George Duncan is 65% of what women require from a man, but unfortunately for him, the minimum is apparently 70%.
At least that’s what one woman cruelly told him as she packed her bags.
Now, the 48-year-old is convinced this is why he’s still single. But all that changes when he rescues a crane that has been hit by an arrow and is lying injured in his own backyard in London. It leads to a meeting with a mysterious woman, who is an artist like himself. Combing their sculpture skills, they produce magical imagesand, before they know it, are darlings of the art world.
But there’s a nagging feeling that this love isn’t destined to last. His girlfriend Kumiko is elusive. What is she trying to hide? And why is he never allowed in her flat?
The Crane Wife is a modern twist on a Japanese folk tale, based around an old man who nurses an injured crane back to life, and then falls in love with a woman who appears on his doorstep.
Author Patrick Ness weaves in a few surprising twists and a gripping side plot about George’s 25-year-old single daughter, Amanda, who is still in love with the father of her child.
For an author whose previous books have been aimed predominantly at younger readers, this novel shows Ness spreading his wings into the world of adult literature. Like the folk tale, which deals with issues surrounding greed, the moral behind Ness’ The Crane Wife is just as relevant now as it was in ancient times. It’s an enchanting and truly satisfying read.
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