Helen Forrester > Quotes

“While she was downstairs she could have the illusion that her mother was quietly sleeping in the bedroom; now, faced with the empty bed and the need to clear it, she had to recognise that she was alone. Slowly the tears came, accompanied by great helpless sobs. Instead of having someone to lean on, to advise her, to bully her into staying on her feet when life seemed impossibly hard, she herself would have to be the adviser, the kind helper, the referee of family quarrels; hers would be the knee on to which grandchildren would climb to be comforted, hers would be the shoulder on which the women would weep out their bereavements and all the myriad sorrows of being mams.
"Aye, Mam," she whispered brokenly, "I don't know whether I can do it.”
― Helen Forrester, Liverpool Daisy

“exteriors reflecting the dancing light from outside. The light from outside did not penetrate the kitchen, so Mrs Starr struck a match. “Ah, that’s better,” she cried. Though very dusty, the kitchen was practically undisturbed. The telephone, which Emmie had put on the sill to hold down the blackout curtains of the small window, had fallen on to the table beneath the window. Emmie lifted the curtain to peer out and was surprised that, at least there, there was still glass to look through. Mrs Starr, one of the volunteers, asked Mrs Robinson a little diffidently,”
― Helen Forrester, Three Women of Liverpool

“I could be crushed as flat as a shadow.”
― Helen Forrester, By the Waters of Liverpool

“upbraiding,”
― Helen Forrester, The Latchkey Kid

“she could. Not only did Mrs Hunter wish to ingratiate herself with the ladies in her new neighbourhood, she was also very kind. Armed with a large bunch of grapes for the invalid, she ventured to call on Alicia. Not sure what to do with her, Polly took her upstairs to the cold, dusty drawing-room, and called Alicia. Alicia explained that her mother was indisposed and unable to receive visitors. She asked Polly to bring tea. Mrs Hunter stayed half an hour during which time Elizabeth wandered in to join them. Seeing a lady dressed in hat and gloves for visiting, Elizabeth automatically dropped into the role of hostess; it was obvious, however, that she could not keep track of the conversation. Alicia was embarrassed, but Mrs Hunter gave no hint that she realized that all was not well with Elizabeth. She told her amused husband afterwards, ‘I’ve never seen such a dismal house. Hasn’t bin painted in years. And it was that cold – no fire in the drawing-room! Can you believe it? And her poor mother’s out of her mind – non compos mentis. Between her Ma and her Pa, I don’t know how that girl stands it.’ Mr Hunter turned a page of his newspaper. ‘So you saw Mrs Woodman? And Woodman?’ ‘No. According to his daughter, he’s up and about, though. I saw him once, driving in the park.’ ‘Well, I’m glad I was wrong when I said you’d be snubbed,’ he responded. After her visit, Mrs Hunter always stopped to chat when she saw Alicia, and one day asked her to come in for tea. Alicia refused, but explained that it was not because she did not want to; she was simply so busy. She began to enjoy these small encounters with her”
― Helen Forrester, Yes, Mama

“The smallness of the soap”
― Helen Forrester, Lime Street at Two: the story of a Liverpool childhood that will break your heart