Books that I’ve loved and re-read time and time again have nearly always emphasised character over plot. Take, for example, Anne, Emily, Little Lord Fauntleroy and the little princess. There’s something about character that just warms me, perhaps because it’s like discovering a friend, rather than having an experience. Stories with exciting plots are certainly a joy to read and do give me a thrill, but sometimes, I need more than that. I need to know all those people who are having those experiences.
The Ant Colony was one of those books where I got to know the people in the book, and wanted to get to know them better. I just kept reading it until I had finished! It’s one of those books that makes you smile and cry and wonder.
So many books that I’ve read recently have concentrated on complexity of plot at the cost of fullness of character. This one had a simple plot with eclectic characters that I loved. Little Bohemia is a classic character, moulded along the lines of Anne, down to the red hair and the incessant talking. Isabel is the inquisitive, yet affectionate, old woman, one of those who can nose out any information whatsoever. Then there’s the junkie Cherry, anxiously searching for love and comfort.
It was a book that made me cry, and sometimes, that’s the best thing I can say about a book.
| Title | The Ant Colony |
| Author | Jenny Valentine |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Rating (out of 5) | 5 |
| Age-group | 10+ |
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