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The Cuckoo's Parting Cry
Book by Halliwell, Anthea
- GenresLiterary FictionFiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 24, 2020
The story is described as follows:-
For Fidgie, living in pre-war Wales, the long school holiday stretched blissfully ahead. With her new friend Chaz as companion for idyllic summer days by the sea, she was able frequently to escape her edgy mother and her malicious older sister, Cly. Her father, mercifully, was away from home ...
Through Fidgie's clear eyes the events of a brief hot spell in August unfold: her family and neighbours become involved in adultery, deception, and other, darker, misdemeanours. The eight-year-old child is an engaging and lively narrator; swept along by her extraordinarily compelling tale, the reader will realise that underlying Fidgie's innocent accounts of family meals, fishing trips round the bay, tree-climbing and playing at May Queens, a very adult sub-text is developing. Its conclusion is both tragic and inevitable.
This is set on the Mawddach estuary and although names have been changed the places were beautifully recognisable. It is an area I know very well, having spent my summers there during my late teens and would have been the reason why I originally bought it. I enjoyed it then and have enjoyed it even more this time around having taken more time to read and savour the characters and plot.
What makes it so special is the fact that the story is told through the innocent eyes and voice of an eight-year-old girl and during the last days of the long summer holiday. Halliwell evokes those childhood memories of when you could run free for hours and amuse yourselves without television but there was also the fear of getting home late or having left something behind somewhere. The characters, horrible and violent father, mean sister and brother and wonderful young friend who made life such fun, although described through a child's eyes are realistic.
It does have humour but there is also pathos and darker things are taking place which are related with the guileless candour of a child. I can sympathise with the mother's predicament but only to an extent as she seems to consider Fidgie as an inconvenience and doesn't pick up on how badly she is treated by her older sister. However this does accentuate the kindness with which she is treated by Chaz and his great uncle who are delightful characters. It's a book that can be read through quickly but is much better read more slowly and savoured.
I highly recommend this novel and it would be an ideal read if holidaying in the area. What is so sad is that it appears that Anthea Halliwell has not written anything else. However if you've only written one book it's a real achievement to have written a novel this good.
For Fidgie, living in pre-war Wales, the long school holiday stretched blissfully ahead. With her new friend Chaz as companion for idyllic summer days by the sea, she was able frequently to escape her edgy mother and her malicious older sister, Cly. Her father, mercifully, was away from home ...
Through Fidgie's clear eyes the events of a brief hot spell in August unfold: her family and neighbours become involved in adultery, deception, and other, darker, misdemeanours. The eight-year-old child is an engaging and lively narrator; swept along by her extraordinarily compelling tale, the reader will realise that underlying Fidgie's innocent accounts of family meals, fishing trips round the bay, tree-climbing and playing at May Queens, a very adult sub-text is developing. Its conclusion is both tragic and inevitable.
This is set on the Mawddach estuary and although names have been changed the places were beautifully recognisable. It is an area I know very well, having spent my summers there during my late teens and would have been the reason why I originally bought it. I enjoyed it then and have enjoyed it even more this time around having taken more time to read and savour the characters and plot.
What makes it so special is the fact that the story is told through the innocent eyes and voice of an eight-year-old girl and during the last days of the long summer holiday. Halliwell evokes those childhood memories of when you could run free for hours and amuse yourselves without television but there was also the fear of getting home late or having left something behind somewhere. The characters, horrible and violent father, mean sister and brother and wonderful young friend who made life such fun, although described through a child's eyes are realistic.
It does have humour but there is also pathos and darker things are taking place which are related with the guileless candour of a child. I can sympathise with the mother's predicament but only to an extent as she seems to consider Fidgie as an inconvenience and doesn't pick up on how badly she is treated by her older sister. However this does accentuate the kindness with which she is treated by Chaz and his great uncle who are delightful characters. It's a book that can be read through quickly but is much better read more slowly and savoured.
I highly recommend this novel and it would be an ideal read if holidaying in the area. What is so sad is that it appears that Anthea Halliwell has not written anything else. However if you've only written one book it's a real achievement to have written a novel this good.
July 11, 2018
Very well written. It is always a gamble when writing events from a child's perspective - for it to sound natural and yet be understandable, without it becoming a gimmick more than anything else. This book comes out on top with that challenge
June 27, 2023
This brilliant story is narrated by eight year old Fidgie as we join her on her adventures one August school holiday in Wales where she lives.
Set in the 1930's the story begins with her being left out of a car ride that the rest of her family have gone on, despite it being her birthday they didn't wait for her.
All alone she meets a young boy, Chaz, who claims that he lives nearby, but Fidgie has never seen him before. They fall into a friendship for the holiday where as well as having childhood adventures, we see them experience more adult situations.
The storytelling in this book is amazing, very real and at times sad. Fidgie is a wonderful character and I really enjoyed being in her eight year old head. Her thoughts were sometimes mature and other times wonderfully childlike. One of my favourites is when she discovers a whole in her bathing suit, but because it's at the back and she can't see it, it doesn't matter! I found myself invested in all of the characters, especially the children.
The writing is beautifully descriptive when talking about the Welsh coast and I was in suspense towards the end of the book.
A superb read, I definitely recommend this book.
Set in the 1930's the story begins with her being left out of a car ride that the rest of her family have gone on, despite it being her birthday they didn't wait for her.
All alone she meets a young boy, Chaz, who claims that he lives nearby, but Fidgie has never seen him before. They fall into a friendship for the holiday where as well as having childhood adventures, we see them experience more adult situations.
The storytelling in this book is amazing, very real and at times sad. Fidgie is a wonderful character and I really enjoyed being in her eight year old head. Her thoughts were sometimes mature and other times wonderfully childlike. One of my favourites is when she discovers a whole in her bathing suit, but because it's at the back and she can't see it, it doesn't matter! I found myself invested in all of the characters, especially the children.
The writing is beautifully descriptive when talking about the Welsh coast and I was in suspense towards the end of the book.
A superb read, I definitely recommend this book.
January 27, 2021
Charming coming-of-age book. Really enjoyed it . Well written and characters fully drawn
March 4, 2018
A nice tale of childhood in days gone by and Fidgie is a character who is easy to like. Unfortunately, although the adult subtext is initially intriguing- sort of Gatsby from a child's viewpoint - there is either too much or not enough.
Affairs, two murders, domestic abuse and a miscarriage of justice would be too much in most novels. In only 300 pages primarily devoted to a young girls narrative of trying to avoid her older sister, remembering to hang onto her belongings and learning to tell the time, it is definitely overkill.
Affairs, two murders, domestic abuse and a miscarriage of justice would be too much in most novels. In only 300 pages primarily devoted to a young girls narrative of trying to avoid her older sister, remembering to hang onto her belongings and learning to tell the time, it is definitely overkill.
May 6, 2015
Such a sweet story. Fidgie is such a loveable character who you warm to instantly. The book is enjoyable, however, I did find my mind wandering whilst reading it every so often. I would recommend this book to a friend as it is a treat!
August 6, 2013
Mixed feelings about this one...maybe Harper Lee set the bar too high with 'To Kill A Mockingbird'...
February 12, 2014
I read this years ago and found it really charming.
March 21, 2024
3.5⭐️
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews