Grind by Edward Vukovic

Title: Grind
Authors: Edward Vukovic
Genre: Contemporary
Source: The author
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2 February 2016)
Blurb:

ZIVA’S LOVE OF COFFEE IS DOUBLE-EDGED . . .

Throughout her life, Ziva has lent her talent freely to those desperate for a glimpse into destiny’s promise. Predicting the future with chilling accuracy, she understands the cost and has sworn never to divine her own truth.

Having fled the economic aftershocks of the Balkan war, Ziva struggles adjusting to her new life and clings to the remnants of her past. Until she meets Isaac.

Against her better judgement, Ziva reads for herself and what she sees will change her life irrevocably.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Review:

GRIND is Edward Vukovic’s debut novel. It is a contemporary novel set in Australia. It follows the story of Ziva, who was born in the old Yugoslavia, and followed her brother and his wife to Australia fleeing the economic aftershocks of the Balkan war. Ziva does her best to fit into this strange new place, and to not upset her brother on whose good will she is reliant. Ziva clings to the customs her grandmother taught her, and the gift she inherited from her, despite her brother’s pointed disdain. Then she meets Isaac, and things change for both of them.

I’ll be honest, I had not heard of GRIND until I received an email from the author asking me if I would be interested in reading it. Once I saw and the cover and read the blurb I was instantly curious. GRIND did not disappoint me. I found it easy to slip into the world, and follow Ziva’s journey through the book. Ziva’s outlook on the world was an interesting one, and despite not being a coffee fan I enjoyed the way that the different sections of the novel are linked through this bitter beverage. The story flows well, and I think if you’re interested in expanding your horizons a little bit then this book is well worth a read.

Although GRIND is, without a doubt, Ziva’s story the book is narrated by and follows the story of five interconnected people. Ziva’s story is the driving force of the narrative, but we also get to know Simon, Isaac, Michel and Danielle, and see how all five of them are connected. I enjoyed seeing events covered from the different perspectives, with different lives and histories. Vukovic paints a really detailed picture of what life is like in this particular place and time. As well as showing how different people’s lives can interconnect and create a greater narrative.

My main complaint about this book, and it’s a trivial one, is that I would have liked there to be a bit more of it. I wanted the stories to continue on a bit after where the book currently ends, but having said that I do think Vukovic ended the book well as it feels complete. I just want to see what happens next in their lives. I found the story easy to follow, and as I mentioned earlier I thought that even with the different narrators the story flows well. There was one point where I got confused as to who the narrator was, but apart from that it was easy to keep track of whose story was whose.

If you’re looking for an intriguing contemporary read, or a book set in Australia then GRIND is well worth a read. It is, of course, more than both those things – it is a book about family, about loss, about new beginnings, and it’s also a book about the past and the future. But above all else, GRIND is a book that will suck you in.