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"Unexploded" is a novel by Alison MacLeod that explores the lives of a group of characters living in Brighton, England during World War II. The novel is set in the summer of 1940, a time when the city was facing the threat of German bombs.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is its portrayal of the ways in which the war affected the lives of ordinary people. The novel explores the fears and anxieties of the characters as they struggle to come to terms with the possibility of death and destruction. Through their struggles, MacLeod shows how the war touched every aspect of their lives, from their relationships to their work to their sense of self.

Another intriguing aspect of the novel is its use of multiple narrators. Each chapter is told from the point of view of a different character, allowing the reader to get a sense of how the war impacted the lives of people from different walks of life. This technique also allows the author to build tension as the reader is privy to different characters thoughts, feeling and emotions as the possibility of a bombing looms over them.

The novel also explores the theme of love and sacrifice. The characters must confront the possibility that their loved ones may be taken from them at any moment, and they must make difficult decisions about what they are willing to sacrifice for the people they care about. Through the characters' struggles, MacLeod shows that even in the darkest of times, love and connection can be a source of hope and strength.

Additionally, the novel also delves into the theme of how the war shapes the individual and collective memory. The characters find themselves struggling to come to terms with their pasts, present and potential future. The war forces them to confront their own mortality and the uncertain future.

The novel is richly detailed and well-researched, drawing on historical events to create a believable and immersive setting. MacLeod also effectively uses symbolism and imagery to convey the emotions and themes of the novel, particularly the unexploded bombs which both symbolizes the characters fears and anxieties, the threat of death and destruction and the unexplored possibilities.

Overall, "Unexploded" is a powerful and moving novel that explores the human cost of war through the eyes of ordinary people. Through its richly detailed characters, multiple narrators and well-researched setting, MacLeod gives readers a glimpse into the ways in which the war touched every aspect of people's lives, and how it continues to shape them and our collective memory.