Lace

by Catrin Kean

The sequel to the prizewinning novel Salt. In the early 1900s in Wicklow, Ireland, the lives of six-year-old Mary and her siblings are torn apart when their father dies, leaving the family penniless. Mary's mother is forced to travel to Dublin to find work. She places her children in an orphanage for a short stay, which turns into years.Many years later, Mary settles in Cardiff with her Welsh/Bajan husband Louis, and is thrilled at the arrival of their first child, Teresa. But the birth of the baby dredges up long-hidden memories that Mary must confront before she can bond with her daughter.

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2024

Reviews

[L Powers (Bookish_Mum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

It's the early 1900s in Wicklow, Ireland. Mary, just six years old, is living her best life. Then bam! Her dad dies, and suddenly the family's has nothing to their name. They can't even afford to keep the lights on.

Mary's mom is in a tight spot. She's got mouths to feed and no money coming in. So she makes the gut-wrenching decision to pack up and head to Dublin to find work. But here's the real heartbreaker - she has to leave the kids in order to get back on her feet. She drops them off at an orphanage, thinking it'll only just be a quick stay. Yeah, right. Those "few days" turn into years.

Now, let's fast forward through all that childhood trauma (because who needs that, right?). Mary's all grown up, living her best life in Cardiff. She's married to Louis. They're in love and over the moon about their first kid, little Teresa.

Everything's coming up roses for Mary, right?

Well, hold your horses. Because having this baby? It's like Mary just hit the "play" button on all these memories she thought she'd buried six feet under. All of a sudden, she's reliving the whole orphanage nightmare. It's messing with her head, making it hard for her to bond with her own child.

The author, Catrin Kean, she's not messing around. She dives deep into Mary's head, showing us how the past can really mess with your present, even when you think you've got it all figured out. It's like Mary's trying to untangle this massive knot of emotions, and we're right there with her, feeling every tug and twist.

But here's the thing - it's not all doom and gloom. There's hope woven through this story like golden threads in a tapestry. We're rooting for Mary to work through her issues, to find a way to embrace her role as a mom without letting her past define her.

It's tough, but man, is it powerful to watch.

So, if you're in the mood for a book that'll give you all the feels - we're talking laughter, tears, the whole shebang - "Lace" is your ticket. It's a quick read, but don't let that fool you. This little novella packs more punch than books twice its size.

It's all about family, identity, and how we carry our past with us, for better or worse. It'll make you think about your own life, your own family history. And who knows? It might even inspire you to dig into your own past a little.

Overall, if you want a book that'll stick with you long after you've turned the last page, give "Lace" a shot.

[Fictionophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and poignant historical fiction. Loved it.
Full review to follow on Sept. 30th when I
will be taking part in the blog tour for this title.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Lace' by Catrin Kean

This book is the sequel Catrin's book 'Salt'. Although this is the second book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without reading Salt first although I am definitely going to read that one as soon as I have finished this. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

'Lace' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Catrin discusses/includes racism and child abuse/neglect.

Firstly let's start off with the writing style, etc!! An extremely well written book by this amazing author which had me hook line and sinker!!! It is so smoothly and fantastically written with vivid evocative descriptions I completely forgot I was even reading a book a few times. The blurb, title and cover really fit the storyline.

This book may just have 200 pages but in those pages Catrin packs one heck of an emotional punch!! This book is fiction but Catrin's grandmother Mary did spend much of her childhood in a Dublin orphanage and Catrin has used her family's memories in the writing of this book. If you are looking for an easy to read book which will make you smile I will prewarn you now that this book is not the one for you. However, it is still an absolute must read and an eye opener to historical attitudes and how children were treated in orphanages. In this book we travel back to the early 1900's in Ireland where we meet Mary Byrne who was just 6 years old when her Father died. This changed the life of herself, her Mother and all of her siblings. Mary's mother was left with no money and no choice but to give her children up. Mary's brother James ended up going to live with family members but herself and her sisters Aggie, Tess and Nora were taken to an orphanage run by 'Mother Superior' and a group of nuns while their mother went to train at the Dublin Metropolitan Technical School For Nurses to save up money for somewhere to live. During the time that Mary is in the orphanage she and the other orphans are neglected, abused and some even lose their lives. When Mary's mum returns to bring them home there is one less child to take with her. The mental and physical abuse that Mary and her sisters experienced during this time haunts her for the rest of her life. When she is older she marries Welsh-Bajan Louis and has a child but instead of experiencing a happy family life they are all abused further by others. This book is an absolute emotional rollercoaster ride filled with family, loss, love, heartache, abuse, friendship, hardship, history and more. Catrin weaves such difficult topics such as abuse, neglect and racial abuse into an eye opening, emotive, intriguing and compelling story. Although this can be a difficult story to read there are silver linings, hope, strength and courage throughout and I would definitely recommend it. The history and events are realistic to the times and are things that have thankfully changed over the years although in regards to the racism unfortunately there is still much more progress to be made. The characters are all extremely well written with extremely strong female protagonists. I am a huge fan of strong female role models in books being female myself and I absolutely loved seeing Mary's character, flaws and strengths develop from childhood to adulthood. I absolutely LOVED the beach scene towards the end of the book and actually cheered Mary on which I did receive a strange look from my partner for doing!! Catrin really has amazing talent to bring such an emotive story to life, bringing it into the world and educating her readers on the tragedy, neglect and cruelty that not only went on behind closed doors at establishments run by people who you should be able to put faith in but also on the disgraceful behaviours of humans who have such disgusting attitudes to anyone different to themselves. Catrin's descriptions really suck the reader into the storyline where you feel the cold of the orphanage, the sand between your toes and the emotions Mary is feeling. . I was completely hooked into the storyline immediately needing to know what was going on and then once I had started I just could not put it down wanting and needing to know what was going to happen next. I can't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so if you want to know more you'll have to grab yourself a copy!! You won't regret it!! I am looking forward to reading more of your books Catrin, especially book one 'Salt'!!!

Congratulations Catrin on writing such a compelling, eye opening and page turning book filled with hope, redemption, heartbreak and rejuvenation I am definitely looking forward to reading more of your books, especially the prequel 'Salt'.

Clear your schedules and grab the tissues before picking this up as you will not be able to put it down and it will bring tears to your eyes!!!

Overall a compelling, eye opening and page turning book filled with hope, redemption, heartbreak and rejuvenation

#Lace #CatrinKean #Honno #HonnoBooks #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours

@CatrinKean @Honno @HonnoBooks @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours

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[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘When Mary Byrne was six years old she learned that fear is a shapeless thing, like water, filling every available space.’
“But birthing a child is like a tide flooding in. And tides uncover things that would have been better to have remained unhidden.”

Ireland early 1900s. Mary’s Father has died. He had joined the British Army so the family are pariahs; homeless and impoverished. Mary’s mother takes her girls to the orphanage for ‘safe keeping.’ When she finally has the funds to rescue them, one of them is dead. The mental and physical brutality that Mary experiences at the hands of the nuns haunts her; resurfacing as she marries Louis and has her own child..There are other demons to fight: Louis is Welsh-Bajan..

This is the sequel to Salt which I read immediately before reading Lace. Some characters inhabit both novels. Ideally you’d read both because the stories weave together beautifully, but you can read both independently. Although this is a work of fiction, in her introduction the author refers to her Grandmother Mary’s experience of childhood in a Dublin orphanage. The book is dedicated to Mary and others who experienced this trauma. The book has a tenderness and intimacy which testify to this personal connection.

Kean’s writing is beautiful, lyrical, poetic. Both Lace and Salt are the slimmest of reads, but bursting with story and emotion. Kean is equally adept at writing male and female characters. I particularly loved Bright, Louis’ Uncle and the gentle Louis. Ellen and Mary are beautifully drawn, strong women.

I love the way Kean tells her stories, weaving in threads, darting between years and gathering together a rich and multi-layered story. Beautifully lyrical, her writing nevertheless is dense in detail and descriptions which transport the reader back in time.. I knew nothing of the history of Cardiff - the significance of the docks, international trade developing multi-cultural communities, the race riots ..

A beautiful slice of history with strong characters and an emotional narrative. I look forward to more by the author Honno is fast becoming one of my favourite publishers

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Lace
Author: Catrin Kean
Rating: 4 Stars

Lace by Catrin Kean is a beautifully woven tale of resilience, memory, and the haunting echoes of the past…. Reminding us that in order for us to move forward, there needs to be strength and closure.

Set in early 1900s Ireland, the story follows young Mary, whose life is upended when her father’s death leaves her family destitute. With no other options, her mother is forced to place Mary and her siblings in an orphanage—a temporary solution that stretches into agonising, traumatic years.

Fast forward to a new chapter in Mary’s life: she’s now living in Cardiff, married to Louis, her Welsh-Bajan husband, and is overjoyed with the birth of their first child, Teresa. But motherhood brings more than just joy; it stirs up buried memories of Mary’s traumatic childhood, forcing her to confront the ghosts of her past before she can truly embrace her future.

Catrin Kean’s storytelling is as delicate and intricate as the lace that symbolises Mary’s life—beautiful, yet threaded with pain and complexity.

The novella expertly portrays Mary’s struggle to reconcile her past with her present, making her journey both heart-wrenching and deeply relatable. Each character is vividly brought to life, their emotions and experiences resonating with authenticity.

Lace isn’t just a story about overcoming adversity; it’s a reminder and exploration of how the past shapes us, even when we try to leave it behind.
As Mary reflects on her childhood and the sacrifices her mother made, readers are reminded of the strength required to move forward while carrying the weight of old wounds.

In the hands of Catrin Kean, this novella becomes a touching meditation on the complexities of motherhood, memory, and identity. Highly recommend if you are after a short but yet powerful read.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to have to read Salt now, not because this is a sequel - it's actually more of a giving readers a more complete picture of the story - but rather because Kean is such an incredible writer. Much like Claire Keegan, there is core talent of encapsulating either a moment or a lifetime of emotions in a short read. Not something every writer can pull off.

Even without the racial element, the racism, fearmongering and hatred, the story is at the core is one of family. The deconstruction and restructuring of family units, which are constantly interchangeable and a moving living breathing entity. Trauma, grief, love and both new and old dynamics.

In Mary's case the birth of her daughter awakens deeply buried childhood trauma. The kind of traumatic losses, experiences and memories that cause a disconnect and lack of bonding between mother and child. This is an exploration of how the past impacts the present and the future. It determines whether one foot can be placed before the other.

I think it's easy to forget that ancestors, and indeed parents or grandparents, have lived entire lives before we enter the picture. What we as their children or grandchildren experience of them is often the version haunted by or the product of a sum of their prior relationships and experiences.

I hope to see this author receive the recognition they deserve and heading prize lists in the future. Excellent read.

[Hannah May Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t actually read Salt but something about this book just drew me in and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read and review.

This was a powerful little read and I found it to be haunting but beautiful at the same time, very poetic. It was packed with emotion and my heart strings were tugged on right up until the very last page.

The author does a fantastic job at digging into trauma and highlighting how what happened in your past can have a serious effect on your future. She also interwines hope with this though to show your past doesn’t have to define your future.

This really was a though provoking read and nothing like I’ve ever read before. The author is truly a unique yet remarkable writer and I’d be intrigued to see what’s next on the horizon.

[Hannah Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is spellbinding, with beautiful prose in a lyrical, poetic style. The story weaves through flashbacks to Mary’s early childhood memories in an Irish orphanage, rising to the surface as she becomes a mother for the first time in 1910s Cardiff after falling in love with her Welsh-Bajan husband.

As haunting as it is hopeful, this is surely a prize-winner in the making.

Thank you / diolch to Honno press for sending me an advanced copy.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lace is a beautiful novel by Catrin Kean.
💖 Blurb -
The sequel to the prizewinning novel Salt. In the early 1900s in Wicklow, Ireland, the lives of six-year-old Mary and her siblings are torn apart when their father dies, leaving the family penniless. Mary's mother is forced to travel to Dublin to find work. She places her children in an orphanage for a short stay, which turns into years.Many years later, Mary settles in Cardiff with her Welsh/Bajan husband Louis, and is thrilled at the arrival of their first child, Teresa. But the birth of the baby dredges up long-hidden memories that Mary must confront before she can bond with her daughter.
🩵 Review -
This is the first book that I have read by the author and it definitely won't be the last. I loved the story, it was beautifully written, heartfelt and easy to follow. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting. Even though the book is short, it packs a lot in. I loved this book and I highly recommend it to other readers.
💜 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the publisher and author, Catrin Kean for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.