3.5 stars rounded up, because this book is so readable.
I think the level of enjoyment for a reader of this book depends on what they hope to gain from it. For an easy and entertaining historical fiction (think holiday read), ‘The Foundling’ could be a perfect choice. For a twisty mystery, with complexity and a feeling of devastation that the book has ended, not so much.
The premise is a good one, and based on historical truth. Bess Bright gives birth to an illegitimate daughter - unmarried, and with only a shrimp seller’s wage to live on, she gives her daughter up to the Foundling Hospital in the hope that she will have a better upbringing away from crowded conditions and disease. Bess vows to return to reclaim her when her circumstances are better, or Clara is old enough to survive as her apprentice. This beginning is handled so well, and based on how life used to be for many women having to make such a terrible choice, it is the most emotive part of the novel. On returning six years later, Bess finds that Clara was collected the day after she was left at the hospital, by someone who claimed to be Bess. From here, Bess seeks to find and reclaim her daughter from whoever took her.
What this book did well was draw me in to the time period, place, and character’s lives easily. Without excessive detail (I barely noticed it), I was in 18th Century London. The two POV characters (Bess and Alexandra) had interesting backstories which played a huge role in their decisions and behaviour. Alexandra’s past trauma and its effect on her mental health is handled sensitively - her character in particular is interesting, and one I would have liked to have seen more of. The character's actions mostly make sense, in context of their situations. Which makes for especially heart-breaking first chapters, when Bess gives up her baby for a better life. I like a good emotive read, and it was the first part of the book which engaged me the most.
What disappointed me was the lack of twists and turns in the plot. Given the synopsis, I expected mystery and strange events. The plot itself was relatively simple, and the only strange thing was the level of coincidence involved in the major events. Things worked out so conveniently to drive the story in a particular direction at key moments, that it was not believable. That’s not to say that it was not a good read. I went in with high expectations, and hopes of a particular type of story which was not delivered on.
Apart from a few convenient scenarios, the tension in the book’s climax was fast paced and readable. I definitely found myself cheering Bess on while thinking ‘don’t do that!’. I liked the minor characters who came into play, and their relationships with the main characters. I also enjoyed the development in Bess and Alexandra as the book progressed, seeing how they changed based on their experiences. This is a book about motherhood, and I believe ‘The Foundling’ delivers on that, exploring some avenues of a complex subject. While the book could have gone deeper, I think that would have taken away from the nature of this book - a fast(ish) paced fiction.
What disappointed me most about the characters and their decisions, was the book’s ending. Without giving it away, their choices in the final few chapters made little sense to me. While they may have shown growth, it happened so abruptly that it seemed like they were completely different characters from where they were earlier on the same fictional day! While turnaround in view can happen quickly, I couldn’t find it believable, and the ending was much less satisfying than it could have been. It didn’t give me the warm fuzzy feeling, or the haunting sadness that it could have done had it been believable and drawn out to its conclusion more naturally. It felt kind of rushed.
Since reading this book I have bought Stacey Halls’ first novel, ‘The Familiars’, and can’t wait to read it soon. Although ‘The Foundling’ didn’t quite hit the mark for me, the writing and story were engaging, and flowed in a way that I couldn’t help but be drawn in by. I will keep an eye out for future books by this author.
I think the level of enjoyment for a reader of this book depends on what they hope to gain from it. For an easy and entertaining historical fiction (think holiday read), ‘The Foundling’ could be a perfect choice. For a twisty mystery, with complexity and a feeling of devastation that the book has ended, not so much.
The premise is a good one, and based on historical truth. Bess Bright gives birth to an illegitimate daughter - unmarried, and with only a shrimp seller’s wage to live on, she gives her daughter up to the Foundling Hospital in the hope that she will have a better upbringing away from crowded conditions and disease. Bess vows to return to reclaim her when her circumstances are better, or Clara is old enough to survive as her apprentice. This beginning is handled so well, and based on how life used to be for many women having to make such a terrible choice, it is the most emotive part of the novel. On returning six years later, Bess finds that Clara was collected the day after she was left at the hospital, by someone who claimed to be Bess. From here, Bess seeks to find and reclaim her daughter from whoever took her.
What this book did well was draw me in to the time period, place, and character’s lives easily. Without excessive detail (I barely noticed it), I was in 18th Century London. The two POV characters (Bess and Alexandra) had interesting backstories which played a huge role in their decisions and behaviour. Alexandra’s past trauma and its effect on her mental health is handled sensitively - her character in particular is interesting, and one I would have liked to have seen more of. The character's actions mostly make sense, in context of their situations. Which makes for especially heart-breaking first chapters, when Bess gives up her baby for a better life. I like a good emotive read, and it was the first part of the book which engaged me the most.
What disappointed me was the lack of twists and turns in the plot. Given the synopsis, I expected mystery and strange events. The plot itself was relatively simple, and the only strange thing was the level of coincidence involved in the major events. Things worked out so conveniently to drive the story in a particular direction at key moments, that it was not believable. That’s not to say that it was not a good read. I went in with high expectations, and hopes of a particular type of story which was not delivered on.
Apart from a few convenient scenarios, the tension in the book’s climax was fast paced and readable. I definitely found myself cheering Bess on while thinking ‘don’t do that!’. I liked the minor characters who came into play, and their relationships with the main characters. I also enjoyed the development in Bess and Alexandra as the book progressed, seeing how they changed based on their experiences. This is a book about motherhood, and I believe ‘The Foundling’ delivers on that, exploring some avenues of a complex subject. While the book could have gone deeper, I think that would have taken away from the nature of this book - a fast(ish) paced fiction.
What disappointed me most about the characters and their decisions, was the book’s ending. Without giving it away, their choices in the final few chapters made little sense to me. While they may have shown growth, it happened so abruptly that it seemed like they were completely different characters from where they were earlier on the same fictional day! While turnaround in view can happen quickly, I couldn’t find it believable, and the ending was much less satisfying than it could have been. It didn’t give me the warm fuzzy feeling, or the haunting sadness that it could have done had it been believable and drawn out to its conclusion more naturally. It felt kind of rushed.
Since reading this book I have bought Stacey Halls’ first novel, ‘The Familiars’, and can’t wait to read it soon. Although ‘The Foundling’ didn’t quite hit the mark for me, the writing and story were engaging, and flowed in a way that I couldn’t help but be drawn in by. I will keep an eye out for future books by this author.