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The Long Way Home
Amy Pearson's family is desperately poor - even by the standards of Edwardian Liverpool - but they have each other. Until Amy is torn from her home by her rich aunt, a woman obsessed by religion and snobbery who wants a girl she can mould as she wishes. Clever and pretty, ten-year-old Amy is perfect for her purposes. It is the beginning of a long journey for Amy, as she desperately searches for the family she lost, and a home where she can be free at last from her aunt's possessive tyranny. But she will have to endure a forced marriage and a tragic war before she can at last find what she seeks.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
15 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Howard
63 books51 followersAudrey Howard was born on 1929 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, and grew up in St Annes on Sea, Lancashire, where she lives in her childhood home.
Before she began to write she had a variety of jobs, among them hairdresser, model, shop assistant, cleaner and civil servant. In 1981, while living in Australia, she wrote the first of her bestselling novels published since 1984. In 1988, her novel The Juniper Bush won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Before she began to write she had a variety of jobs, among them hairdresser, model, shop assistant, cleaner and civil servant. In 1981, while living in Australia, she wrote the first of her bestselling novels published since 1984. In 1988, her novel The Juniper Bush won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 11, 2021
I picked this baby up at the OP shop for a bit of ‘light reading’ and fell in love! The only reason I did not give it a 5 star is because I felt that the ending was quite rushed other than that it’s a beautiful book. I love Amy and her heart.
July 30, 2016
Great story. Found it hard to put this book down
May 3, 2020
This is one of the best books I have read! It captured the life back in the 1900s and how the war affected the lives of people. Amy (the main character) had shown her bravery even at a very young age, when she was forced to do things by her aunt. And that even though she experienced a lot of pain and sufferings in her life, she didn't give up and I think this sends a very powerful message!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
The Long Way Home is a beautifully written book. The first by this author for me but hopefully not the last.
Set in Liverpool in the early 1900s we meet Amy when she is just ten years old and doing a grand job of looking after her mother and her ten siblings whilst her father goes out to work. Her mother is ill, with tuberculosis, and is unable to leave her bed often. Can you even imagine living like that these days. Thirteen people to one bedroom! People seemed to just get on with things in those days, doing whatever they had to do to survive. No such thing as universal credit or such like back then. You worked whenever work was available, made the best of what you had, and older children helped to bring up the younger children. Everyone mucked in. Despite this they quite often came across as happier and closer as a family.
Unfortunately, Pa’s wealthy sister, Aunt Zillah is unable to carry a child to term so she decides she is adopting Amy and plans to bring her up as her own. With his wife now in hospital and him having to work to keep food on the table, Amy’s Pa allows it as Zillah has promised him money to move to better housing and support for the other ten children.
Amy is understandably traumatised by being dragged from the family she loves, to a massive unfamiliar house, by her aunt who blatantly doesn’t have a maternal bone in her body. My heart broke for her, and I prayed she might escape the claws of her aunt one way or another.
I was engrossed in her story as she grows into a beautiful young lady who never gives up hope of finding her family again. I love how her relationship with Joe grows as they grow. However, Zillah has other ideas and what she puts Amy through at only sixteen years old is horrific.
Zillah’s husband, Caleb, is a much more likeable character. I’m so glad Amy has him to help protect her from his heartless wife. Whatever he saw in Zillah I’ll never know, but quite often in those days people of wealth married for money and the hope of suitable heirs rather than for love didn’t they. I can’t even imagine.
Amy’s story is one of true resilience. With her aunt, an abusive husband, and a war to contend with it seems as though happiness is impossible, but true love always wins.
There are so many beautiful characters throughout this book, including some of the staff at the Seymour home (which reminded me of Downton Abbey). It’s such a rollercoaster of emotion and is so full of love. Love for family, love between friends, and fighting for the love of your life. I absolutely loved it!
** I read the paperback edition of The Long Way Home. I have no idea where I bought it from though. It’s been on my bookshelf for years. Published in 2008, I assume I bought it from a book sale some time ago **
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2024/05/2...
Set in Liverpool in the early 1900s we meet Amy when she is just ten years old and doing a grand job of looking after her mother and her ten siblings whilst her father goes out to work. Her mother is ill, with tuberculosis, and is unable to leave her bed often. Can you even imagine living like that these days. Thirteen people to one bedroom! People seemed to just get on with things in those days, doing whatever they had to do to survive. No such thing as universal credit or such like back then. You worked whenever work was available, made the best of what you had, and older children helped to bring up the younger children. Everyone mucked in. Despite this they quite often came across as happier and closer as a family.
Unfortunately, Pa’s wealthy sister, Aunt Zillah is unable to carry a child to term so she decides she is adopting Amy and plans to bring her up as her own. With his wife now in hospital and him having to work to keep food on the table, Amy’s Pa allows it as Zillah has promised him money to move to better housing and support for the other ten children.
Amy is understandably traumatised by being dragged from the family she loves, to a massive unfamiliar house, by her aunt who blatantly doesn’t have a maternal bone in her body. My heart broke for her, and I prayed she might escape the claws of her aunt one way or another.
I was engrossed in her story as she grows into a beautiful young lady who never gives up hope of finding her family again. I love how her relationship with Joe grows as they grow. However, Zillah has other ideas and what she puts Amy through at only sixteen years old is horrific.
Zillah’s husband, Caleb, is a much more likeable character. I’m so glad Amy has him to help protect her from his heartless wife. Whatever he saw in Zillah I’ll never know, but quite often in those days people of wealth married for money and the hope of suitable heirs rather than for love didn’t they. I can’t even imagine.
Amy’s story is one of true resilience. With her aunt, an abusive husband, and a war to contend with it seems as though happiness is impossible, but true love always wins.
There are so many beautiful characters throughout this book, including some of the staff at the Seymour home (which reminded me of Downton Abbey). It’s such a rollercoaster of emotion and is so full of love. Love for family, love between friends, and fighting for the love of your life. I absolutely loved it!
** I read the paperback edition of The Long Way Home. I have no idea where I bought it from though. It’s been on my bookshelf for years. Published in 2008, I assume I bought it from a book sale some time ago **
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2024/05/2...
December 29, 2021
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book in one sitting. This was one that I could not put down. I felt that 2/3 into the story there was one area they seem to drag out / develop more than other parts of the story. I would have liked to of had more insight regarding Amy’s adjustment to living at the Seymour residence. I felt that could’ve been developed a bit more. The storyline reminded me of some of my favorite Charles Dickens books
March 22, 2020
I've read over 30 of her books and this did not disappoint. I like her style of writing and it is an ideal book to relax with. It is easy to relate to her characters although some might say it is a bit predicable.
May 8, 2017
Really enjoyed this book. Very interesting but could not put it down!
April 20, 2021
Enjoyed it so much I am looking for more of Audrey Howards books.
August 7, 2021
Light read.
July 16, 2013
Review taken from my Blog Post #105 in April 2011 - book borrowed from the library.
With her beloved a ill, and her Pa struggling to cope, Amy Pearson at the age of 10 is taken away by her Aunt Zillah, who has it seems effectively 'bought' her.
Zillah is a zealous Methodist has every attention of turning her 'adopted' daughter into a mould of herself, and her every move is closely controlled and restricted.
If it wasn't for her Aunt's husband, Caleb and the servants, especially young Joe, she would be have not know even the smallest portion of love.
Over the years the closeness between Amy and Joe grows to something closer to love, but Zillah pulls off a cruel stunt that leaves Amy married off to another Methodist a great deal older than herself in order to save Joe.
On her wedding night she's so badly raped and abused that she runs away, and then has to spent all of her time evading Zillah, who is determined to see her returned to her husband.
I can hear you thinking .... "but what of Joe" .... well you'll just have to read the book to find out.
Again, another well-written and compulsive read with a 4.5 Star rating.
With her beloved a ill, and her Pa struggling to cope, Amy Pearson at the age of 10 is taken away by her Aunt Zillah, who has it seems effectively 'bought' her.
Zillah is a zealous Methodist has every attention of turning her 'adopted' daughter into a mould of herself, and her every move is closely controlled and restricted.
If it wasn't for her Aunt's husband, Caleb and the servants, especially young Joe, she would be have not know even the smallest portion of love.
Over the years the closeness between Amy and Joe grows to something closer to love, but Zillah pulls off a cruel stunt that leaves Amy married off to another Methodist a great deal older than herself in order to save Joe.
On her wedding night she's so badly raped and abused that she runs away, and then has to spent all of her time evading Zillah, who is determined to see her returned to her husband.
I can hear you thinking .... "but what of Joe" .... well you'll just have to read the book to find out.
Again, another well-written and compulsive read with a 4.5 Star rating.
October 5, 2014
An enthralling novel covering the early 1900's to the end of WW1 showing the tenacity and strength of the human spirit under dreadful circumstances. How evil can live anywhere and can't easily be detected by those outside their sphere of activity. It also showed how love and kindness abound in the most unlikely places and will triumph if given a chance.
February 4, 2017
Loved this book. It is one of those books that holds you from the moment you start it. Love the era that this book is set in.
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August 9, 2011Absolute drivel
Read
August 22, 2011quite good, has a little bit of stuff in it but not in much detail
February 5, 2014
An avid fan of Audrey Howard books for years, this one didn't disappoint. Nice easy-reading British historical romance of yesteryear
March 30, 2017
i just couldnt get into this book....!
April 28, 2017
A bit too melodramatic for me! Some of the descriptive writing was also too flowery for my taste, 'bounteous breast'. I would have liked to see a bit more balance in her depiction of Methodism, the character Zillah was over the top, so fanatical, it would have been good to have a character showing a more positive view of Methodism to counteract the OTT Zillah. I am not fond of the genre of novels where the heroine has to overcome so much trauma before she finds happiness. Its almost as though a person has to earn happiness through suffering. Perhaps its time she hung up her pen!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews