THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE (2022) - Review

The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
On Sale: March 8, 2022

Tara Isabella Burton has followed up "Social Creatures" with a different story of obsession. It wasn't what I was expecting but I have no regrets.

FIRST SENTENCE: "Laura cries easily."

THE STORY: Laura has convinced her parents to let her attend a Maine boarding school. It's the setting for her favorite book "All Before Them" by Sebastian Webster. He is St. Dunstan's most famous alum and died at nineteen fighting in the Spanish Civil War. She seems to have found what she hoped for when the neurotic and demanding Virginia invites her to audition for the Chapel Choir. The small group begins to fall apart when a new school chaplain challenges Virginia hold on the 'family' she has created. Determined not to give up, unpleasant things escalate leading to a shocking ending.

WHAT I THOUGHT: "The World Cannot Give" was a rather slow read for me with esoteric language and mentions of Church ritual. I'm not sure that I have gathered my feelings about it even now. Tara Isabella Burton's writing is beautiful, sometimes poetic, clean and concise. I kept hoping for Laura to break free, but Virginia's hold on the choir spirals out of control.

Much of what is described is the passion of youth. There are overtones of LGBTQIA yearning and the coming of age.

This is a book I would consider reading a second time and spending time pondering the ideas and listening to the music on YouTube.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for readers of literate mysteries like Donna Tart's "The Secret History".

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "The World Cannot Give" by Tara Isabella Burton from NetGalley/Simon & Schuster for my honest review.

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