revealed that change the course of especially Jeanie's life. It gives testimony to the strength of the human spirit and well worth the read.
angie grayamachin
I liked following the story of the 51 year old twins after their mother suddenly dies. How it made them accept things and finally “grow”
Courtneyangie gra
I enjoy this author's work. However, her subject matter chronicles the grim side of life. I felt incredibly sorry for Jeanie & Julius - 51 year old twins who are left adrift after their mother dies suddenly. Neither are prepared to navigate the world without her. Set in rural England, this tale is sad. Layers of deceit and decades old secrets are uncovered. Fuller's writing, as ever, is incredibly skilled and draws you in. I felt sympathetic for the main characters, even the dog, Maude, was a fully fleshed character, who plucked at my heartstrings. . A rather dark book, but extremely satisfying.
YoCourtneyangie g
The different people at the edge of society. It’s OK, even better, to be those folks, moving to the beat of a different drum. Well written. Story reminds me of Anne Tyler’s stories
