ymary's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
om_nom_nomigon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
bandanna3's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hollyberrybooks's review
emotional
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
myjourneywithbooks's review against another edition
DNF
In 1969 Essex, a pregnant (initially unnamed) 16-year-old finds herself banished to one of the remotest parts of the UK to hide her condition and give birth. Fast forward to 2005 and our main characters Nell and Dougie are both going through difficult moments in their lives when their paths cross. Nell has just made a discovery about herself and her family that leaves her reeling, and is on a journey to dig up more of the past. Dougie is...well, I'm not really sure what the deal is with Dougie. His chapters were the most boring.
Out of the three PoV's in the book, the one set in the past and told through the eyes of the pregnant teenager was the most interesting. Dougie's, as I've mentioned, completely bored me and Nell's storyline fell somewhere in between, making me sit up with interest at times and making my eyes glaze over at other times. I did like reading about her complicated relationship with her mother and her memories of the past.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy this book but it just wasn't for me. The pace was too slow and though I was curious about finding out what eventually happened to the teenager from 1969, the journey to the end of the book seemed too tedious for me to continue on it. I made it to the halfway point before giving up on it.
In 1969 Essex, a pregnant (initially unnamed) 16-year-old finds herself banished to one of the remotest parts of the UK to hide her condition and give birth. Fast forward to 2005 and our main characters Nell and Dougie are both going through difficult moments in their lives when their paths cross. Nell has just made a discovery about herself and her family that leaves her reeling, and is on a journey to dig up more of the past. Dougie is...well, I'm not really sure what the deal is with Dougie. His chapters were the most boring.
Out of the three PoV's in the book, the one set in the past and told through the eyes of the pregnant teenager was the most interesting. Dougie's, as I've mentioned, completely bored me and Nell's storyline fell somewhere in between, making me sit up with interest at times and making my eyes glaze over at other times. I did like reading about her complicated relationship with her mother and her memories of the past.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy this book but it just wasn't for me. The pace was too slow and though I was curious about finding out what eventually happened to the teenager from 1969, the journey to the end of the book seemed too tedious for me to continue on it. I made it to the halfway point before giving up on it.
herreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Florence Lawson, pregnant and afraid at the age of 16, is sent away to the Outer Hebrides to stay with her stepfather's brother to have the baby in solitude and in secrecy.
Nell Hartley works in the Chaffinch community cafe. She visits her mother Helen regularly in her care home. Helen suffers from an unnamed mental illness, possibly dementia, and frequently forgets she has a daughter and often doesn't recognise Nell. It isn't until Helen keeps calling Nell Florence that she decides to look into her family history, and enlists the help of her Aunt Marjorie.
Then there is Dougie Munro, a photographer of garden gadgets for catalogues, who decides to return to the place of his birth on the Isle of Harris.
For a time it is difficult to see how they might all be connected but, ultimately, and beautifully, they are seamlessly woven together in an ending that I just didn't want to reach. Freya's descriptions of the Scottish landscapes and of the Isle of Harris are nothing short of spectacular - so descriptive in fact that you can almost feel the biting wind and driving rain on your face, and hear the sound of the white shell sand under your feet as you walk beside the characters on the beach at Luskentyre.
This is such a beautiful story - incredibly poignant and palpably emotionally moving. The characters felt very real and three dimensional and I felt emotionally invested in them all.
I felt undeniably bereft when I turned the last page and didn't want to leave the characters behind.
A very easy 5 star review from me!
Nell Hartley works in the Chaffinch community cafe. She visits her mother Helen regularly in her care home. Helen suffers from an unnamed mental illness, possibly dementia, and frequently forgets she has a daughter and often doesn't recognise Nell. It isn't until Helen keeps calling Nell Florence that she decides to look into her family history, and enlists the help of her Aunt Marjorie.
Then there is Dougie Munro, a photographer of garden gadgets for catalogues, who decides to return to the place of his birth on the Isle of Harris.
For a time it is difficult to see how they might all be connected but, ultimately, and beautifully, they are seamlessly woven together in an ending that I just didn't want to reach. Freya's descriptions of the Scottish landscapes and of the Isle of Harris are nothing short of spectacular - so descriptive in fact that you can almost feel the biting wind and driving rain on your face, and hear the sound of the white shell sand under your feet as you walk beside the characters on the beach at Luskentyre.
This is such a beautiful story - incredibly poignant and palpably emotionally moving. The characters felt very real and three dimensional and I felt emotionally invested in them all.
I felt undeniably bereft when I turned the last page and didn't want to leave the characters behind.
A very easy 5 star review from me!
ncloke's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
michelovestoread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0