Description (Goodreads):- We left a tip and the waitress shot us what I suppose was intended to be a look of gratitude. She really only managed a weak glare. I guess that's the countryside for you. People are a little edgy'. A young inquisitive girl hitches a lift with an older charismatic Bohemian man. Neither has a final destination in mind, and so they find themselves drifting aimlessly through middle America; driving, smoking, sharing confidences, looking out for each other, and stopping as and when the mood takes them. Their relationship is pure, simple - and when they do finally have sex, it's she who makes the first move. But this is a strange, stolen time that must come to an end: the girl will grow up; the man's past will catch up with him; and the world outside will not accept their relationship. With shades of Lolita and Morvern Callar, "The Ice Age" is a remarkable first novel, with an exceptional voice that's both seductive and compelling, and which readers will quite simply fall in love with.
Review:- I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I read the description. It was a book I was compelled to read from start to finish. The Ice Age is one of those books you will either love or hate. One thing I didn't like was that you didn't ever find out the protagonist's name, but she was an interesting and loveable, if not very naive character.
The story is about a road trip, not sure how it started and we do not know anything prior to the road trip, other than few snip-its from the other characters in the book called Gunther's, past. So Gunther and a young almost eighteen year old go on a road trip. The stop at some hillbilly towns in America on their way to their destination. Sometimes staying with Gunther's friends sometimes in Motels. Gunther is a middle aged man and he and the girl get quite a few funny looks when on their travels. Not always is this father and daughter looks.
Everything is perfectly innocent, they are just friends, until the chemistry kicks in. Gunther knows it is wrong but the girl peruses it. Eventually Gunther puts a stop to their more than friendship relationship. But the girl is already head over heels for him. When Gunther goes off, she gets herself into some trouble with some teenage boys, this part I found very difficult to read. It wasn't too graphic but graphic enough.
I could not put this book down, nothing exciting or particularly interesting happened in the book, but I had to find out what happened next. Where they were going, who they going to meet, what was happening. It really was one of those I can't turn my head away scenario's.
The fact I am a mum I struggle with the Lolita scenario, although not a mum of a girl, I do have nieces, so I thought I would find this book hard to read. But it is done in a tasteful way and you can see how much these characters really do feel for each other, there is love there. The girl however is too young to really know what she wants.
I would have liked to have known her name, this annoyed me about the book. I would like to know how she came to be on a road trip so young and I would like to know happened next in New York. Also where Gunther got his money from. These are all questions I have unanswered.
I would recommend this as a light and compelling read. I warn you, once you pick it up you won't be able to stop. A perfect coming of age novel, which is charged with emotion and will stay with you. It is a good read and I am glad I read it.
Disclaimer:- I was sent this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review which I have given above.
