Ghost Moon

by Ron Butlin

Having been thrown out onto the Edinburgh streets by her family, Maggie knows she must fight to survive. Many years later, the struggles she had to endure can be kept a secret no longer.

Set mostly in post-war Britain and inspired by a real-life story, Ghost Moon is narrated with humour and compassion. A life-affirming read.

Genres: Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2014

About the author

With a reputation as an international prize-winning novelist, Ron Butlin has also been Edinburgh's Poet-Laureate.
Before becoming a writer he was a lyricist with a pop band, a footman attending embassy receptions and weekend house parties, a barnacle-scraper on the Thames and a male model.
He has published almost twenty books including novels, short stories, and poetry as well a novel and an illustrated book of verse for children.
His work has been widely translated and twice been awarded a Best Foreign Novel prize. His most recent novel, Ghost Moon, was nominated for the highly prestigious international IMPAC Award 2016. Ron has 3 new books coming out in 2017. See his Goodreads blog for details.

Reviews

[Bachyboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some ways, this was painful to read. A young unmarried, Scottish woman struggles with a pregnancy, prejudice, poverty and loneliness as she tries to find a way to keep her child and survive. It is full of pathos and sometimes I just had to put it down to get a rest from the angst. It's a compelling read though.

[Jack Deighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the life story of Maggie Davies, though in the care home where she endures her declining months she is known as Maggie Stewart.

It is told in interleaved sections. Those which recount from his point of view the visits of Maggie’s son Tom to his uncomprehending, dementia suffering mother, are always headed Sunday (though, one, on Maggie’s birthday actually occurs on a Monday,) and other, longer, numbered chapters tell the story of the life which led her there; a life not exactly flashing before her eyes but recollected in non-tranquillity. The final chapter, titled Sunday Afternoon, interweaves paragraphs from the two time-lines as the end nears.

Maggie spent the post-Second World War years seeing her twenties fade into thirty without attracting an admirer and fell prey to the dubious charms of the first man who gave her some attention only to be promptly dumped. When the inevitable happened, her parents threw her out. She travelled to Lewis to the home of family acquaintances but, forewarned, they also treat her with disdain and contempt. Only in a guest-house does she encounter any warmth, when she and the landlady’s war-blinded son, Michael, fall for each other. Lewis is a small place, though, and her secret causes her to be thrown out from there too. Returning to Edinburgh, it is only her sister-in-law, Jean, who shows her any compassion or sympathy. She struggles to find a job in her unmarried condition and she is little better treated at Woodstock House where she contracts to be confined and for her child to be looked after until she can get on her feet. Butlin really brings out the utter callousness of “polite” society at this time towards those who had made a mistake or been too innocent – or both. Only her correspondence with Michael, carried out via his best friend, and her visits to Woodstock House to see Tom give her any comfort. When Michael contrives to travel to Edinburgh it seems a happy ending might be in store – but we know from the ‘Sunday’ sections this will not be forthcoming.

This is a wonderfully written slice of an aspect of social history and a blazing indictment of those blinded to compassion and consideration by self-righteousness.

[Clara Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some writing in this book that is so good that I highlighted it so I could read it again if I flip through later. Slipping from present to past, a heart-breaking story is told, of both times. So tautly and thoughtfully written all through. Though I had issues with its ending.

[Tim Leggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gem of a book I found in Oxfam. Very sad portrayal of a single mum in 40's Scotland.

[Mrs. Danvers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and bittersweet.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of Ghost Moon through a First Reads giveaway and had little idea of what to expect. I was blown away.

Maggie is now elderly and recalling her painful experiences of being a young, pregnant woman with no one to turn to. Her son Tom, now grown, has little idea of what his mother went through and so finds it difficult to understand her in her old age.

Maggie's strength and perseverance in the face of so many struggles is inspiring and provides a stark reminder of how unmarried mothers were treated in only recent history. This story is a poignant one, of survival and of finding the hope you need to succeed.

I wholeheartedly recommend!

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book via the First reads giveaways and I have really enjoyed it. It's a heart warming story centred around Maggie Davies and her son Tom. I like how the story flowed despite flitting back and forth between the present time, when Maggie is 90 years old and living in a care home, to Maggie in her thirties when she had Tom out of wedlock. It is very well written and I was keen to learn how she managed to keep Tom in the end.
I hope to read more by this author soon.

[Sheriene · Rating 3 out of 5]

the pacing seemed a little off as a lot was covered in the last 50 pages but an easy read and well written. some good descriotions: "shes like a bokk whose pages have fallen out of sequence" was one of my favourites

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this 3.5/4.0 stars. It was a bit predictable and too short for my liking, but not a bad story