This is the first book I have read by Imogen Clark, chosen really as it was available on Kindle Unlimited, reviews were generally very good and the blurb sounded interesting.
The story begins in the past with a young child picking up a postcard delivered by the postman, and a father who dismisses his daughter's request for him to read the words to her.
Fast forward twenty years and the story moves to the young child as an adult, struggling to cope with her fathers illness, begging her older brother for help. Cara tells her brother Michael that their father's Alzheimer's is getting worse, she wants to employ a nurse. During the desperate telephone conversation, their father, Joe, is causing mayhem, banging a spoon on the table, scattering tea bags on the floor and pouring milk on top.
Cara employs a nurse to help her with her father. The nurse is an interesting character. Angela Partington. I wasn't sure if I liked her at first - she seems quite forward, but as the story continues it becomes clear that Cara needs a mother figure and Mrs P is just that. Her character reminds me of a modern day Mary Poppins, and it's almost as though she arrives from nowhere and magically steadies Cara's life for her.
The story then reverts to the past. Annie and her sister Ursula have a difficult upbringing. Their father is a bully, their mother is portrayed as weak and accepting of their father's violence, both towards her and the children. Annie meets a man called Joe, and marrying Joe brings her escape from her father. It was very obvious that Joe was a similar man to Annie's father, why would Annie choose to marry a man like that - her desperation to get away from her father clouding her view of Joe.
Michael's childhood story tells of how he and Cara were left to fend for themselves, being chastised by their father when they disobeyed him, and it is clear that he misses his mother.
Back to present day and Cara finds a box marked "A" in the attic. A box filled with postcards addressed to her and Michael. Each one with the same words. The postcards span from 1987 (the year their mother died), to 2002. This obviously raises the question of their mother's death, but love letters signed "T" confuse Cara.
Michael doesn't want to know. He seems angry that Cara is even raising this question so Cara tracks down Annie's sister, Ursula, to find out the truth.
Ursula tells of the childhood that she and Annie suffered. Their father was handy with his fists, controlling and a bully. He bullied their mother and them. Annie had met Joe and Ursula was jealous that she was able to leave before her, but that Joe had turned out to be controlling too. Annie had a friend called Tilly, and Cara is shocked to learn the truth about her mother and the circumstances of her departure.
When Cara meets with Michael to discuss what she had found out from Ursula, Michael admits to knowing what had really happened. That Cara had cried for weeks and weeks and that their father couldn't stand it. Michael had been the one to look after Cara, to comfort her and protect her. Michael also explains to Cara how her arm came to be burned and his guilt at being too late to save her from being hurt.
Within the book there is a side story of Cara's friend, Beth. Beth is getting married to Greg, but Greg presents quite a controlling attitude. Cara also meets a man, Simeon. I found Simeon's character slightly misplaced and unnecessary really.
Then Joe dies. Cara is numb. Mrs P takes the reigns, both calmly making the necessary arrangements and comforting Cara at the same time. Cara is completely accepting of Mrs P's help.
This story tells of the controlling behaviour of several characters, the effect that this has on each person, and the consequences of how they deal with it. Annie's mother believes that you should stay and make a marriage work, even turning away her own daughter to return to her controlling husband. Ursula puts on a brave face until she can finally escape, hating the control of her father. Annie plans her escape from her father into the arms of Joe, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Joe's behaviour is similar to her father's. Annie then plans another escape, regardless of the consequences and yet again into the control of another. Beth seems to sidestep around Greg's behaviour.
I really enjoyed this book, the storyline was intriguing and I was glad that it did not go down the obvious route and there were a few surprises.
The story begins in the past with a young child picking up a postcard delivered by the postman, and a father who dismisses his daughter's request for him to read the words to her.
Fast forward twenty years and the story moves to the young child as an adult, struggling to cope with her fathers illness, begging her older brother for help. Cara tells her brother Michael that their father's Alzheimer's is getting worse, she wants to employ a nurse. During the desperate telephone conversation, their father, Joe, is causing mayhem, banging a spoon on the table, scattering tea bags on the floor and pouring milk on top.
Cara employs a nurse to help her with her father. The nurse is an interesting character. Angela Partington. I wasn't sure if I liked her at first - she seems quite forward, but as the story continues it becomes clear that Cara needs a mother figure and Mrs P is just that. Her character reminds me of a modern day Mary Poppins, and it's almost as though she arrives from nowhere and magically steadies Cara's life for her.
The story then reverts to the past. Annie and her sister Ursula have a difficult upbringing. Their father is a bully, their mother is portrayed as weak and accepting of their father's violence, both towards her and the children. Annie meets a man called Joe, and marrying Joe brings her escape from her father. It was very obvious that Joe was a similar man to Annie's father, why would Annie choose to marry a man like that - her desperation to get away from her father clouding her view of Joe.
Michael's childhood story tells of how he and Cara were left to fend for themselves, being chastised by their father when they disobeyed him, and it is clear that he misses his mother.
Back to present day and Cara finds a box marked "A" in the attic. A box filled with postcards addressed to her and Michael. Each one with the same words. The postcards span from 1987 (the year their mother died), to 2002. This obviously raises the question of their mother's death, but love letters signed "T" confuse Cara.
Michael doesn't want to know. He seems angry that Cara is even raising this question so Cara tracks down Annie's sister, Ursula, to find out the truth.
Ursula tells of the childhood that she and Annie suffered. Their father was handy with his fists, controlling and a bully. He bullied their mother and them. Annie had met Joe and Ursula was jealous that she was able to leave before her, but that Joe had turned out to be controlling too. Annie had a friend called Tilly, and Cara is shocked to learn the truth about her mother and the circumstances of her departure.
When Cara meets with Michael to discuss what she had found out from Ursula, Michael admits to knowing what had really happened. That Cara had cried for weeks and weeks and that their father couldn't stand it. Michael had been the one to look after Cara, to comfort her and protect her. Michael also explains to Cara how her arm came to be burned and his guilt at being too late to save her from being hurt.
Within the book there is a side story of Cara's friend, Beth. Beth is getting married to Greg, but Greg presents quite a controlling attitude. Cara also meets a man, Simeon. I found Simeon's character slightly misplaced and unnecessary really.
Then Joe dies. Cara is numb. Mrs P takes the reigns, both calmly making the necessary arrangements and comforting Cara at the same time. Cara is completely accepting of Mrs P's help.
This story tells of the controlling behaviour of several characters, the effect that this has on each person, and the consequences of how they deal with it. Annie's mother believes that you should stay and make a marriage work, even turning away her own daughter to return to her controlling husband. Ursula puts on a brave face until she can finally escape, hating the control of her father. Annie plans her escape from her father into the arms of Joe, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Joe's behaviour is similar to her father's. Annie then plans another escape, regardless of the consequences and yet again into the control of another. Beth seems to sidestep around Greg's behaviour.
I really enjoyed this book, the storyline was intriguing and I was glad that it did not go down the obvious route and there were a few surprises.
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