Gold Fame Citrus is different from the other novels I’ve read for this blog, in that it takes a far more character based approach. The story is set in America, where, unlike the flooded settings of the other books, there has been a drought and much of South West America has become buried in sand. Water is being rationed and many people are dying from dehydration and starvation.
The story follows main character Luz, who, along with her boyfriend, Ray, find and take a toddler from her neglectful family, with the intention of heading to a safer place. It’s hard not to root for the young family, even though the world in this story is not one to be optimistic about.
The strong images and descriptive writing of Claire Vaye Watkins help to create empathy with the characters, even though they don’t often come across as likeable. The fact that the book is broken up into three sections helps with readability as it separates the stages in Luz’s and Ray’s journey (both physical and mental.)
Science Fiction and Climate change 