The Bonny Dawn

by Catherine Cookson

For seventeen-year-old Brid Stevens, the day began with such promise. At four o’clock on a summer morning, her alarm clock roused her from a dream-filled sleep. She had an appointment to keep with Joe Lloyd whom she had met at the weekly dance. On the cliff-top at Stockwell Hill, overlooking the sea, they were to watch the sun come up. But upon her return home, where she lived with her parents and her brother, all hell was let loose. Harry Palmer was also there, fresh from telling his tale of the lovers’ tryst he said he had witnessed. Brid and Joe, he claimed, had spent the night together, there on the cliff-top. What was to occur after that would bring the day to a horrifying end, as family and friends of all concerned displayed their prejudices and made their own judgements. The events of this powerful novel, set on the Northumbrian coast in the 1960s, take place over one day, a period during which everyone involved discovers that the consequences of an innocent meeting between two young people are far more significant than the event itself.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Family, Audiobook

189 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.

Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.

For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.

Reviews

[rachid idjiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bridget Stevens sat in a chair waiting for an invitation to dance, the orchestra started playing music and couples enjoyed their time together, but she didn't have a partner yet. It was disappointing for young ladies not to dance in a weekly dance, Suddenly a young tall man called Joe surprised her. He asked her for the next dance. An innocent meeting between two young people is more significant than anything else. It is the event itself and the beginning of a new happy life for both of them, Love begins with a smile then an appointment on the clifftop at Stockwell hill to watch the sun go down.

[Vijaya Lakshmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bonny Dawn is a rather short novel written by British Author Catherine Cookson. The writing style is unique as the entire story is based on occurrences of roughly 2 days.

The protagonist of the story Brid Stevens (17 yrs.) and Joe Lloyd (19yrs) study in the same school, like each other but have never considered sharing their feeling. As chance would have it, they happen to be in the same club one day and considering this as a sign Joe musters the courage to ask Brid for a dance. A simple dance leads to conversations and they decide to meet the very next day at 4 am in the morning to watch the sunrise from a nearby cliff-top.
Joe lives with his widowed mother and Brid with her parents and an elder sibling. Brid’s family has a lot of hidden skeletons which is the cause of disharmony at home. The little invite from Joe not only lands Brid in trouble but turns out to be a life changing experience for everybody around.

A story which talks of the patriarchal system and the society at large. , it considers many humbugs regarding a lady’s behaviour and the sanctimony surrounding it. The story could fit into any society of any nation.
A short and poignant read.


#bookreviews #bookstagram #bookreview #books #bookworm #bookstagrammer #booklover #booksofinstagram #bookish #bibliophile #bookrecommendations #booknerd #bookreviewer #book #reading #readersofinstagram #bookblogger #booksbooksbooks #bookaddict #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookshelf #bookclub #reviews #review #bookaholic #booklovers #goodreads #bookphotography #bhfyp

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been years since I last read a Catherine Cookson book, and this was a great reminder as to why I loved reading her books!! This one was a quick read but super good!! There was never a dull moment. The characters were all well developed for such a short novel. The good ones I was happy to like and the bad ones were wonderfully detestable. I love a good book the can evoke such feelings of hatred for certain characters and much love for the others. A decent ending, especially after such constant commotion. There was even a flare of dramatic comedy... would make a good movie. You have to love the British... a spot of tea fixes everything.

[Sherry Stickney · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1968 I discovered Catherine Cookson and fell in love with her. At that time not many of her books were sold in America but over the last 30 or so years they have become available. I have spent quite a bit of money buying and collecting her books. This book is short but doesn't disappoint. Stories are usually of ordinary people struggling with evil but eventually they seem to come out good in the end, as did this one.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this quick-paced book!


📖This book is quite short.
📖The chapters are very long however.
📖The whole story happens in the span of roughly 24hours.
📖Each chapter focuses on a different character/family of the story, which is really interesting as a perspective is given from everyone.

[Renad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the book, events happened in one day only..

[Josie]

I picked this up randomly at the library but it didn't work for me. It felt even more dated than the 1960s setting suggested, and I wasn't overly engaged by the characters. This was a DNF for me.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was a little disappointing

[Lyla Hanley · Rating 2 out of 5]

slow read, although the excitement nancy had when she saw that i read it was enough to quell my annoyance of getting through it.

[Haseeb Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never thought I would enjoy a book that I bought on a whim that much...

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and fast reading short novel by Catherine Cookson. Joe and Brid have decided to meet at 4am to watch the sun come up over the ocean. Seen by a jealous neighbour who wants Brid for himself a mountain of miscommunication begins to grow ending in the break up of a family and a tragedy.

[Cheryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story in this action packed book took place in just one day! It wasn't a 'nice read' but I was gripped to the story-line and I finished it in 2 days. Catherine Cookson's characters are always believable and this book is no exception.

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this some years ago but didn't realise it until I started. However, I chose to continue as I couldn't remember the end. It is a bit different from CC's usual work, more of a modern day story which didn't grab me as most of her other work does, but nevertheless it was still enjoyable.

[Elaine Hargrave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quiet an unusual book. Catherine Cookson blend of northern grit. Small number of characters and all intermingled. Unusual outcome. It wouldn't happen in this era. Times have certainly changed.

[Jane Woodcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick book to read. A short novel with the events happening in a day. A good book for bullies to read.

[Debra Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not your typical Catherine Cookson novel although a young girl is falsely maligned and is rescued by a young man. Everything happens in 1 day.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of her smaller books: set across only several days. Very intimate and emotional.

[Karen Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

[Emily *No longer active* · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite Catherine Cookson books, I have read this many times.

[Haseeb Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

That first chapter motivated me to watch sunrise (I still didn't)

[Barbra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tried to read this but couldn't get into it. Probably the only Cookson this has happened with.

Back Cover Blurb:
The events of this novel, set on the Northumbrian coast in the 1960's, take place over one day, a period during which everyone involved discovers that the consequences of an innocent meeting between two young people are far more significant than the event itself.

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the day that life changed for 17 year old Brid Stevens, first she met Joe Lloyd at 4.00am to watch the bonny dawn. When she returned home her whole family was waiting for her with accusations that were not true. She also found out why her father Tom Stevens hated her. When she went out to go swimming with Joe later that day all hell broke loose. It was a good short story.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.

[Lbaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light, really more of a novella than a full novel.
Shows that this author did not really keep up with the times.
People are cruel for no reason, others are so innocent as to be silly, not many interesting characters, most are very two dimensional.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but brilliant t couldn't put it down so much happens brilliant villains

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Holiday book really, took a couple of days, not bad.

[Ree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat easy to read. Got gruesome in the 3/4. Won't be reading again. I liked the way the characters are all interconnected and you get to know them well enough to enjoy the story.