This I've known these past long weeks as the waves sweep through me in rushes and ripples, pulling me under, lifting me up. Wave after wave after wave on a tide that only ever comes in...
***
The Blurb
Little Wing is the powerful story of two families over three generations.
1969. Florence Lawson, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who dreams of being an artist, finds herself pregnant and banished to one of the most remote parts of the UK.
1986. Dougie Munro, searching for adventure, leaves the Isle of Harris – the island of his birth – for art college and a career in London as a photographer.
2005. Nell Hartley, content with her life managing a care-in-the-community cafe in Colchester, discovers a shocking truth about her family.
Between the sprawl of London, suburban Essex, and the wild, unpredictable Outer Hebrides, three lives collide and interweave as questions are asked and secrets surface. What happened to Florence? Why is Dougie now so reluctant to return home? How can Nell make peace with the lies she's been told?
Little Wing is a novel about resilience, forgiveness and the true meaning of family, about finding one's place in the world and discovering how we all belong somewhere and to someone.
My Review
Little Wing is a delightful book and was a five star read for me and I was completely gripped by it. The story is connected by three different time frames:
1969 when pregnant at sixteen Florence finds herself banished to the Isle of Harris.
1986 when Dougie finds himself leaving the island in pursuit of a photography career.
2004 when Nell is instrumental in bringing the first two timelines together.
The characters in this book were extremely well drawn. However, the Isle of Harris, where the book is set is a character in itself and is vital to the plot. Everything that occurs in the book revolves around the sense of place, and it has been exceptionally well conveyed by the author. There were times I felt as though I was there. I could almost feel the wind fiercely blowing and could sense the cold and isolation that the island brings to the characters.
It has been beautifully written. Ms. North is clearly a great storyteller with a clear understanding of her characters. She understands emotion and the different forms that love can take.
It is a life affirming and heartfelt book which filled me with both tears of sadness and joy. I was fully invested in the characters and at times my heart broke for Nell.
It had a wonderfully satisfying conclusion but I was a little bereft when it finished as I wanted to spend more time with the characters. It is a beautiful story that absolutely captivated me.
Brilliant in every way and I highly recommend this book.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1787397637
Publisher: Mountain Leopard Press
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback
No. of Pages: 400 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Freya North is the author of many bestselling novels which have been translated into numerous languages. She was born in London but lives in rural Hertfordshire, where she writes from a stable in her back garden. A passionate reader since childhood, Freya was originally inspired by Mary Wesley, Rose Tremain and Barbara Trapido: fiction with strong and original characters.
(media courtesy of Good Reads and https://freyanorth.com/)
(all opinions are my own)
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