After reading Mrs England last year and loving it I was determined to read Stacey Halls’ other two novels that were sat on my bookcase waiting. I actually found this one on Borrow Box and was keen to get started so decided to opt for a listen instead.
Well I was absolutely captivated by this story and devoured the audiobook in a matter of days. I was invested in Bess’s story and desperately wanted to know what happened to her child. I can’t begin to imagine the pain she was going through and how she would be able to get her child back.
When the story moved to Alexandra’s point of view we got a glimpse of how the other half live or in Alexandra’s case, don’t live. For her and her daughter Charlotte life was quiet and very lonely, I couldn’t help but feel that it was also damaging to Charlotte, not being allowed out like any normal child. I was also struck by Alexandra’s lack of maternal instinct, quite often she was brash and cold towards Charlotte which I found difficult to understand. As is the case with most stories there was certainly more to Alexandra than meets the eye.
Here we had two women, both mother’s but from entirely different paths. Aside from Charlotte the other thing they had in common was the lack of family. I had to feel for Bess because she lacked so much support from her father and brother. She was the glue that held them both together and I couldn’t believe how disloyal her brother became. I was really pleased when Bess found Lyle. His straight talking savvy attitude brought a lightness to the story and I think Alexandra took a liking to him.
Overall this was a harrowing story that explored the aged question of ‘what does it take to be a mother?’ Set against Georgian London with vividly dark scenes, this story will seep into your bones and cling to your heart strings.
Well I was absolutely captivated by this story and devoured the audiobook in a matter of days. I was invested in Bess’s story and desperately wanted to know what happened to her child. I can’t begin to imagine the pain she was going through and how she would be able to get her child back.
When the story moved to Alexandra’s point of view we got a glimpse of how the other half live or in Alexandra’s case, don’t live. For her and her daughter Charlotte life was quiet and very lonely, I couldn’t help but feel that it was also damaging to Charlotte, not being allowed out like any normal child. I was also struck by Alexandra’s lack of maternal instinct, quite often she was brash and cold towards Charlotte which I found difficult to understand. As is the case with most stories there was certainly more to Alexandra than meets the eye.
Here we had two women, both mother’s but from entirely different paths. Aside from Charlotte the other thing they had in common was the lack of family. I had to feel for Bess because she lacked so much support from her father and brother. She was the glue that held them both together and I couldn’t believe how disloyal her brother became. I was really pleased when Bess found Lyle. His straight talking savvy attitude brought a lightness to the story and I think Alexandra took a liking to him.
Overall this was a harrowing story that explored the aged question of ‘what does it take to be a mother?’ Set against Georgian London with vividly dark scenes, this story will seep into your bones and cling to your heart strings.