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From Our Literary Hive

Dive deep into the books that are buzzing in the literary world. Each review is crafted with the passion of a book lover and the insight of a seasoned reader.

The Consequence of Anna

 by Kate Birkin

The Consequence of Anna book cover
Reviewed July 25, 2025 5/5
Pulitzer Prize Nominee • Major Motion Picture • Inspired by a True Story

Set against the sprawling backdrop of a 1930s cattle and sheep station in the Outback of Australia, this hauntingly poignant and brilliantly written tale follows the lives of three people, intertwined in a love triangle like no other. The saga of two women . . . one driven by passion to do the unthinkable, the other plunging into insanity . . . and a man bound between them.

"Birkin writes with the precision of a surgeon and the heart of a poet, creating settings and characters so vivid they live and breathe on the page."

I want to shine a huge spotlight on this haunting, literary masterpiece that completely unraveled me—in the best way possible. Honestly one of the best books I have ever read, The Consequence of Anna by Kate Birkin is an extraordinary novel that deserves to be whispered about in libraries, passed between friends, and studied in literature classes. Rumor has it a film adaptation is already in the works, and I can only hope it captures even a fraction of the magic this book holds.

Published in 2023, The Consequence of Anna feels like it was penned a century ago. The prose is poetic, the vocabulary outstanding, the atmosphere thick with old-world imagery, and the emotional depth staggering. It's a story of love and hate, honor and deceit, and the fragile line between sanity and madness. I read it in one sitting—my eyes burning, my heart aching, and my soul utterly consumed. Trust me: once you start, you won't be able to stop.

Kate Birkin is not just a writer—she's a conjurer. Her characters don't merely develop; they live. They breathe, they bleed, they haunt. I could smell the perfume and whiskey, feel the dust of the cattle station, and hear the echo of secrets whispered in hidden rooms. It's not a book—it's art.

A Friendship, A Bond, A Tragedy
Little Anna Shahan is a wild, sassy "ankle-biter" (Australian slang for child), growing up on a cattle and sheep station in the Australian Outback. After her mother's death, her father invites her English cousin Rose to visit, hoping Anna will find companionship. Their friendship blossoms in secret gardens and shadowy corners of the ranch, becoming a bond as deep as sisterhood. But life eventually pulls them apart. Rose marries and disappears—until tragedy strikes. Her husband's suicide brings her back to the ranch, seeking solace. Yet the return is anything but peaceful. Anna, now a grown woman battling severe mental illness, has trapped a man into marriage and is unwilling to let Rose leave again. What unfolds is dark, mesmerizing, and emotionally devastating.

Inspired by Truth?
The novel claims to be inspired by a true story, and since there was no internet or social media a hundred years ago, it's impossible to verify. But I've reached out to Kate Birkin with my questions, and she agreed to an interview! So stay tuned!

Final Thoughts
If The Consequence of Anna has a flaw (it doesn't!), it's only that I wanted more—especially about Anna's life after her release from the mental hospital. But that longing is a testament to Birkin's brilliance. This is first-class storytelling with a structure that flows like a symphony and characters so vivid they seem to leap from the page. An instant classic. A story for the ages. And for me, a new favorite I'll be recommending for years to come!

Somewhere in Time

 by Richard Matheson

Somewhere in Time book cover
Reviewed June 27, 2025 4.5/5
World Fantasy Award • Major Motion Picture

In 1972, a man with a terminal illness falls in love with a woman from the past that he has never met. So powerful is his love that he researches time travel and wills himself back to 1896, where he finds his soulmate. But tragedy soon befalls him.

"Matheson, a master of speculative fiction, crafts a narrative that is both intimate and epic."

This story left me breathless with its aching beauty and timeless romance. Originally published in 1975 under the title, Bid Time Return, this haunting novel by Richard Matheson was later adapted into the 1980 film, Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. It's a story that blends historical fiction, fantasy, and the deepest kind of yearning—a love so powerful it bends time itself.

A Man, A Photograph, A Journey Through Time
Richard Collier is a playwright facing a terminal illness. With little time left, he sets off on a spontaneous journey, flipping a coin to decide his direction. Fate leads him to the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego—a grand, historic place that seems to whisper secrets from the past.

While exploring the hotel, Richard stumbles upon a photograph of a stunning 19th-century actress named Elise McKenna. Something about her image captivates him completely. He becomes obsessed, convinced that he's seen her before, and begins researching her life. The more he learns, the more he believes that their destinies are intertwined—that he has known her in another time. Inspired by J.B. Priestley's Man and Time, Richard attempts something extraordinary: he wills himself back to November 1896, the moment Elise was performing at the hotel.

Love Across Centuries
Richard and Elise fall deeply in love, but their romance is not without obstacles. Elise's controlling manager sees Richard as a threat and tries to have him removed. Her mother disapproves of him. Yet the bond between Richard and Elise is undeniable, and they share one unforgettable night together—hours of conversation, connection, and finally, love.

But tragedy strikes in the most heartbreaking way. Richard, still dressed in period clothing, unknowingly carries a 1971 penny in his pocket. When he discovers it, the illusion shatters. The penny—a symbol of the present—pulls him violently back into his own time. The transition is irreversible. Separated from Elise, Richard falls into despair and dies shortly after.

Why This Book Still Echoes
Somewhere in Time is more than a love story—it's a meditation on time, fate, and the power of longing. The novel won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and its film adaptation has become a cult classic, with fans gathering annually to celebrate its enduring magic. If you've ever felt that love could transcend lifetimes, or that a single photograph could change your destiny, this book will speak to you. It's romantic, tragic, and utterly unforgettable.

Second Sight

 by David Williams

Second Sight book cover
Reviewed May 30, 2025 4/5
Major Motion Picture

In 1979, a woman is caught between two worlds, two times, and the two men she loves—one her husband and one an artist who may have died a hundred years earlier.

"Williams has a gift for creating characters who feel like old friends, flaws and all. You'll root for them, cry with them, and celebrate their triumphs."

This is a book that holds a special place in my heart—not just for its story, but for the memory of how it came into my life. It was my mother who first introduced me to Second Sight, written by David Williams in 1977 and later adapted into the 1979 film, The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan. It's a novel that blends romance, mystery, and the allure of time travel into a hauntingly beautiful tale.

A Dress, A House, A Portal to the Past
The story follows Jennie Logan, a woman trying to rebuild her life and marriage after her husband Michael's infidelity. They move into a grand Victorian mansion outside New York, hoping for a fresh start. But the house holds secrets—and so does the attic, which Jennie transforms into her own sanctuary. There, she discovers a sketch of a Victorian dress and commissions a professional dressmaker to recreate it. Once the dress is complete, strange things begin to happen. Jennie hears voices, sees visions, and eventually encounters a mysterious man who calls her "Pamela." That man is David, the artist who lived in the house over a century ago.

As Jennie slips into the dress, she finds herself transported back in time. What begins as a surreal experience soon becomes a passionate love affair with David. But her joy is short-lived—she learns that David is destined to die young, and she becomes determined to change his fate.

Is It Madness or Magic?
Jennie's quest to save David leads her to search for clues in the present that might alter the past. But when she confides in her husband, he believes she's losing her grip on reality and insists she see a psychiatrist. Though her doctor dismisses her experiences as fantasy, Jennie remains convinced that her time-traveling love is real. The tension builds as Jennie races against time—both literal and metaphorical—to save David from a tragic end. The story is fast-paced, emotionally charged, and full of twists that keep you turning the pages. And the ending? Let's just say it's one of those rare, satisfying surprises that lingers long after you've closed the book.