Lesley Pearse is, beyond any doubt, a gifted writer. I have only read one other of her books before which was Trust Me - a harrowing story based on true events about two children who were sent to Australia on the pretext of starting a new life, which turned out to be little more than a life of slavery, abused by those in a position of trust.
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Father Unknown therefore, had a fairly tall order to live up to based on how engaging Trust Me was. And indeed it doesn't fail to deliver. It opens with the story of dizzy Daisy who, after her adoptive mother's death, goes in search of her real mother in the hope of understanding her past. Much of the book is taken up with the story of Daisy's real mother Ellen and Ellen's half sister Josie and how their lives move in two totally different directions, shaping their lives and personalities to a tragic end for both. Pearse tells the tale of parental cruelty, abandonment and lost innocence in such a way that you can't help but feel sorry for those involved. The story is also set in Cornwall, an area which although vibrant and full of life in the summer, becomes drab and isolated in the winter - an area discarded by the tourists after their fun in much the same way as Josie's character is discarded by men. A lot of time is spent on Josie in the book as her character surprisingly is the pivot on which much of the story falls. Pearse does a great job on capturing the hardship of both girls' situations and how the personality of each goes a long way in turning their lives into what they are - an idea highlighted in it's extreme once again by Josie's character.
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This book, just like Trust Me is not for the faint-hearted. Pearse is not a woman who shies away from detail in the most extreme situations or makes pretty scenes purely to appease. Some paragraphs describing Josie's life are so harrowing I had to read them twice to make sure I'd read them right. Pearse should be commended for this. She doesn't put these scenes in purely for shock value - they are there because afterwards we understand more about the character and their actions and why they are the way they are. She writes life like it is and is not afraid to put in the nitty-gritty either which I personally feel is one of her most admirable qualities. On the other hand she also expresses love and happiness with equal vehemence which makes a wholly balanced and entertaining story for the reader with brilliant plot development, character assassination and an engaging twist to the story at it's climax. Ellen and Josie may have been let down by society, but you won't be let down by Pearse.
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I've released this book into the wild via http://www.bookcrossing.com/ and its BCID is 881-5133217 - enjoy!
.
Father Unknown therefore, had a fairly tall order to live up to based on how engaging Trust Me was. And indeed it doesn't fail to deliver. It opens with the story of dizzy Daisy who, after her adoptive mother's death, goes in search of her real mother in the hope of understanding her past. Much of the book is taken up with the story of Daisy's real mother Ellen and Ellen's half sister Josie and how their lives move in two totally different directions, shaping their lives and personalities to a tragic end for both. Pearse tells the tale of parental cruelty, abandonment and lost innocence in such a way that you can't help but feel sorry for those involved. The story is also set in Cornwall, an area which although vibrant and full of life in the summer, becomes drab and isolated in the winter - an area discarded by the tourists after their fun in much the same way as Josie's character is discarded by men. A lot of time is spent on Josie in the book as her character surprisingly is the pivot on which much of the story falls. Pearse does a great job on capturing the hardship of both girls' situations and how the personality of each goes a long way in turning their lives into what they are - an idea highlighted in it's extreme once again by Josie's character.
.
This book, just like Trust Me is not for the faint-hearted. Pearse is not a woman who shies away from detail in the most extreme situations or makes pretty scenes purely to appease. Some paragraphs describing Josie's life are so harrowing I had to read them twice to make sure I'd read them right. Pearse should be commended for this. She doesn't put these scenes in purely for shock value - they are there because afterwards we understand more about the character and their actions and why they are the way they are. She writes life like it is and is not afraid to put in the nitty-gritty either which I personally feel is one of her most admirable qualities. On the other hand she also expresses love and happiness with equal vehemence which makes a wholly balanced and entertaining story for the reader with brilliant plot development, character assassination and an engaging twist to the story at it's climax. Ellen and Josie may have been let down by society, but you won't be let down by Pearse.
.
I've released this book into the wild via http://www.bookcrossing.com/ and its BCID is 881-5133217 - enjoy!
