Just as the two key protagonists of this novel find in terms of how they build their relationships, if readers want success and fulfilment from Still Here, then they will need to work at it. Grant is a great novelist, but Still Here does not hit the highs of some of her other works, such as A Stranger City, Upstairs at the Party, and The Clothes on Their Backs. There are certain recurring themes across all her works, especially the inescapability of Jewishness, both religious and cultural, and all the baggage that comes with it. Struggle for assimilation in the (modern) world combined with recognition of the past is another enduring topic. As Still Here might suggest from its title, much of this novel focuses on survival and endurance. Being set in Liverpool (Grant's hometown), Chicago and Dresden is logical, for all three cities certainly know about these gritty subjects. The work, if nothing else, is a wonderful homage to Liverpool. It is also about how two strangers seek to avoid (successfully) midlife crises. It is worth persevering with this work, seven and a half out of ten.
By Linda Grant