A Woman Made of Snow is the first of Elisabeth’s books that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Set across two time periods, it tells the story of the Gillan family – past and present. We meet Caroline as she and Alasdair are starting their married life, along with their infant daughter Felicity. They are living with Alasdair’s mother, which is a struggle for Caroline, on the grounds of Kelly Castle. Caroline is restless and longs for some time alone for her family without intrusion from her well-meaning but nonetheless always there mother-in-law. The estate is in trouble and in danger of falling into the hands of a new owner which is absolutely not what the family would like. However, Caroline is offered an opportunity to delve into the family archives and find a way of solving an old mystery which may help preserve the future of the estate. We are also introduced to Charlotte and Louisa who spent their holidays at Kelly Castle following the loss of their parents. Their summers were idyllic, playing with other children and having space to roam with the castle as the backdrop. However, as they grew up, things began changing and their welcomes were no longer as warm as they once had been.
I really liked following the two stories as the chapters moved between the timelines. I felt a lot of empathy for Caroline – her life has taken an unexpected turn from her initial plans and although she is happy in many ways, there are a lot of things which are out of her control and cause frustration and upset. When we first met her she was ambitious, bright and quite forward thinking. However, life got in her way and her academic aspirations had to make way for a more domestic lifestyle. As a new mother, she is not necessarily as supported as she could be and she feels somewhat of an outsider despite being part of her husband’s family. In both timelines, there are complex relationships between children and parents, within families and within romantic relationships. It is easy in 2021 to forget how women’s freedom was limited, even within the last one hundred years and I found this interesting to read and reflect upon. I also liked how the mother son relationship was depicted across both timelines and how times may change but some of the same issues will still arise.
I found A Woman Made of Snow to be an absorbing and engrossing read. The backdrop is set well and the mystery really draws you in and keeps you guessing. A fantastic journey back in time and through Scotland, into the Arctic; you will be captivated!
I really liked following the two stories as the chapters moved between the timelines. I felt a lot of empathy for Caroline – her life has taken an unexpected turn from her initial plans and although she is happy in many ways, there are a lot of things which are out of her control and cause frustration and upset. When we first met her she was ambitious, bright and quite forward thinking. However, life got in her way and her academic aspirations had to make way for a more domestic lifestyle. As a new mother, she is not necessarily as supported as she could be and she feels somewhat of an outsider despite being part of her husband’s family. In both timelines, there are complex relationships between children and parents, within families and within romantic relationships. It is easy in 2021 to forget how women’s freedom was limited, even within the last one hundred years and I found this interesting to read and reflect upon. I also liked how the mother son relationship was depicted across both timelines and how times may change but some of the same issues will still arise.
I found A Woman Made of Snow to be an absorbing and engrossing read. The backdrop is set well and the mystery really draws you in and keeps you guessing. A fantastic journey back in time and through Scotland, into the Arctic; you will be captivated!