Japan is a country prepared for earthquakes. Strict guidelines govern new building construction and its citizens are regularly instructed on what to do and how to behave. Nevertheless, nobody was ready for what 2011 had in store for the country. That year, on March the 11th, a powerful earthquake off the north-eastern coast triggered a huge tsunami, resulting in a massive number of casualties and the destruction of a nuclear power plant in Fukushima. In the wake of the frightening event, many foreign residents decided to leave the country, fearing the worst was yet to come.
On that day many lives changed forever, including those of friends and book club buddies – Charlotte, Lauren, Fumiko, Katherine and Sinéad. The five friends had planned to meet on the following Wednesday to discuss their book of the month, Middlemarch, but that get-together was not meant to be. They didn’t lose their homes or their loved ones in the disaster, but the seismic event shook them to their core. This is the story of the five women and how they each reshaped their lives in the aftermath of this shattering event.
Margaret is from the South East of Ireland where she currently lives. She lived in Tokyo for eleven years and was there when Japan was rocked by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Her experiences on that day and in the weeks and months that followed formed the inspiration for Three Eleven, her debut novel. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and works in education.
Ann Maaher –
I enjoyed this novel. It took me to so many places around the world, many of which I have visited myself, so I could identify with the characters and their experiences.
There were many surprise elements in the plot line which I really loved. It kept me wondering how it would be resolved and how it would all come together. It held me quite spellbound. In fact I couldn’t leave it down.
I liked the structure. and the fantastic chapter titles. The prologue gave me a nice sense and a way in that held me as the novel unfolded.
It’s a lively read, good for the beach,or if you are stuck in lock down, anyplace or anytime. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Helen Grant –
I am giving this book five stars, it was a very frightening time for people living in Japan.
The book is beautifully written, and the prose is perfect. The story of the five friends is well told.
I have learned about Bali, the gigolos, Lotharios and a few Japanese words.
I am looking forward to the author’s next book, as I am sure she has a good career in front of her.
Helene –
I almost missed my train stop, so absorbed was I in Charlotte’s wanderings around the temples of Mount Lempuyang. The mist and atmosphere of that Bali mountain was captured magically, as were the moods of visitors Charlotte, Kate and Gusti.
Three Eleven asks – and answers, as far as possible – some of the great questions of adult human life: sense of purpose, family, loneliness, solidarity, duty, materialism and security. Grant’s insight into the human soul is remarkable, as is her sensitivity towards different cultures. I liked Charlotte, Fumiko, and the other main characters immensely. Although the novel is somewhat contemplative, I found myself dashing forward at times, keen to know what would happen.
Three Eleven doesn’t shy away from portraying tragedy. There are extremely difficult moments for some of the characters. Relief may be found, though, in moments of tongue-in-cheek humour: «Sometimes she thought she liked her stepdaughters more than her husband. But she liked her husband too.» All in all, I found the book positive. The balance of the events was just right, leaving me with a happy aftertaste and a sense of «Yes, life is like that».
Three Eleven is a great emotional suspense read for everyone, particularly for women and men who live, or have lived, far away from home.