Book Review: "Euphoria" by Lily King

Hi Steemians!

Back with another book review, this time of the stunning and fascinating "Euphoria" by Lily King.

This novel is set in New Guinea in 1933 and follows three young anthropologists, the American Nell Stone (inspired by Margaret Mead), her Australian husband Fen and the Brit Andrew Bankson. Nell and Fen have to prematurely leave the tribe they are currently studying and are aided by Andrew, who's been studying tribes along the Sepik river by himself for several years and has subsequently grown quite lonely. He helps them find a new tribe to study and finds himself particularly taken with Nell.

The book has very little plot but I barely noticed because I was so fascinated with the setting and the characters. King writes about fictional tribes but has based them on actual research and it shows. Her writing is atmospheric, educational and inspirational all at the same time.

But what made this book for me were the characters. Nell is determined, fiercely intelligent and famous for a controversial book she published on children's sex lives in a tribe in the South Pacific. Her husband Fen is possessive, jealous of Nell's success and somewhat stuck in her shadow. The two have been trying to conceive, but have never succeeded. Andrew is a little lost, weighed down by expectations he can't fulfill and instantly fascinated with Nell. I loved watching them interact, especially since Andrew's presence seems to bring out the best in both Nell and Fen and they end up developing some revolutionary theories.

This book is beautiful, moving, tragic and utterly unforgettable. I really, really enjoyed this one and highly recommend you pick it up as well!