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Astra
If you could see yourself as others saw you, would you be any closer to the truth of who you really are? In the tradition of Olive Kitteridge and Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, Astra is a beguiling debut novel that reveals the different faces of one enigmatic woman, as seen through the eyes of ten people she encounters over the course of six decades.
Raised on a remote BC commune by a neglectful father, Astra Brine eventually leaves for Calgary, where she struggles to find her way in the world, her life becoming a study of the thin line between dependence and love, need and desire. As her path intersects with others--often only briefly, but always intensely--she will encounter people who, by turns, want to rescue, control, become, change, and escape her, revealing difficult yet shining truths about who they are and what they yearn for. There is the childhood playmate who comes to fear Astra's unpredictable ways; the stranger who rescues her from homelessness and then has to wrestle with his own demons; the mother who hires Astra as a nanny even as her own marriage goes off the rails; the man who takes a leap of faith and marries her.
Even as Astra herself remains the elusive yet compelling axis around which these narratives turn, her story reminds us of the profound impact that an individual can have on those around her, and the power struggles at play in all our relationships, no matter how intimate. A beautifully constructed and revelatory novel, Astra explores what we're willing to give and receive from others, and how well we ever really know the people we love the most.
Raised on a remote BC commune by a neglectful father, Astra Brine eventually leaves for Calgary, where she struggles to find her way in the world, her life becoming a study of the thin line between dependence and love, need and desire. As her path intersects with others--often only briefly, but always intensely--she will encounter people who, by turns, want to rescue, control, become, change, and escape her, revealing difficult yet shining truths about who they are and what they yearn for. There is the childhood playmate who comes to fear Astra's unpredictable ways; the stranger who rescues her from homelessness and then has to wrestle with his own demons; the mother who hires Astra as a nanny even as her own marriage goes off the rails; the man who takes a leap of faith and marries her.
Even as Astra herself remains the elusive yet compelling axis around which these narratives turn, her story reminds us of the profound impact that an individual can have on those around her, and the power struggles at play in all our relationships, no matter how intimate. A beautifully constructed and revelatory novel, Astra explores what we're willing to give and receive from others, and how well we ever really know the people we love the most.
286 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2021
57 people are currently reading
5596 people want to read
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February 14, 2025
A truly unforgettable story. I couldn't put this engrossing, character-driven novel down.
Astra, as seen through ten different characters' perspectives, is a complex "forever wild child." She practically raised herself and was allowed to roam freely on the extensive grounds of the Celestial Commune in B.C.'s back country. This novel had so much to say about the sham notions of "freedom" of commune life at Celestial.
Invariably, the heavy work was left to the female members, on top of the child rearing. The price of the freedom provided by the Celestial commune often came at a great cost: Astra's mother Gloria died due to inadequate medical care, Astra had little or no education or social skills, and Doris (one of the narrators) had to supplement the farm's income from her own resources because the inhabitants were often transient, unreliable or untrained for farm work.
Each chapter is narrated by a person who closely impacts Astra at each stage of her life. We learn about Astra over the years through each successive narrator, some of whom are, of course, self-serving and unreliable witnesses. We, the readers, must build our own profile of Astra, based on what others think of her. We must do the job of separating the wheat from the chaff.
Raymond: is Astra's emotionally distant, irresponsible father who has retreated from life, taking shelter and solace in his nihilism. His hands-off parenting style almost gets Astra killed by a cougar. She will bear those scars, and many others, for the rest of her life.
Kimmy was Astra's first childhood playmate. Kimmy was also in need of a friend, and at first she enjoyed Astra's inventive games, but she soon realized that Astra was too wild and socially backwards to be trusted with her and her baby sister's lives.
Clodagh would tell Astra that their lives were destined to follow the same path - flitting from one bad or abusive relationship to the other. She tried to be a surrogate mother to Astra, but Astra had outgrown the need for a mother by the time Clodagh returned to the derelict commune years later.
Brendan, Nick (and Chris) were indicative of the many men and women who fell under Astra's enticing spell. (Astra is perhaps bisexual or omnisexual - no "label" is ever applied in this story, which is fine with me, because I don't much like to be labeled, either!) They would see Astra as someone who needed to be saved because of her "unfortunate" beginnings. Some of them would abuse her or wanted something from her that she had never learned to receive, much less give. It was only with the birth of her son, Hugo, that Astra was able to fully love another human being, without reservation.
Sativa, Clodagh's daughter, is perhaps the one person who truly saw Astra as she really was. Yes, Astra could manipulate others into feeling sorry for her and into helping her when she was in a tough spot, but Astra was also remarkably resilient and self-sufficient. Brendon believed he was rescuing Astra from the dangers of sleeping at the bus station, and Chris gave her a place to live after Hugo was born, but Astra was usually able to move on and take care of herself when she was no longer welcome or able to endure her current circumstances.
(Calgary:)
Lauren was the most neurotic of the narrators. What a strange family dynamic! What a riveting chapter - no spoilers here!
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Dom and Hugo - the two most important relationships in her life - also weigh in on the Astra that they knew and loved.
For a while, you don't know who to believe. Fortunately (don't worry, no spoilers here) there is an Epilogue, and the truth about Astra finally comes out. My take is that what you see is what you get with Astra, although other NG reviewers would disagree. There was never any pretense from her. I suspect that many of the narrators didn't know how to deal with such forthright behaviour, uncluttered with the polite niceties and manners that we were all taught as children.
(Vancouver:)
I loved this author's candid, flowing writing style. I also enjoyed wrestling with and pondering why the author never capitalized the letter "y" in the word "you" when it was used in the beginning of a sentence. Ultimately, I decided that the author (or Astra) was perpetually debating the "why" in "y". The "Eternal Why." Do we give too much importance to what others think of us, hence the author's refusal to assign a capital letter to someone else's pronoun? Perhaps Raymond was right after all, and we humans don't matter at all? Or perhaps Astra came closer to the truth when she states: "We're not just matter. We're not f**king stars in the cosmos. We're one human life stacked on top of the traumas and the tragedies of another."
I have to admit that, like so many others in this story, I fell under her spell and came to love and admire Astra: she was such a strong, independent woman! The people who ultimately became her family circle were not always related to Astra by blood. Her open, candid nature was an irresistible magnet: she would never be short of friends and companions.
I loved the deeply satisfying ending of this story: it came full circle and left me feeling hopeful for Astra. This was one of the most intelligent, fascinating, yet simply written stories about one woman's complicated path in this complex world! The book cover and blurb do not do this novel justice: it is a rare gem. Highly, highly recommended.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The following comment under my "P.S." could evolve into an interesting book club discussion. If anyone wants to discuss this book as a group, let me know and we could start a Discussion Group on GR.
P.S. (Slight spoiler alert:) I think that the Epilogue served a dual purpose: yes, it tied up a lot of loose ends, but it also helps the reader "refocus the lens" through which we saw Astra over the years: the messy, self-absorbed teenager with no real life skills of the early chapters; the young woman who wanted to please everyone; the older mother who loved her son and tried to give him the space he needed - at a great emotional cost to herself. For this reason, I don't think Astra was a totally selfish person: remember that she grew up with no restrictions whatsoever. Learning to conform and fit in with society must have been difficult for her, especially in a huge city like Calgary.
Each of the narrators had their own agendas regarding what they wanted/needed from Astra. If The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford taught me anything, it was to reserve my judgment until the very end, because your narrator could well be a deluded, narrow minded, unreliable fool.
When she first arrived in Calgary, Astra was this uncouth girl who didn't have the sense to be afraid of sleeping at a bus station. Keep in mind also that Astra had a lonely childhood and therefore was always trying to please people. Nick's chapter was very revealing in more ways than one. If Astra truly was such a terrible person, why did so many people like her and try to help her? This book should probably be read twice!
Astra, as seen through ten different characters' perspectives, is a complex "forever wild child." She practically raised herself and was allowed to roam freely on the extensive grounds of the Celestial Commune in B.C.'s back country. This novel had so much to say about the sham notions of "freedom" of commune life at Celestial.
Invariably, the heavy work was left to the female members, on top of the child rearing. The price of the freedom provided by the Celestial commune often came at a great cost: Astra's mother Gloria died due to inadequate medical care, Astra had little or no education or social skills, and Doris (one of the narrators) had to supplement the farm's income from her own resources because the inhabitants were often transient, unreliable or untrained for farm work.
Each chapter is narrated by a person who closely impacts Astra at each stage of her life. We learn about Astra over the years through each successive narrator, some of whom are, of course, self-serving and unreliable witnesses. We, the readers, must build our own profile of Astra, based on what others think of her. We must do the job of separating the wheat from the chaff.
Raymond: is Astra's emotionally distant, irresponsible father who has retreated from life, taking shelter and solace in his nihilism. His hands-off parenting style almost gets Astra killed by a cougar. She will bear those scars, and many others, for the rest of her life.
Kimmy was Astra's first childhood playmate. Kimmy was also in need of a friend, and at first she enjoyed Astra's inventive games, but she soon realized that Astra was too wild and socially backwards to be trusted with her and her baby sister's lives.
Clodagh would tell Astra that their lives were destined to follow the same path - flitting from one bad or abusive relationship to the other. She tried to be a surrogate mother to Astra, but Astra had outgrown the need for a mother by the time Clodagh returned to the derelict commune years later.
Brendan, Nick (and Chris) were indicative of the many men and women who fell under Astra's enticing spell. (Astra is perhaps bisexual or omnisexual - no "label" is ever applied in this story, which is fine with me, because I don't much like to be labeled, either!) They would see Astra as someone who needed to be saved because of her "unfortunate" beginnings. Some of them would abuse her or wanted something from her that she had never learned to receive, much less give. It was only with the birth of her son, Hugo, that Astra was able to fully love another human being, without reservation.
Sativa, Clodagh's daughter, is perhaps the one person who truly saw Astra as she really was. Yes, Astra could manipulate others into feeling sorry for her and into helping her when she was in a tough spot, but Astra was also remarkably resilient and self-sufficient. Brendon believed he was rescuing Astra from the dangers of sleeping at the bus station, and Chris gave her a place to live after Hugo was born, but Astra was usually able to move on and take care of herself when she was no longer welcome or able to endure her current circumstances.
(Calgary:)
Lauren was the most neurotic of the narrators. What a strange family dynamic! What a riveting chapter - no spoilers here!
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Dom and Hugo - the two most important relationships in her life - also weigh in on the Astra that they knew and loved.
For a while, you don't know who to believe. Fortunately (don't worry, no spoilers here) there is an Epilogue, and the truth about Astra finally comes out. My take is that what you see is what you get with Astra, although other NG reviewers would disagree. There was never any pretense from her. I suspect that many of the narrators didn't know how to deal with such forthright behaviour, uncluttered with the polite niceties and manners that we were all taught as children.
(Vancouver:)
I loved this author's candid, flowing writing style. I also enjoyed wrestling with and pondering why the author never capitalized the letter "y" in the word "you" when it was used in the beginning of a sentence. Ultimately, I decided that the author (or Astra) was perpetually debating the "why" in "y". The "Eternal Why." Do we give too much importance to what others think of us, hence the author's refusal to assign a capital letter to someone else's pronoun? Perhaps Raymond was right after all, and we humans don't matter at all? Or perhaps Astra came closer to the truth when she states: "We're not just matter. We're not f**king stars in the cosmos. We're one human life stacked on top of the traumas and the tragedies of another."
I have to admit that, like so many others in this story, I fell under her spell and came to love and admire Astra: she was such a strong, independent woman! The people who ultimately became her family circle were not always related to Astra by blood. Her open, candid nature was an irresistible magnet: she would never be short of friends and companions.
I loved the deeply satisfying ending of this story: it came full circle and left me feeling hopeful for Astra. This was one of the most intelligent, fascinating, yet simply written stories about one woman's complicated path in this complex world! The book cover and blurb do not do this novel justice: it is a rare gem. Highly, highly recommended.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The following comment under my "P.S." could evolve into an interesting book club discussion. If anyone wants to discuss this book as a group, let me know and we could start a Discussion Group on GR.
P.S. (Slight spoiler alert:) I think that the Epilogue served a dual purpose: yes, it tied up a lot of loose ends, but it also helps the reader "refocus the lens" through which we saw Astra over the years: the messy, self-absorbed teenager with no real life skills of the early chapters; the young woman who wanted to please everyone; the older mother who loved her son and tried to give him the space he needed - at a great emotional cost to herself. For this reason, I don't think Astra was a totally selfish person: remember that she grew up with no restrictions whatsoever. Learning to conform and fit in with society must have been difficult for her, especially in a huge city like Calgary.
Each of the narrators had their own agendas regarding what they wanted/needed from Astra. If The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford taught me anything, it was to reserve my judgment until the very end, because your narrator could well be a deluded, narrow minded, unreliable fool.
When she first arrived in Calgary, Astra was this uncouth girl who didn't have the sense to be afraid of sleeping at a bus station. Keep in mind also that Astra had a lonely childhood and therefore was always trying to please people. Nick's chapter was very revealing in more ways than one. If Astra truly was such a terrible person, why did so many people like her and try to help her? This book should probably be read twice!
June 7, 2021
“I’ve found it’s much, much harder to lose the people who never gave you enough, than it is to lose the ones who gave you everything.”
Born on a remote British Columbia commune, on an evening when a prolific meteor shower begins, Astra Winter Sorrow Brine, “Child of the cosmos, ruler of the skies”, has long endeavoured to find her way in the world. Through her lifetime, as her path intersects with others, she will encounter people who, by turns, want to rescue, control, become and escape her, revealing truths about who they are and what they yearn for.
There is Kimmy, her childhood playmate, who comes to fear Astra’s unpredictable ways. Brendon, the stranger who rescues her from homelessness, and then has to wrestle with his own demons. Lauren, the mother who hires Astra as a live-in nanny even as her own marriage goes off the rails.
As Astra herself remains the elusive yet compelling axis around which these narratives turn, her story is a reminder of the power struggles at play in all our relationships.
Cedar Bowers is an asset to contemporary literature. Her debut novel is so engrossing that I read it in one sitting. I love how she has constructed the novel in ten chapters, each one dedicated to a character whose life has been touched by a sometimes vulnerable, sometimes loving, sometimes dislikable, mostly selfish, always complex Astra.
Here are “the many selves we all contain — those we conceal, those we perform, those we try to outrun in our search for love, belonging, and home”. The characters are fascinating and so completely developed that I wouldn’t be surprised to bump into any of them on the street.
Astra is unknowable as a still, black lake: there’s just no way to tell what’s underneath or how deep down she goes. Come and meet her.
A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @PenguinRandomHouseCa for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Born on a remote British Columbia commune, on an evening when a prolific meteor shower begins, Astra Winter Sorrow Brine, “Child of the cosmos, ruler of the skies”, has long endeavoured to find her way in the world. Through her lifetime, as her path intersects with others, she will encounter people who, by turns, want to rescue, control, become and escape her, revealing truths about who they are and what they yearn for.
There is Kimmy, her childhood playmate, who comes to fear Astra’s unpredictable ways. Brendon, the stranger who rescues her from homelessness, and then has to wrestle with his own demons. Lauren, the mother who hires Astra as a live-in nanny even as her own marriage goes off the rails.
As Astra herself remains the elusive yet compelling axis around which these narratives turn, her story is a reminder of the power struggles at play in all our relationships.
Cedar Bowers is an asset to contemporary literature. Her debut novel is so engrossing that I read it in one sitting. I love how she has constructed the novel in ten chapters, each one dedicated to a character whose life has been touched by a sometimes vulnerable, sometimes loving, sometimes dislikable, mostly selfish, always complex Astra.
Here are “the many selves we all contain — those we conceal, those we perform, those we try to outrun in our search for love, belonging, and home”. The characters are fascinating and so completely developed that I wouldn’t be surprised to bump into any of them on the street.
Astra is unknowable as a still, black lake: there’s just no way to tell what’s underneath or how deep down she goes. Come and meet her.
A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @PenguinRandomHouseCa for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: June 1, 2021
Fans of “The Girls” by Emma Cline will adore this debut novel by author Cedar Bowers. The story centres on Astra, a girl who grew up motherless in a decrepit commune, constantly surrounded by random strangers, with no rules or expectations. Uniquely, Bowers tells the story of Astra through the eyes of ten people who knew her, so we are able to watch Astra grow and develop from the perspective of those in her life.
Bowers weaves a beautifully emotional, character-driven tale, and manages to tell it in a unique way. The novel is broken down into sections, narrated by a different person in Astra’s life, at different times in her lifespan, and it is not until the end of the novel when we hear from Astra herself, as a middle-aged woman charged with caring for her aging father. It is interesting to learn about Astra this way, and it adds to the creativity of the novel, to have a protagonist so central to the plot, but who does not contribute to the main narration.
Astra is a very powerful character, eccentric and misunderstood, but she is easy to root for. Having overcome her incredibly sad childhood, desperate for friends and relationships, will touch a chord with any reader. Right from the start I felt for Astra, and wanted her to succeed.
Told in chronological order, the story starts with Astra’s mother who dies when giving birth to Astra, then proceeds through Astra’s childhood up through her adulthood. Because of this format, we do not get every second of Astra’s life and large chunks are missed, but all of the important aspects that form who Astra is manage to be told to us all the same.
“Astra” is a unique, moving and powerful story about childhood lost that begs the question- what would our lives look like if viewed from the eyes of those who love us? Bowers has created quite a debut novel, and I have no doubt that “Astra” is award-worthy. I eagerly anticipate another novel from Bowers, told with the beauty and depth of this one.
Publication date: June 1, 2021
Fans of “The Girls” by Emma Cline will adore this debut novel by author Cedar Bowers. The story centres on Astra, a girl who grew up motherless in a decrepit commune, constantly surrounded by random strangers, with no rules or expectations. Uniquely, Bowers tells the story of Astra through the eyes of ten people who knew her, so we are able to watch Astra grow and develop from the perspective of those in her life.
Bowers weaves a beautifully emotional, character-driven tale, and manages to tell it in a unique way. The novel is broken down into sections, narrated by a different person in Astra’s life, at different times in her lifespan, and it is not until the end of the novel when we hear from Astra herself, as a middle-aged woman charged with caring for her aging father. It is interesting to learn about Astra this way, and it adds to the creativity of the novel, to have a protagonist so central to the plot, but who does not contribute to the main narration.
Astra is a very powerful character, eccentric and misunderstood, but she is easy to root for. Having overcome her incredibly sad childhood, desperate for friends and relationships, will touch a chord with any reader. Right from the start I felt for Astra, and wanted her to succeed.
Told in chronological order, the story starts with Astra’s mother who dies when giving birth to Astra, then proceeds through Astra’s childhood up through her adulthood. Because of this format, we do not get every second of Astra’s life and large chunks are missed, but all of the important aspects that form who Astra is manage to be told to us all the same.
“Astra” is a unique, moving and powerful story about childhood lost that begs the question- what would our lives look like if viewed from the eyes of those who love us? Bowers has created quite a debut novel, and I have no doubt that “Astra” is award-worthy. I eagerly anticipate another novel from Bowers, told with the beauty and depth of this one.
October 1, 2021
My my, how I loved this. If you're into character study books, this one is for you. We learn about the character of Astra from the perspective of ten different individuals, watching her grow from girlhood to womanhood, but from an observer’s point of view. And yet because of that unique storytelling, we also get to learn more about these ten people as well: how they place their mark on Astra for better or worse, and vice versa. What’s not to love?
Who is Astra? What does she mean to these people? How do their viewpoints of her differ from other people’s viewpoints? Can we truly know a person? What makes up the essence of a person? This book touches on insecurity, neglect, helplessness, hopefulness, control, coercion, commune life, love, loyalty, and being at war with ourselves. Gah, I loved everything about this. Outstanding debut.
Who is Astra? What does she mean to these people? How do their viewpoints of her differ from other people’s viewpoints? Can we truly know a person? What makes up the essence of a person? This book touches on insecurity, neglect, helplessness, hopefulness, control, coercion, commune life, love, loyalty, and being at war with ourselves. Gah, I loved everything about this. Outstanding debut.
June 29, 2022
Astra is the remarkable story of a young girl born into a rather unconventional family. We follow her through the various stages and milestones of her life, from birth until she becomes a grandmother. We don’t actually hear Astra’s point of view until the final chapter, though. Until then, the story is told from the perspective of each of the many people she encounters in life—family, friends, and others. This unusual narrative gives the reader an opportunity to make their own mind up about who Astra is, and is not!
Two evenings ago, I spent a wonderful hour online in the company of the author—Cedar Bowers—and her husband—author Michael Christie—as he “interviewed” her about the book. This was one of 11 book club conversations in 2022 that featured each of the authors longlisted for the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize. I joined many of the conversations held this spring but this was, without a doubt, my favourite! At the time, I was about 75% into the book, but after hearing the delightful répartie between Bowers and Christie, and Bowers' amazing insights about writing the book, I could hardly wait to get back to it! What a unique, enlightening and educational opportunity it was for just a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes work an author puts in to create her masterpiece.
One of the truly incredible things about Astra is that it’s the author’s FIRST publication! But I have it on good authority that she has another book in the works!😉 Very highly recommended!
5 amazing, memorable stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By the way, if you’d like to view a recording of any of the 2021 or 2022 book club conversations, you can do so by visiting: https://scotiabankgillerprize.ca/gill.... The 60-minute discussions uniquely pair the longlisted authors with Canadian icons, other writers, journalists, reviewers, presidents of publishing houses, and artistic figures as interviewers. The Giller Book Club brings all of this homegrown talent into the homes of Canadians and people around the world and invites them into the conversation by allowing attendees to ask the author questions.
Two evenings ago, I spent a wonderful hour online in the company of the author—Cedar Bowers—and her husband—author Michael Christie—as he “interviewed” her about the book. This was one of 11 book club conversations in 2022 that featured each of the authors longlisted for the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize. I joined many of the conversations held this spring but this was, without a doubt, my favourite! At the time, I was about 75% into the book, but after hearing the delightful répartie between Bowers and Christie, and Bowers' amazing insights about writing the book, I could hardly wait to get back to it! What a unique, enlightening and educational opportunity it was for just a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes work an author puts in to create her masterpiece.
One of the truly incredible things about Astra is that it’s the author’s FIRST publication! But I have it on good authority that she has another book in the works!😉 Very highly recommended!
5 amazing, memorable stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By the way, if you’d like to view a recording of any of the 2021 or 2022 book club conversations, you can do so by visiting: https://scotiabankgillerprize.ca/gill.... The 60-minute discussions uniquely pair the longlisted authors with Canadian icons, other writers, journalists, reviewers, presidents of publishing houses, and artistic figures as interviewers. The Giller Book Club brings all of this homegrown talent into the homes of Canadians and people around the world and invites them into the conversation by allowing attendees to ask the author questions.
June 4, 2021
This novel tells the story of an unconventional life unconventionally, by giving others' perspectives of the central character, Astra, for readers to piece together how Astra lives, how she makes decisions, and how she interacts with others. I found it very interesting to read about how Astra was constantly judged and analyzed by the many characters orbiting around her.
June 13, 2021
This was a very compelling read! Quite engrossing. I'm sure I won't articulate it well, but it is an exploration of your identity as seen through others. Who are you to them, and in turn, who does this make you?
It will be quite interesting to see if the Giller judges are keen to put this one on the Longlist?
It will be quite interesting to see if the Giller judges are keen to put this one on the Longlist?
January 13, 2022
I loved this book! Love the writing and especially the structure.
The main character is Astra.
Each chapter told from a different point of view, but all connected to various stages in Astra life.
Here’s the list of chapter names:
Raymond
Kimmy
Clodagh
Brendan
Sativa
Doris
Lauren
Nick
Dom
Hugo
Epilogue: Astra
There are ten chapters, just like the 10 sides of a decahedron dice—a significant thread throughout the story. Sometimes rolling the dice for an answer. Letting Fate decide.
There are ten people and ten points of view.
At first when I saw the word “dice” instead of “die”. I thought it incorrect.
So I did an online search and learned that in modern standard English dice can be used as singular and plural. So I learned something new!
The character Clodagh has a son named Freedom, early on in the book Raymond (Astra’s father) feels the name is too much pressure for a kid. That freedom is something you have to seize or earn, that it can’t be handed to you. Interestingly enough he also believes that one should not impose their beliefs on their offspring in such ways.
Raymond is an interesting character.
Astra is named after the stars. A child of the universe, with a father who is very hands off.
In the Kimmy chapter, one of my favorites, on page 89 …. maybe it means it’s more important to act like you’re doing okay than to actually be okay.
Page 622
We’re not just matter. Where not fucking stars in the cosmos. We are one human life stacked on top of the traumas and the tragedies of another.
I don’t feel as if I really know Astra. But it’s a haunting similarity to how we never really know someone anyway which seems appropriate in this book.
I love how the connections add up along the way, how little things flow from chapter to chapter.
If you haven’t read this book, I’d suggest giving it a go!
The main character is Astra.
Each chapter told from a different point of view, but all connected to various stages in Astra life.
Here’s the list of chapter names:
Raymond
Kimmy
Clodagh
Brendan
Sativa
Doris
Lauren
Nick
Dom
Hugo
Epilogue: Astra
There are ten chapters, just like the 10 sides of a decahedron dice—a significant thread throughout the story. Sometimes rolling the dice for an answer. Letting Fate decide.
There are ten people and ten points of view.
At first when I saw the word “dice” instead of “die”. I thought it incorrect.
So I did an online search and learned that in modern standard English dice can be used as singular and plural. So I learned something new!
The character Clodagh has a son named Freedom, early on in the book Raymond (Astra’s father) feels the name is too much pressure for a kid. That freedom is something you have to seize or earn, that it can’t be handed to you. Interestingly enough he also believes that one should not impose their beliefs on their offspring in such ways.
Raymond is an interesting character.
Astra is named after the stars. A child of the universe, with a father who is very hands off.
In the Kimmy chapter, one of my favorites, on page 89 …. maybe it means it’s more important to act like you’re doing okay than to actually be okay.
Page 622
We’re not just matter. Where not fucking stars in the cosmos. We are one human life stacked on top of the traumas and the tragedies of another.
I don’t feel as if I really know Astra. But it’s a haunting similarity to how we never really know someone anyway which seems appropriate in this book.
I love how the connections add up along the way, how little things flow from chapter to chapter.
If you haven’t read this book, I’d suggest giving it a go!
May 28, 2024
this one is going to stick with me for a long time
October 6, 2021
I’ve now read two books in a row where editors and author don’t know that the singular form of dice is die. Of course, the very last page on this has to have that on it. Haunted me this entire damn book. The die is cast. Not the dice ffs. (David Mitchell is the other author with a book peppered with this mistake, btw).
ANYWAY—Astra is a pretty interesting book. One which I’ve got mixed feelings on, if I’m honest. From just after conception to her reaching old-ish age—70s, it seems like—we leap from character to character in linear time; receiving her life filtered through individuals that orbit her for various proximity and length.
Usually, these people go from not understanding Astra very well, to catching a glimpse of who she is. Often, they’re not understanding of her trauma or triggering it.
I have complicated feelings about using these people as devices to portray Astra, a person immediately abandoned by her family to fend for herself, spring boarding her into various forms of trauma she has to process by herself. They generally don’t have interesting stories themselves either, though this varies from tedious to great. Sometimes they occur, other times they’re there to give a brief snapshot of a specific time period. It’s just a bit… weird? I guess? To tell a person’s story, especially as loaded as it is, via everyone else’s lens.
On the one hand, I really like that we see her grow to be who she is despite this adversity and despite people who, pretty literally are drawn to her because of her trauma in order to sculpt her into what they want. Or otherwise project themselves onto her. There’s perseverance there. And there is an arc and a sort of plot, in the way that anyones life story would be a kind of plot. Luckily this comes together for a pretty nice ending. Some of which ties together some seemingly fairly loose threads the book weaves near the start.
But while we see Astra via others, I also don’t really feel like we know her that well, either. And so, the small epilogue where it finally is her at the end narrating, doesn’t feel like it’s enough. The sum total of her is fragmentary interactions, most of which were harmful to her person in some way. And so, while it’s nice to see some progress of her, it still feels very odd to spend most of your time in superfluous narratives in which the point is another character, and so most of the content isn’t exactly pertinent. It’s also quite unreliable.
I like that it’s a bit out of the box, but in, say, The Bone Clocks, where every chapter revolves around Holly in linear snapshots, each chapter is a short story that ties into the meta story and that character is well developed and has a plot and it’s beats. You get everything. Whereas this is never actually centering Astra, nor does it have very interesting characters or arcs, typically. It’s well written and interesting conceptually, yet it tries to refuse what people want from a story… ostensibly to paint a complex character via others. I’m not sure I can say that it fully succeeds, as you can tell.
Does it matter we never really come to understand Astra as she sees herself? I don’t know. It’s interesting enough that it exceeded my expectations of it. And I don’t think it having to be completely success affects my expectations, since it wasn’t what I expected—and I like that. It’s obviously thought provoking and slightly different than other narratives similar to it. Im glad it exists and think it took some chops to bookend it so well. The ending really does feel like a resolution I hadn’t expected.
So, yeah, mixed bag. Not completely surprised it didn’t make it to the short list of the Giller but also very happy it made it to the longlist. I nabbed it even before then, so I’m ahead of the curve.
ANYWAY—Astra is a pretty interesting book. One which I’ve got mixed feelings on, if I’m honest. From just after conception to her reaching old-ish age—70s, it seems like—we leap from character to character in linear time; receiving her life filtered through individuals that orbit her for various proximity and length.
Usually, these people go from not understanding Astra very well, to catching a glimpse of who she is. Often, they’re not understanding of her trauma or triggering it.
I have complicated feelings about using these people as devices to portray Astra, a person immediately abandoned by her family to fend for herself, spring boarding her into various forms of trauma she has to process by herself. They generally don’t have interesting stories themselves either, though this varies from tedious to great. Sometimes they occur, other times they’re there to give a brief snapshot of a specific time period. It’s just a bit… weird? I guess? To tell a person’s story, especially as loaded as it is, via everyone else’s lens.
On the one hand, I really like that we see her grow to be who she is despite this adversity and despite people who, pretty literally are drawn to her because of her trauma in order to sculpt her into what they want. Or otherwise project themselves onto her. There’s perseverance there. And there is an arc and a sort of plot, in the way that anyones life story would be a kind of plot. Luckily this comes together for a pretty nice ending. Some of which ties together some seemingly fairly loose threads the book weaves near the start.
But while we see Astra via others, I also don’t really feel like we know her that well, either. And so, the small epilogue where it finally is her at the end narrating, doesn’t feel like it’s enough. The sum total of her is fragmentary interactions, most of which were harmful to her person in some way. And so, while it’s nice to see some progress of her, it still feels very odd to spend most of your time in superfluous narratives in which the point is another character, and so most of the content isn’t exactly pertinent. It’s also quite unreliable.
I like that it’s a bit out of the box, but in, say, The Bone Clocks, where every chapter revolves around Holly in linear snapshots, each chapter is a short story that ties into the meta story and that character is well developed and has a plot and it’s beats. You get everything. Whereas this is never actually centering Astra, nor does it have very interesting characters or arcs, typically. It’s well written and interesting conceptually, yet it tries to refuse what people want from a story… ostensibly to paint a complex character via others. I’m not sure I can say that it fully succeeds, as you can tell.
Does it matter we never really come to understand Astra as she sees herself? I don’t know. It’s interesting enough that it exceeded my expectations of it. And I don’t think it having to be completely success affects my expectations, since it wasn’t what I expected—and I like that. It’s obviously thought provoking and slightly different than other narratives similar to it. Im glad it exists and think it took some chops to bookend it so well. The ending really does feel like a resolution I hadn’t expected.
So, yeah, mixed bag. Not completely surprised it didn’t make it to the short list of the Giller but also very happy it made it to the longlist. I nabbed it even before then, so I’m ahead of the curve.
August 1, 2023
June 9, 2021:
ASTRA by Cedar Bowers is a very good debut novel! It follows the life of Astra, who grew up on an isolated farm commune, told through ten different people in her life. I really enjoyed the unique storytelling as we learn about Astra chronologically but indirectly. She was forever mysterious which probably led to her charm but overall this is a depressing read. I truly loved the Canadian setting. I’d definitely be interested to continue to read books by this author.
.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley for my advance review copy!
July 31, 2023:
I just reread this book and I am crying at the end. Loved it!!!
ASTRA by Cedar Bowers is a very good debut novel! It follows the life of Astra, who grew up on an isolated farm commune, told through ten different people in her life. I really enjoyed the unique storytelling as we learn about Astra chronologically but indirectly. She was forever mysterious which probably led to her charm but overall this is a depressing read. I truly loved the Canadian setting. I’d definitely be interested to continue to read books by this author.
.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley for my advance review copy!
July 31, 2023:
I just reread this book and I am crying at the end. Loved it!!!
March 2, 2022
Oh I loved this piece of Canadian lit! Conceptually, this was fascinating. A character study over the course of 60 years revealed to you through 10 differing POVs. Highly recommend this one!
February 9, 2022
I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this book that I randomly picked up at the library.
The book “Astra” is Cedar Bower’s, debut novel, a Canadian author. I’m truly impressed by the author’s talent, skill, originality, raw and beautiful storytelling. It rolls easily off the pages, for the reader to devour.
The main character of the book, Astra, is born and raised on remote farm/commune called Celestial in British Columbia, and we follow her story from a young age to adulthood. During her childhood she is forced to be independent and self sufficient, with little to no support from her father, no mother, or a stable home to support her.
An important event during this time is when, as a baby, a cougar attacks her and leaves large scars across her lower face.
These scars symbolize the deep marks left on her during this time in her life. This part of her story never escapes her and shapes her in many ways. It sets her apart as “different”, a complex women with deep scars. A story she escapes, but also owns. Scars she can’t erase but has to live with.
A new story she wants to write for herself.
Even though the story is Astra’s, she is not the one telling it to us. Every chapter is written from a different perspective, a different person that has intersected with her in her life. As the story goes on, the narrators are closer and closer to Astra in her life, until in the epilogue we get a chance to hear her speak, to tell her where she is now from her own point of view.
What makes this stormy truly interesting is indeed this unique way of depicting the main character. We see Astra through the eyes of the people around her, we see her as they do, and we also think and feel a certain way toward her, as the characters do. Rescue, control, love, pity, become, change or escape her.
For example, we meer a childhood playmate who lives close to Celestial, and at first loves Astra, but then comes to fear her unique and often unpredictable ways. Or the stranger who hires her as a teenager, a girl with no home and no job, having escaped the farm, and offers her his own home while he struggles with his own demons. Or the mother and wife who hires Astra as a live-in nanny, at first considering her family but slowly despising her, as well as her own life. Or the man who marries her, a week after actually meeting her. Or the father of her son Hugo.
Who is Astra? Who is she really? How can we shape her identity without the colored glasses that everyone sees her through?
But that is exactly how the author wants us to see her, and understand her. Seeing her in the ways other see her. It’s up to us to filter through it and understand who she is, beyond everyone’s limited point of view. I have come to see her as a really strong woman, overcoming her barriers, and learning to be the person she wants to be.
This book highlights the incredible amount of impact we have in those around us; an impact that is sudden, a small encounter, a small amount of time where we share something with someone, our paths crossing, diverging the curve of our path ever so slightly. Changing us.
Changing them.
Do we ever truly now someone? Do we ever truly understand the people around us? Their scars, their stories, their pasts, present and future?
Astra showed me how everyone can be a kaleidoscope of colors and textures and collection of stories; Collection of interactions, relationship and small tiny moments that shape us, who we are and who we want to become.
It showed me that everyone sees us through their own lens, bringing with them their own set of baggage and struggles. No one sees us “objectively” or neutrally, but rather with color. Everyone’s sense of color slightly different from the other; my blue slightly different then yours.
This was a really beautiful book, unique story and incredible way of meeting and trying to understand someone.
I feel like I have grown a relationship of my own with Astra. Formed my own chapter about her.
Looking forward to more books by Cedar Bowers!
The book “Astra” is Cedar Bower’s, debut novel, a Canadian author. I’m truly impressed by the author’s talent, skill, originality, raw and beautiful storytelling. It rolls easily off the pages, for the reader to devour.
The main character of the book, Astra, is born and raised on remote farm/commune called Celestial in British Columbia, and we follow her story from a young age to adulthood. During her childhood she is forced to be independent and self sufficient, with little to no support from her father, no mother, or a stable home to support her.
An important event during this time is when, as a baby, a cougar attacks her and leaves large scars across her lower face.
These scars symbolize the deep marks left on her during this time in her life. This part of her story never escapes her and shapes her in many ways. It sets her apart as “different”, a complex women with deep scars. A story she escapes, but also owns. Scars she can’t erase but has to live with.
A new story she wants to write for herself.
Even though the story is Astra’s, she is not the one telling it to us. Every chapter is written from a different perspective, a different person that has intersected with her in her life. As the story goes on, the narrators are closer and closer to Astra in her life, until in the epilogue we get a chance to hear her speak, to tell her where she is now from her own point of view.
What makes this stormy truly interesting is indeed this unique way of depicting the main character. We see Astra through the eyes of the people around her, we see her as they do, and we also think and feel a certain way toward her, as the characters do. Rescue, control, love, pity, become, change or escape her.
For example, we meer a childhood playmate who lives close to Celestial, and at first loves Astra, but then comes to fear her unique and often unpredictable ways. Or the stranger who hires her as a teenager, a girl with no home and no job, having escaped the farm, and offers her his own home while he struggles with his own demons. Or the mother and wife who hires Astra as a live-in nanny, at first considering her family but slowly despising her, as well as her own life. Or the man who marries her, a week after actually meeting her. Or the father of her son Hugo.
Who is Astra? Who is she really? How can we shape her identity without the colored glasses that everyone sees her through?
But that is exactly how the author wants us to see her, and understand her. Seeing her in the ways other see her. It’s up to us to filter through it and understand who she is, beyond everyone’s limited point of view. I have come to see her as a really strong woman, overcoming her barriers, and learning to be the person she wants to be.
This book highlights the incredible amount of impact we have in those around us; an impact that is sudden, a small encounter, a small amount of time where we share something with someone, our paths crossing, diverging the curve of our path ever so slightly. Changing us.
Changing them.
Do we ever truly now someone? Do we ever truly understand the people around us? Their scars, their stories, their pasts, present and future?
Astra showed me how everyone can be a kaleidoscope of colors and textures and collection of stories; Collection of interactions, relationship and small tiny moments that shape us, who we are and who we want to become.
It showed me that everyone sees us through their own lens, bringing with them their own set of baggage and struggles. No one sees us “objectively” or neutrally, but rather with color. Everyone’s sense of color slightly different from the other; my blue slightly different then yours.
This was a really beautiful book, unique story and incredible way of meeting and trying to understand someone.
I feel like I have grown a relationship of my own with Astra. Formed my own chapter about her.
Looking forward to more books by Cedar Bowers!
September 14, 2022
Somehow this book put all the pain and joys of existing and being with others on paper. 🥹🥹 like yes life is hard but there is so much joy too, people (including yourself!) will show you so much cruelty, pettiness, but also unimaginable kindness, mercy, etc. When I tell you I am absolutely TOUCHED!!!! by the Humanity of this book. Crying
dnf
March 24, 2023This novel's structure of portraying the main character obliquely through the perspectives of others just isn't working for me anymore. I don't care about Astra and I don't care about any of the narrators either. DNF at 118 pages.
May 5, 2022
This book did a great job of teasing out relationship dynamics in relatively short and contained character studies. Really enjoyed :)
Read
December 17, 2021Although the summary of the book sounded interesting to me and it is well written, I did not like this book. I did not like the characters and the animal cruelty stopped me from reading any further. I don't rate books I don't finish as I don't think it is fair to the author.
December 8, 2021
3.5 rounded up
I love the way the story was constructed. And the writing is beautiful.
But I dislike Astra a lot, and I don't know if the reader is supposed to dislike her.
I love the way the story was constructed. And the writing is beautiful.
But I dislike Astra a lot, and I don't know if the reader is supposed to dislike her.
June 22, 2021
I received a very poor quality pdf of this book from net galley and so I struggled with the tiny font and numerous blank pages etc but I persevered because the book is well-written and its main character, Astra which is also the book's title is quite intriguing. Astra is a perfect example of a book with excellent character building. I love how this book takes the reader chronologically from Astra's birth to her golden years. It is definitely not a slow crawl as it often skips a few years in between and moves along from childhood to young adult to motherhood to middle age etc. very quickly. Each chapter is titled after a character with whom Astra's life intersects; each providing a point of view on Astra while enlarging the reader's perspective about this fascinating protagonist.
Astra is born in a commune in a remote area of British Columbia. A place she describes quite early as "... a place that isn't even real, that only exists as an idea. A place filled with irresponsible dreamers like them and leftover kids like us". Her father, Raymond, is not thrilled that he has somehow fathered a child and due to a lack of proper medical services at the commune, Astra's mother dies during childbirth. Astra is raised by a neglectful father in the commune where there are transients and people who are all running away from one thing or another. Without any parental or adult supervision, Astra is almost mauled by a cougar; lucky to be alive and escaping with permanent, distinct scars on her face. Astra roams freely and wanders the very under-developed and primitive property referred to as Celestial.
Astra befriends a young girl of similar age and from an adjoining property. She comes across as manipulative, mean, and controlling. Her survival skills are already very honed. Next, Astra meets Clodagh, a previous resident at Celestial who returns having tried to survive in the city without any luck. Clodagh knows Astra's mom and was actually present when Astra was born. She attempts to be a surrogate mother to Astra but Astra is not interested in any mothering in her teenage years. Clodagh arrives at Celestial with her two children - Freedom (son) and Sativa (daughter) - both becoming important components of Astra's life.
Astra leaves the commune for the city and winds up at a mall looking for a job. She meets Brandon who is willing to give her a job, and a place to stay thereby saving her from homelessness. Astra then crosses paths with Tabitha who helps her with make-up to minimize her scars and also offers to share her apartment at a low cost to help Astra cope with her new life in the city. All of these people including Chris, the guy who runs the mall security are all taken in by Astra's naiveté and her unconventional upbringing.
Astra's life seems to be always heading upward. She lives in luxury at Chris' house while she tends to her newborn baby, Hugo. Astra assumes motherhood with fervour even hiding the baby's existence from his biological father. At her mother's instigation, Sativa, Clodagh's daughter, comes to live with Astra to help her with the new baby. Sativa sees Astra as manipulative and very successful in getting people to feel sorry for her and helping her when she encounters some difficulty. Astra is however, very resilient, resourceful and self-sufficient. She is able to move on and take care of herself when warranted.
Astra connects with Doris who actually owns Celestial, the result of her "live off the land" and "no waste" ideas. Doris and Astra's dad are childhood friends; her dad being the son of the groundskeeper of Doris' family luxurious estate. When Doris inherits the estate, she denounces what she sees as capitalism and materialism; she alters the estate profoundly. The lawns are no longer cared for and the property is hacked into many apartments and leased out to people trying to get their lives together. Into this run-down mansion and new environment surrounded by hippie-type neighbours, Astra settles down to raise her son. When it becomes apparent that Astra and her son have completely invaded Doris' space, privacy, and generosity, Doris reluctantly asks Astra to leave.
Another man comes to her rescue. Lauren's husband discovers Astra at his son's school where the two boys are friends. Astra is able to secure free lodging in exchange for after school care for Lauren's son. Lauren tries to give Astra a chance at betterment by mentoring her towards college. As Astra's life progresses, it is mind boggling how she prods forward and how her path intersects with others revealing and unburdening their own baggage.
Astra's journey is a continuum of an abused, broken soul to an heiress and a maturity where her life is no longer guided by the toss of a die or by words declaring her "child of the cosmos, ruler of the skies”. Astra Winter Sorrow Brine marries, divorces, mothers a child, becomes a grandmother, and finally allows herself the chance to heal and grow as she returns to the derelict commune of her childhood and an aging father who needs care and attention. Nicely wrapped up. A powerful debut novel from a writer with great promise. I look forward to what next she produces.
Favourite quotes:
I’ve found it’s much, much harder to lose the people who never gave you enough, than it is to lose the ones who gave you everything.
We're one human life stacked on top of the traumas and the tragedies of another.
Astra is born in a commune in a remote area of British Columbia. A place she describes quite early as "... a place that isn't even real, that only exists as an idea. A place filled with irresponsible dreamers like them and leftover kids like us". Her father, Raymond, is not thrilled that he has somehow fathered a child and due to a lack of proper medical services at the commune, Astra's mother dies during childbirth. Astra is raised by a neglectful father in the commune where there are transients and people who are all running away from one thing or another. Without any parental or adult supervision, Astra is almost mauled by a cougar; lucky to be alive and escaping with permanent, distinct scars on her face. Astra roams freely and wanders the very under-developed and primitive property referred to as Celestial.
Astra befriends a young girl of similar age and from an adjoining property. She comes across as manipulative, mean, and controlling. Her survival skills are already very honed. Next, Astra meets Clodagh, a previous resident at Celestial who returns having tried to survive in the city without any luck. Clodagh knows Astra's mom and was actually present when Astra was born. She attempts to be a surrogate mother to Astra but Astra is not interested in any mothering in her teenage years. Clodagh arrives at Celestial with her two children - Freedom (son) and Sativa (daughter) - both becoming important components of Astra's life.
Astra leaves the commune for the city and winds up at a mall looking for a job. She meets Brandon who is willing to give her a job, and a place to stay thereby saving her from homelessness. Astra then crosses paths with Tabitha who helps her with make-up to minimize her scars and also offers to share her apartment at a low cost to help Astra cope with her new life in the city. All of these people including Chris, the guy who runs the mall security are all taken in by Astra's naiveté and her unconventional upbringing.
Astra's life seems to be always heading upward. She lives in luxury at Chris' house while she tends to her newborn baby, Hugo. Astra assumes motherhood with fervour even hiding the baby's existence from his biological father. At her mother's instigation, Sativa, Clodagh's daughter, comes to live with Astra to help her with the new baby. Sativa sees Astra as manipulative and very successful in getting people to feel sorry for her and helping her when she encounters some difficulty. Astra is however, very resilient, resourceful and self-sufficient. She is able to move on and take care of herself when warranted.
Astra connects with Doris who actually owns Celestial, the result of her "live off the land" and "no waste" ideas. Doris and Astra's dad are childhood friends; her dad being the son of the groundskeeper of Doris' family luxurious estate. When Doris inherits the estate, she denounces what she sees as capitalism and materialism; she alters the estate profoundly. The lawns are no longer cared for and the property is hacked into many apartments and leased out to people trying to get their lives together. Into this run-down mansion and new environment surrounded by hippie-type neighbours, Astra settles down to raise her son. When it becomes apparent that Astra and her son have completely invaded Doris' space, privacy, and generosity, Doris reluctantly asks Astra to leave.
Another man comes to her rescue. Lauren's husband discovers Astra at his son's school where the two boys are friends. Astra is able to secure free lodging in exchange for after school care for Lauren's son. Lauren tries to give Astra a chance at betterment by mentoring her towards college. As Astra's life progresses, it is mind boggling how she prods forward and how her path intersects with others revealing and unburdening their own baggage.
Astra's journey is a continuum of an abused, broken soul to an heiress and a maturity where her life is no longer guided by the toss of a die or by words declaring her "child of the cosmos, ruler of the skies”. Astra Winter Sorrow Brine marries, divorces, mothers a child, becomes a grandmother, and finally allows herself the chance to heal and grow as she returns to the derelict commune of her childhood and an aging father who needs care and attention. Nicely wrapped up. A powerful debut novel from a writer with great promise. I look forward to what next she produces.
Favourite quotes:
I’ve found it’s much, much harder to lose the people who never gave you enough, than it is to lose the ones who gave you everything.
We're one human life stacked on top of the traumas and the tragedies of another.
March 10, 2024
Wow, wow, wow! Pourquoi ne l’ai-je pas lu avant? C’est brillant, addictif, émouvant.
Ce livre raconte l’histoire d’Astra, à partir de sa naissance jusqu’à un âge avancé, à travers les yeux de Raymond, Kimmy, Brendon, Lauren, Doris, Hugo et quelques autres qui l’ont côtoyée. À chaque chapitre, l’un d’eux prend la parole et raconte son histoire.
Au fil des pages, on découvre Astra tout en nuances. On se laisse prendre au jeu: dès qu’on termine avec l’un des personnages, on veut lire la suite pour découvrir une autre facette de la personnalité de cette fougueuse jeune femme. Doucement, le roman tisse la vie d’Astra. On revoit même certains personnages. Donc, on ne reste pas en appétit, après la fin du chapitre qui lui est consacré. À la fin, tout est bouclé habilement.
En somme, c’est excellent! Un vrai coup de cœur!
Ce livre raconte l’histoire d’Astra, à partir de sa naissance jusqu’à un âge avancé, à travers les yeux de Raymond, Kimmy, Brendon, Lauren, Doris, Hugo et quelques autres qui l’ont côtoyée. À chaque chapitre, l’un d’eux prend la parole et raconte son histoire.
Au fil des pages, on découvre Astra tout en nuances. On se laisse prendre au jeu: dès qu’on termine avec l’un des personnages, on veut lire la suite pour découvrir une autre facette de la personnalité de cette fougueuse jeune femme. Doucement, le roman tisse la vie d’Astra. On revoit même certains personnages. Donc, on ne reste pas en appétit, après la fin du chapitre qui lui est consacré. À la fin, tout est bouclé habilement.
En somme, c’est excellent! Un vrai coup de cœur!
November 1, 2021
A warm, empathetic, and brilliantly structured novel. (Yes, I'm obsessing about narrative structure again.) We get to know the main character through a series of interconnected short stories and then, in the final chapter of the book, we get to hear from Astra herself. At least one reviewer hated that final chapter, but I loved the way it drew so many of the plot points together. This is a truly impressive novel -- and the fact that it's a debut novel makes it nothing short of magnificent. I can't wait to see what Cedar Bowers writes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2022
Ummm… another story about a disenfranchised child raised on a commune out in the middle of nowhere… It definitely felt like a retread of books I’ve read before. The saving grace was the short story styling… the different perspectives on a damaged life. Ultimately - I couldn’t connect…
November 18, 2023
What a beautiful way to look at generational traumas and lenses of knowing and perception. It perfectly encapsulates how people are not just one thing. Loved it!
August 22, 2024
My Rating: 4.5/5
Astra is a fabulously written (and narrated) novel that is going to stay with me for quite some time.
The book reads like a compilation of 10 short stories, some that I liked and others that I loved, about a girl/woman named Astra as seen through the eyes of ten others throughout her life (dad, husband, childhood playmate, son, boss, etc.). Astra is born on a remote commune in British Columbia, Canada, and spends her life navigating the fallout of being raised without a proper home/foundation, schooling, rules, responsible adults, a mom, etc. Some of the stories were sad, some hopeful, and some downright heart-wrenching.
This is a very character driven novel that unwinds at a slower pace. Readers/listeners will appreciate Cedar Bowers' writing and how she weaves Astra's life story. I was really impressed by this book.
Astra is a fabulously written (and narrated) novel that is going to stay with me for quite some time.
The book reads like a compilation of 10 short stories, some that I liked and others that I loved, about a girl/woman named Astra as seen through the eyes of ten others throughout her life (dad, husband, childhood playmate, son, boss, etc.). Astra is born on a remote commune in British Columbia, Canada, and spends her life navigating the fallout of being raised without a proper home/foundation, schooling, rules, responsible adults, a mom, etc. Some of the stories were sad, some hopeful, and some downright heart-wrenching.
This is a very character driven novel that unwinds at a slower pace. Readers/listeners will appreciate Cedar Bowers' writing and how she weaves Astra's life story. I was really impressed by this book.
October 14, 2021
Although it sat on my shelf for a few months, Astra by Cedar Bowers wasn’t pushed to the top of my stack until it appeared on the Scotiabank Giller Prize Longlist. I wish my reading wasn’t a slave to the prize lists, but I must admit it helps me narrow down my selection when faced with a never-ending TBR! Unfortunately it didn’t make the Giller shortlist but I’m glad I read it anyway, because it has become one of my favourite books of the year.
Plot Summary
Astra is born on a farming commune in British Columbia to a man named Raymond who reluctantly accepts fatherhood as Astra’s mother dies in childbirth. There are ten chapters in total detailing her life through other people’s eyes; the young girl she befriends as she runs wild on the commune, the concerned mother who attempts to mother Astra during her teen years, the various men Astra falls into romantic relationships with, and the family members and friends who circle in and out of her life. The book ends with an epilogue told from Astra’s perspective when she’s entering her early senior years and faced with the results of her decisions (or lack thereof) made through a single lifetime. Despite her strange upbringing, her life is far from remarkable, in fact one may be shocked at how ‘normal’ Astra ends up being, especially considering Raymond refuses to take almost any responsibility for her growing up, continuing on his selfish way until the very end. Her story is a common one, but Bower’s writing and stylistic choices elevate this coming-of-age tale to a memorable look at one woman’s beginning, middle and (close to) end.
My Thoughts
Astra is left with both physical and mental scars from her time on Raymond’s commune. Because we hear from another few children and parents who spent time there, we quickly get a sense of how failed an experiment this place truly is. Raymond and his friend are idealistic founders, hoping it will serve as an escape, but also proof that one can live off the land outside of society’s commercial expectations. Unfortunately, selfishness is at the root of its failure. Although most people come and go from it after immediately recognizing its problems, Astra spends her entire childhood there, vulnerable to not only the elements of nature, but the evils of human nature as well. Most will recognize the danger Astra is in on the commune right at the beginning of the book, so I became cautiously concerned for Astra’s well-being as soon as we were introduced to her. As she moves through life, her strange beginnings shape how others interact with her; sometimes with jealousy, sometimes with overt concern. This book isn’t so much about Astra herself, but how one person’s perceived weakness can bring out either the best, or the worst in people circling in their orbit.
I rarely mention cover design in my reviews because I lack a real artistic eye – and those who know me well, know this is an understatement! But I wanted to mention how incredibly insightful this cover is, and how it actually shaped the way I read this book. You’ll see there is a prism of light stemming from the woman’s face which led me to view all these various chapters/perspectives of her as a type of gift; the innate ability to see different shades of one person, all coming together to create a brilliant and complete spectrum. It’s not important that we are getting the absolute truth of Astra, instead we are experiencing her in all different forms, through the various lenses of a vast array of people. These differing, sometimes competing viewpoints of our protagonist is what made this book so profound for me, I became so wholly invested in Astra’s life that I felt I had said goodbye to an old friend by the last page. Reading about Astra placing glow-in-the-dark stars on her father’s ceiling just about broke me – you’ll know what I’m talking about when you reach that part!
The jump in perspectives is not at all jarring, in fact, it’s what keeps this book moving along so quickly. Astra’s story so lovingly details what it means to be human, but enough happens to her that even plot-hungry readers will enjoy this book. This novel has wide appeal so I’m hopeful it will continue in popularity well past the Giller announcement on November 08.
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Plot Summary
Astra is born on a farming commune in British Columbia to a man named Raymond who reluctantly accepts fatherhood as Astra’s mother dies in childbirth. There are ten chapters in total detailing her life through other people’s eyes; the young girl she befriends as she runs wild on the commune, the concerned mother who attempts to mother Astra during her teen years, the various men Astra falls into romantic relationships with, and the family members and friends who circle in and out of her life. The book ends with an epilogue told from Astra’s perspective when she’s entering her early senior years and faced with the results of her decisions (or lack thereof) made through a single lifetime. Despite her strange upbringing, her life is far from remarkable, in fact one may be shocked at how ‘normal’ Astra ends up being, especially considering Raymond refuses to take almost any responsibility for her growing up, continuing on his selfish way until the very end. Her story is a common one, but Bower’s writing and stylistic choices elevate this coming-of-age tale to a memorable look at one woman’s beginning, middle and (close to) end.
My Thoughts
Astra is left with both physical and mental scars from her time on Raymond’s commune. Because we hear from another few children and parents who spent time there, we quickly get a sense of how failed an experiment this place truly is. Raymond and his friend are idealistic founders, hoping it will serve as an escape, but also proof that one can live off the land outside of society’s commercial expectations. Unfortunately, selfishness is at the root of its failure. Although most people come and go from it after immediately recognizing its problems, Astra spends her entire childhood there, vulnerable to not only the elements of nature, but the evils of human nature as well. Most will recognize the danger Astra is in on the commune right at the beginning of the book, so I became cautiously concerned for Astra’s well-being as soon as we were introduced to her. As she moves through life, her strange beginnings shape how others interact with her; sometimes with jealousy, sometimes with overt concern. This book isn’t so much about Astra herself, but how one person’s perceived weakness can bring out either the best, or the worst in people circling in their orbit.
I rarely mention cover design in my reviews because I lack a real artistic eye – and those who know me well, know this is an understatement! But I wanted to mention how incredibly insightful this cover is, and how it actually shaped the way I read this book. You’ll see there is a prism of light stemming from the woman’s face which led me to view all these various chapters/perspectives of her as a type of gift; the innate ability to see different shades of one person, all coming together to create a brilliant and complete spectrum. It’s not important that we are getting the absolute truth of Astra, instead we are experiencing her in all different forms, through the various lenses of a vast array of people. These differing, sometimes competing viewpoints of our protagonist is what made this book so profound for me, I became so wholly invested in Astra’s life that I felt I had said goodbye to an old friend by the last page. Reading about Astra placing glow-in-the-dark stars on her father’s ceiling just about broke me – you’ll know what I’m talking about when you reach that part!
The jump in perspectives is not at all jarring, in fact, it’s what keeps this book moving along so quickly. Astra’s story so lovingly details what it means to be human, but enough happens to her that even plot-hungry readers will enjoy this book. This novel has wide appeal so I’m hopeful it will continue in popularity well past the Giller announcement on November 08.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Sign up for my newsletter here: https://ivereadthis.com/subscribe/
Or follow me on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ivereadthis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivereadthisblog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivereadthis
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD6E...
February 2, 2022
“Astra, you are a child of the cosmos and ruler of the skies.”
This wonderful novel is my first five star book of 2022. Longlisted for the 2021 Gilles, Astra is a portrait of a woman if that portrait was painted by 10 different painters. Using a brilliant narrative structure, the novel is split into 10 voices, each chapter told through the perspective of someone pivotal in Astra’s life. From infancy to old age, we see Astra gradually unfold before us — sometimes we ache for her and sometimes we rage at her but always we root for her.
Reading almost like a series of short stories, Bowers draws on common themes throughout the book: our human need for relationship, learning who to trust and how to trust ourselves, acceptance vs independence, discovering how to have relationships and trust and acceptance without sacrificing control. And while Astra is the “North Star” around which the stories are told, the other characters sometimes shine more brightly. Astra is an enigma — both friendly and unfriendly, both selfish and generous, intelligent yet impulsive to the point of dangerous, seeking acceptance and affection only to reject it. If there is one thing the reader gleans throughout this book, it is that no one individual voice — not even when that voice is Astra herself — paints the full portrait. And isn’t that the truth about all of us.
“We are one human life stacked upon the trauma and tragedies of another.”
This wonderful novel is my first five star book of 2022. Longlisted for the 2021 Gilles, Astra is a portrait of a woman if that portrait was painted by 10 different painters. Using a brilliant narrative structure, the novel is split into 10 voices, each chapter told through the perspective of someone pivotal in Astra’s life. From infancy to old age, we see Astra gradually unfold before us — sometimes we ache for her and sometimes we rage at her but always we root for her.
Reading almost like a series of short stories, Bowers draws on common themes throughout the book: our human need for relationship, learning who to trust and how to trust ourselves, acceptance vs independence, discovering how to have relationships and trust and acceptance without sacrificing control. And while Astra is the “North Star” around which the stories are told, the other characters sometimes shine more brightly. Astra is an enigma — both friendly and unfriendly, both selfish and generous, intelligent yet impulsive to the point of dangerous, seeking acceptance and affection only to reject it. If there is one thing the reader gleans throughout this book, it is that no one individual voice — not even when that voice is Astra herself — paints the full portrait. And isn’t that the truth about all of us.
“We are one human life stacked upon the trauma and tragedies of another.”
June 5, 2023
I am gently weeping. I don't normally gravitate towards character driven novels but I loved this book. Firstly, my subjective opinion is clouded by the similarities between Astra and my mother, and while our relationship isn't the same as Astra and Hugo's, the vibes are similar. So right away I feel a real tenderness towards Astra as a character. I feel like Cedar is a genius of building characters: each chapter constructs a complete, full human in addition to revealing a piece of Astra through that chapter's POV character. Even though Astra possesses a kind of charismatic aura that prevents some people from seeing her as anything more than a caricature, the book treats Astra as a grounded character. I genuinely think Cedar Bowers wrote the shit out of this book, I want to read it again. I really, really loved it.
October 5, 2021
A beautiful, thoughtful novel. I particularly appreciated the way Cedar Bowers structured this book, so that we could see each of these these West Coast eccentrics and dreamers through the eyes of all the other characters. The author trusts her readers to make sense of the disparate portraits of each person whose life intersects with Astra's; each shift in perspective adds depth to the portrait of a young woman living on the margins, and the price she pays for this.
August 8, 2021
Atmospheric, reads like a connected short stories, engrossing yet easy to pick up and put down. Poses fascinating questions about how well can we really know someone else? Engaging use of perspective, and unreliable narration. I will think about some of the stories for a long time to come.
Read
November 13, 2021This book was a certain 5 stars. Kept me so gripped, I read it in one ferry ride.
We follow the story of Astra, through the eyes of different people at different stages of her life.
We follow the story of Astra, through the eyes of different people at different stages of her life.
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