Tag Archives: dual timeline fiction

#BookReview ‘The Story Spinner’ by Barbara Erskine @Barbaraerskine #historical

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The Story Spinner by Barbara Erskine is an absorbing time-lapse story which combines the lost romance between a Welsh princess and a Roman general with a modern-day archaeological-investigation, all knitted together by mythical connections, visions and a disappearing dog. Barbara ErskineThere are two distinct storylines. Cadi, ‘the observer, the unseen diarist, the only witness. The Novelist. The story spinner,’ is a modern-day poet with a mystic sensitivity to the people who lived on the ancient site next to her Welsh cottage. Supposed to be writing poetry based on a Welsh myth, instead she finds herself free-writing prose based on visions of the life of Elen, a Welsh princess living in 382AD. Little is known of her life as she appears in few historical documents. So when Cadi imagines Elen as a teenager, she unlocks the story of her marriage to a Roman general.
Cadi has always suspected that the meadow next to her cottage is the site of an ancient army camp. When she starts to hear marching footsteps and the sounds of soldiers on the move, she calls in her druid uncle, Professor Meryn Jones. Their excitement at the potential discovery is deflated by the news that the unknown owner of the meadow is seeking planning permission for a housing development. Draft plans show houses built right up to the hedge in Cadi’s back garden. Bereft at losing her sense of peace and isolation and being unable to walk in the beautiful meadow, she throws herself into investigation. During the day she talks to town planners and archaeologists. At night she sits with pen and notebook writing the story of Elen’s life. In channelling the story of Elen, Cadi also discovers fascinating characters including Branwen, a wise woman.
The unveiling of Elen’s life as a teenage bride and young mother, a Welsh princess who must subjugate herself to the authority of her husband, develops alongside the modern-day investigation into the meadow. Complicating the issue is the re-appearance in the village of Cadi’s ex, Ifan, who throughout their relationship was bullying and threatening. Cadi is afraid he is stalking her again.
This is a tale with complicated connections that Erskine handles with skill. I enjoyed this very much though it’s a trifle long for me, there are sections towards the end that I wanted to move a little quicker. Overall an unusual, compelling read.

Here’s my review of THE DREAM WEAVERS, also by Barbara Erskine.

If you like this, try:-
‘The Prophet’ by Martine Bailey #2TABITHAHART
‘The Confessions of Frannie Langton’ by Sara Collins
‘The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock’ by Imogen Hermes Gowar

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview THE STORY SPINNER by Barbara Erskine @Barbaraerskine https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-8Fb via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:- Pat Barker

#BookReview ‘The Hidden Years’ by Rachel Hore @Rachelhore #WW2 #Sixties

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The Hidden Years by Rachel Hore is a dual-timeline story set in and around a Cornish country mansion, Silverwood, during World War Two and twenty years later. Events that occur in the Forties have long tentacles and, although the Sixties feels a free and liberated time, the after-effects of the war are very real. Rachel HoreWhen nineteen-year old Belle falls for a musician, she leaves university without sitting her last exam and travels with him to Cornwall to an artistic commune near Falmouth and the Helford Estuary. Despite feeling the odd one out at Silverwood, Belle cannot contemplate leaving because she has fallen in love with Gray. And then she stumbles on a number of coincidences which trigger questions about her own background. An unexplained conversation overheard, a photo of a strange woman holding a baby, a shabby box containing the belongings of a nurse.
In the wartime strand we meet Imogen Lockhart, on her way to Cornwall by train. Her role is as a responsible adult accompanying two young brothers travelling to their school which has been evacuated to a country house, Silverwood. Though intending to return home, Imogen finds herself remaining at St Mary’s School where the matron has been taken ill. In fact she stays in Cornwall, completes her nursing training and works in a hospital. The Hidden Years is about Belle and Imogen and the connection between them.
This is a story of mystery, romance and relationships, rather than a story of war. Despite the threat of bombing, I found it slow and repetitive in places and skipped paragraphs which summarised things I’d already read. I was underwhelmed rather than disappointed. At times I was exasperated with Belle and the 1966 strand and would have been happier if the novel concentrated on Imogen’s story. Much of the important action at the end of the book is reported, not shown happening in real time, and so I felt distant from the secret when it was finally revealed. Cornwall is the hero of this book, it really steps off the pages and becomes true. The descriptions of Silverwood, during the war and in the Sixties, make it seem a real house.
Rachel Hore is a favourite author for me and, despite thinking The Hidden Years could be so much better, there are still plenty of her books for me to read. So far, my favourite is A Beautiful Spy.

Click the title to read my reviews of other books by Rachel Hore:-
A BEAUTIFUL SPY
A WEEK IN PARIS
ONE MOONLIT NIGHT
THE LOVE CHILD

If you like this, try:-
‘The Secret Shore’ by Liz Fenwick
‘Another You’ by Jane Cable
‘After the Bombing’ by Clare Morrall

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview THE HIDDEN YEARS by Rachel Hore @Rachelhore https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-7BP via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:- Tim Pears