The Point Where The Ocean Ends by Siobhan Murphy

Book Blurb

As winter turns to spring on the North Cornish coast, Kerensa O’Connell receives an unexpected message relating to a passionate relationship from deep in her past. A message which stirs up vivid memories, and threatens to derail the comfortable life she has created for herself after years of drifting.

While the world is forced to press the pause button, Kerensa battles both mental and physical health issues and has no choice but to slow down and confront the demons that have plagued her throughout her life.

Simultaneously unfolding over a few months and several decades, the story moves from the windswept plains of East Africa to the stunning islands of the Great Barrier Reef, the tranquil mountains of the Himalayas, and the bustling cities of Europe. Kerensa confronts happiness and heartbreak through the lens of her camera and her connection to the people she loves. Piecing together her memories of love, loss, and adventure, she starts to make sense of the choices she has made and question the internal chaos that has always defined her.

Finally the secret she has been kept buried for years comes to light and Kerensa must decide once and for all what she is looking for from life and whom she wants by her side.

My Review
The Point Where The Ocean Ends is the story of Kerensa, her memories and where she sees herself in life now. The receipt of an email from someone in her past sends Keresena on a trip to her past, the places she has lived, the people she, has met and how she has got to this point in her life. As we are voyeurs to her musings we see how her complex mind works, her highs and lows and her personal thoughts.

The Point Where The Ocean Ends is a character led book, written in the first person narrative that adds to the personal nature of this book. The book is set during the Covid lockdown which is proving hard for Keresena who has wanderlust, needs her freedom to take photos leaving her feeling trapped. When she receives an email from someone in her past she starts to live in the memories from long ago, which together with her confinment is causing problems with her husband; she becomes withdrawn, and questions her life. Keresena is chaotic, both in her mind and in her life. Her memories jump from one to the other, she has spent her life moving from one place to another and isn’t the tidiest person, which infuriates her husband. All of this chaos makes her feel that she is not in control, that things are spiriling away from her. Following her thought process is a fascinating and enlightening, her travels sound amazing and how each place made an impression on her.

Siobhan Murphy’s prose is beautiful, it has a poetic feel as she brilliantly takes the reader through Kerensa’s life and her reminising of her life. She shows great understanding of the human psyche, how memories effect us and how in Kerensa’s case she needs to understand the chaos that impacts her life. I really liked the evocative descriptions of the places that Kerensa visited, she really captures the colourful scenery, the plants, the animals, the culture and the different atmopshere of each place; it really felt like I was seeing all this beauty through Kerensa’s eyes.

The Point Where The Ocean Ends is an emotional and sweeping tale of memory, wanderlust and nostalgia. The story is told with empathy, feeling and honesty that made me feel a connection with Keresna. The descriptive prose brought the book to life, capturing the senses and bringing both the different locations to life. This is a beautiful, intense and joyful read of one woman’s journey through life: Pure escapism.