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The Weight of Small Things
Nine-year-old Frankie Appleton likes to count gates. One day she hopes to design the perfect gate - a gate to keep the bad things out. Little does she know that the bad things have already got in. Now her mother is dead, and the only other person with a house key has disappeared. Frankie thinks she knows who it is. But first she has to prove it.
A delicately brutal exploration of what lies behind closed doors and of the secrets and lies that form the fabric of every family, The Weight of Small Things is as charming as it is chilling.
A delicately brutal exploration of what lies behind closed doors and of the secrets and lies that form the fabric of every family, The Weight of Small Things is as charming as it is chilling.
- GenresFictionContemporary
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First published May 28, 2020
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June 13, 2020
“Everything should live up to expectation. A gate should always look like a gate. Today, silver sparks were ricocheting angrily off the tearstained wood. But even during the worst downpour it still fulfilled all the demands that were made of it, the dark timber glistening like tinsel, the rainwater trickling down the bevelled grooves like un-soothed tears running into the gutter.”
The Weight of Small Things is the first novel by British author, Julie Lancaster. At the age of nine, Frankie Appleton is effectively the carer for her mother, and her greatest pleasure is her intense interest in gates. When she arrives home to find her mother’s body in the bedroom, she is certain that she was murdered by her violent, psychopathic boyfriend, Stan, but everyone else, including the police, is convinced it was suicide. Frankie realises it’s up to her to prove otherwise.
Peggy was only nineteen when her fiancé, Ed Appleton, he of many grandiose plans, fell to his death in a disused quarry. Peggy went into labour with a baby she neither realised she was carrying, nor wanted. Peggy was convinced that the barmaid down at The Swan, Stella Evans was somehow responsible for Ed’s death. His mother, Brenda couldn’t keep Frankie, so Peggy Moon, depressed, grieving, haunted by her missing fiancé, was stuck raising a daughter she’d have gladly given away.
Orphaned, Frankie grudgingly consents to live with Brenda Appleton in her (too high) apartment, trying to document this new environment into a manageable form with her sketches of, and meticulous notes on its residents. She writes letters to Peggy: “Dear Mum, I’m sorry about the tone of my last letter, but I was extremely angry with you. I’m still angry with you for dying, but not to such an ‘extreme’ extent. Being angry all the time is just too exhausting.”
“She owned so few things and yet had somehow managed to remember barely any of them. Grief did that to you, she supposed –made you forget the small things, the ordinary things, the things that don’t really matter.” This quirky girl doesn’t fit in easily: “…being called ‘Elephant Man’s Daughter’ was nothing compared to that. They were just words. The letters weren’t made out of axes or spears, even though they sometimes felt like they were. They couldn’t hurt her any more than she’d already been hurt.”
But she gradually makes some friends: Harriet (Harry), Gavin at the camera shop, Vinnie Cheng; “They fell silent again. But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence this time. It was more like a hyphen, a bridge to cross, the space between two breaths.” But she’s still determined to bring Stan to justice…
What a wonderful story Lancaster gives the reader! She easily evokes the era with songs and current affairs, and her depiction of the community setting will strike a chord with many. Her characters are complex and entirely believable, with strengths and very human weaknesses, as they deal with all that life throws at them: guilt, grief, adultery, domestic violence and more. Earnest and guileless, Frankie instantly elicits the reader’s concern for her welfare and ultimate survival.
Peggy is truly a tragic figure, with the effects of a terrible childhood (“instead of a fostering success, she remained a festering disappointment”) compounded by her loss and grief: “Were there degrees of grief? Peggy wondered, the grief you feel proportional to the length of time that you’ve known someone. Should her grief be less than that of a widow(er) who was married for forty years? Or was a person’s grief as big or as small as it needed to be? Hers certainly felt enormous. Often, it felt too big.”
As the story progresses it becomes evident that she is mentally ill, perhaps suffering from Munchausen by proxy, heavily dependent on pills and alcohol, and clearly unfit to raise a child she doesn’t seem to love. While most of the story is carried by Frankie and Peggy, this is interspersed with occasional narratives by people whose lives intersect with theirs.
Lancaster has a wonderful turn of phrase, as “Peggy tried not to overanalyse the comment, but it continued to sit in the creases of her forehead, refusing to make room for any more rational thoughts” and “She noticed the way that he sometimes looked at her mother, a look that stabbed at her flesh like an ice pick, changing the structure of her, shaping her into something else, something much smaller and darker” illustrate.
If at first the ending feels a tiny bit abrupt, careful consideration of what has already been revealed will reassure the reader that, even if Frankie doesn’t (or perhaps shouldn’t), they actually do know all they need to. This is very reminiscent of Joanna Cannon’s The Trouble with Goats and Sheep (and that’s a huge compliment). A brilliant debut!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Mirror Books.
The Weight of Small Things is the first novel by British author, Julie Lancaster. At the age of nine, Frankie Appleton is effectively the carer for her mother, and her greatest pleasure is her intense interest in gates. When she arrives home to find her mother’s body in the bedroom, she is certain that she was murdered by her violent, psychopathic boyfriend, Stan, but everyone else, including the police, is convinced it was suicide. Frankie realises it’s up to her to prove otherwise.
Peggy was only nineteen when her fiancé, Ed Appleton, he of many grandiose plans, fell to his death in a disused quarry. Peggy went into labour with a baby she neither realised she was carrying, nor wanted. Peggy was convinced that the barmaid down at The Swan, Stella Evans was somehow responsible for Ed’s death. His mother, Brenda couldn’t keep Frankie, so Peggy Moon, depressed, grieving, haunted by her missing fiancé, was stuck raising a daughter she’d have gladly given away.
Orphaned, Frankie grudgingly consents to live with Brenda Appleton in her (too high) apartment, trying to document this new environment into a manageable form with her sketches of, and meticulous notes on its residents. She writes letters to Peggy: “Dear Mum, I’m sorry about the tone of my last letter, but I was extremely angry with you. I’m still angry with you for dying, but not to such an ‘extreme’ extent. Being angry all the time is just too exhausting.”
“She owned so few things and yet had somehow managed to remember barely any of them. Grief did that to you, she supposed –made you forget the small things, the ordinary things, the things that don’t really matter.” This quirky girl doesn’t fit in easily: “…being called ‘Elephant Man’s Daughter’ was nothing compared to that. They were just words. The letters weren’t made out of axes or spears, even though they sometimes felt like they were. They couldn’t hurt her any more than she’d already been hurt.”
But she gradually makes some friends: Harriet (Harry), Gavin at the camera shop, Vinnie Cheng; “They fell silent again. But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence this time. It was more like a hyphen, a bridge to cross, the space between two breaths.” But she’s still determined to bring Stan to justice…
What a wonderful story Lancaster gives the reader! She easily evokes the era with songs and current affairs, and her depiction of the community setting will strike a chord with many. Her characters are complex and entirely believable, with strengths and very human weaknesses, as they deal with all that life throws at them: guilt, grief, adultery, domestic violence and more. Earnest and guileless, Frankie instantly elicits the reader’s concern for her welfare and ultimate survival.
Peggy is truly a tragic figure, with the effects of a terrible childhood (“instead of a fostering success, she remained a festering disappointment”) compounded by her loss and grief: “Were there degrees of grief? Peggy wondered, the grief you feel proportional to the length of time that you’ve known someone. Should her grief be less than that of a widow(er) who was married for forty years? Or was a person’s grief as big or as small as it needed to be? Hers certainly felt enormous. Often, it felt too big.”
As the story progresses it becomes evident that she is mentally ill, perhaps suffering from Munchausen by proxy, heavily dependent on pills and alcohol, and clearly unfit to raise a child she doesn’t seem to love. While most of the story is carried by Frankie and Peggy, this is interspersed with occasional narratives by people whose lives intersect with theirs.
Lancaster has a wonderful turn of phrase, as “Peggy tried not to overanalyse the comment, but it continued to sit in the creases of her forehead, refusing to make room for any more rational thoughts” and “She noticed the way that he sometimes looked at her mother, a look that stabbed at her flesh like an ice pick, changing the structure of her, shaping her into something else, something much smaller and darker” illustrate.
If at first the ending feels a tiny bit abrupt, careful consideration of what has already been revealed will reassure the reader that, even if Frankie doesn’t (or perhaps shouldn’t), they actually do know all they need to. This is very reminiscent of Joanna Cannon’s The Trouble with Goats and Sheep (and that’s a huge compliment). A brilliant debut!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Mirror Books.
April 16, 2020
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The Weight of Small Things is a beautifully written novel which tells the stories of multiple characters of different generations. We see Peggy, Frankie and Stella’s lives change as time goes on, with all the narratives set sometime in the 1980s – a really interesting era which I enjoyed reading about.
I think the synopsis for this novel is a little misleading, as it suggests the focus of the book is on Frankie working out who killed her mum, but I think this book is much more about the characters’ development and progression, and Julie Lancaster envelopes the reader into their lives beautifully. There is some mystery around the death of Frankie’s mother, but to me it doesn’t feel like this is what springs to mind when I think of the storyline of The Weight of Small Things. It’s more about the secrets individuals keep from their own children and the rest of their community, as well as the struggles people can experience without anyone else knowing. The novel has a real sense of poignancy as we can see some things coming from a mile off and only wish the characters could alter the course of their own histories, knowing what we do as the reader.
Some of the themes addressed in this novel are very serious and important, and I feel that they’re presented sensitively by the author. Some characters are far more likable than others – I appreciate that none of the characters are without their own flaws but we know that these don’t necessarily make them bad people (though some of them certainly are – I won’t give anything more away here). They’re just people with their own issues, and I think this makes some of the characters feel much more realistic and convincing.
I think The Weight of Small Things is a powerful, absorbing read. It is certainly a difficult read at times, but one that I’d really recommend. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
The Weight of Small Things is a beautifully written novel which tells the stories of multiple characters of different generations. We see Peggy, Frankie and Stella’s lives change as time goes on, with all the narratives set sometime in the 1980s – a really interesting era which I enjoyed reading about.
I think the synopsis for this novel is a little misleading, as it suggests the focus of the book is on Frankie working out who killed her mum, but I think this book is much more about the characters’ development and progression, and Julie Lancaster envelopes the reader into their lives beautifully. There is some mystery around the death of Frankie’s mother, but to me it doesn’t feel like this is what springs to mind when I think of the storyline of The Weight of Small Things. It’s more about the secrets individuals keep from their own children and the rest of their community, as well as the struggles people can experience without anyone else knowing. The novel has a real sense of poignancy as we can see some things coming from a mile off and only wish the characters could alter the course of their own histories, knowing what we do as the reader.
Some of the themes addressed in this novel are very serious and important, and I feel that they’re presented sensitively by the author. Some characters are far more likable than others – I appreciate that none of the characters are without their own flaws but we know that these don’t necessarily make them bad people (though some of them certainly are – I won’t give anything more away here). They’re just people with their own issues, and I think this makes some of the characters feel much more realistic and convincing.
I think The Weight of Small Things is a powerful, absorbing read. It is certainly a difficult read at times, but one that I’d really recommend. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
November 14, 2020
A disappointing story of disconnected characters, no clear storyline or ending. I really wanted this book to pick up or have an enticing ending, in reality the ending was even more pointless than the book itself.
May 10, 2020
Frankie Appleton is nine years old and likes to count gates. She hopes that she can design the perfect gate one day. One that will keep bad things out. But bad things have already got into Frankie's life. Her mother is dead.
This story is told through Frankie's point of view. Frankie wants to find out who murdered her mother, Peggy. Peggy had mental health issues and she was in an abusive relationship. I loved Peggy and Frankie, even though peggy struggled with every day life. The story is told through the past and present day. This is not an easy book to read but it's worth it. Frankie is one clever girl. I loved this murder mystery.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Mirror Books and the author Julie Lancaster for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told through Frankie's point of view. Frankie wants to find out who murdered her mother, Peggy. Peggy had mental health issues and she was in an abusive relationship. I loved Peggy and Frankie, even though peggy struggled with every day life. The story is told through the past and present day. This is not an easy book to read but it's worth it. Frankie is one clever girl. I loved this murder mystery.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Mirror Books and the author Julie Lancaster for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2020
I read this book about a week ago and I’ve been struggling to review it. It’s such a great book that no matter what I say won’t give it the credit it deserves.
Frankie is a strong likeable nine year old girl. We get told most of the story from her point of view. Her story isn’t an easy read but a story that needs to be told sadly.
From the way the story is written to the storyline and characters the author had my attention from start to finish. I can usually inhale a book in one sitting but I didn’t with this one. Maybe it’s the topics included or I just wanted to savour the words. Great praise to the author on bringing certain topics to the forefront. I’ll certainly be recommending this story to my reader friends.
Frankie is a strong likeable nine year old girl. We get told most of the story from her point of view. Her story isn’t an easy read but a story that needs to be told sadly.
From the way the story is written to the storyline and characters the author had my attention from start to finish. I can usually inhale a book in one sitting but I didn’t with this one. Maybe it’s the topics included or I just wanted to savour the words. Great praise to the author on bringing certain topics to the forefront. I’ll certainly be recommending this story to my reader friends.
May 29, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Mirror Books for an advance copy of The Weight of Small Things, a stand-alone set somewhere in England.
When nine year old Frankie’s mother, Peggy dies she is sent to live with her grandmother. Unsettled by new surroundings she seeks to make sense of her mother’s death and their shared past.
I was invited to read this title which I don’t think I would have chosen otherwise as it is fairly far outside my comfort zone of crime fiction. Nevertheless I enjoyed the extremely mature Frankie’s take on life. The novel is told by Frankie in the present, which is 1988, but slips into the past for key events. There are various narrators for these events whose significance only becomes apparent later in the novel but mostly it is Peggy and Frankie separately picking over their dysfunctional relationship.
As I said my main interest is crime fiction where everything eventually leads to a finite solution and I’m disappointed when it doesn’t, so I’m not used to the examination of events and reactions for the sake of it. I found myself wondering more than once what the point was and yet I couldn’t help but be beguiled by the artless (Frankie) and self justifying (Peggy) explanations of events. It gets steadily darker as the novel progresses and deep secrets are revealed, many of them surprising.
Frankie is nine in the novel but just the descriptions of her school life never mind her maturity would suggest that she is closer to twelve. It is a jarring note, why not adjust her age to her reality? Her fixation on gates is initially quirky but soon it becomes obvious that it is a coping mechanism. It’s clever and inventive. Peggy is a monster but the reasons for it are documented and explained, not that it endears her to the reader. The oblique descriptions of her behaviour leave the reader to read between the lines.
The Weight of Small Things has quite an artless, almost naïve tone that hides a multitude of sins, emotions and secrets. I found it compulsive in parts, less convincing in some of the revealed secrets and it just seems to stop at the end. I think it is a good read.
When nine year old Frankie’s mother, Peggy dies she is sent to live with her grandmother. Unsettled by new surroundings she seeks to make sense of her mother’s death and their shared past.
I was invited to read this title which I don’t think I would have chosen otherwise as it is fairly far outside my comfort zone of crime fiction. Nevertheless I enjoyed the extremely mature Frankie’s take on life. The novel is told by Frankie in the present, which is 1988, but slips into the past for key events. There are various narrators for these events whose significance only becomes apparent later in the novel but mostly it is Peggy and Frankie separately picking over their dysfunctional relationship.
As I said my main interest is crime fiction where everything eventually leads to a finite solution and I’m disappointed when it doesn’t, so I’m not used to the examination of events and reactions for the sake of it. I found myself wondering more than once what the point was and yet I couldn’t help but be beguiled by the artless (Frankie) and self justifying (Peggy) explanations of events. It gets steadily darker as the novel progresses and deep secrets are revealed, many of them surprising.
Frankie is nine in the novel but just the descriptions of her school life never mind her maturity would suggest that she is closer to twelve. It is a jarring note, why not adjust her age to her reality? Her fixation on gates is initially quirky but soon it becomes obvious that it is a coping mechanism. It’s clever and inventive. Peggy is a monster but the reasons for it are documented and explained, not that it endears her to the reader. The oblique descriptions of her behaviour leave the reader to read between the lines.
The Weight of Small Things has quite an artless, almost naïve tone that hides a multitude of sins, emotions and secrets. I found it compulsive in parts, less convincing in some of the revealed secrets and it just seems to stop at the end. I think it is a good read.
August 20, 2020
Unfortunately not for me. I did not get this book at all.
I picked up this book and read the blurb and became really interested. I expected to read a story about mystery, thriller with a tinge of sadness and bleakness.
But I was disappointed to find it was not the case. At best, it felt more like a disintegrated pieces of the characters' accounts of what happened (to each of their lives) and why they got to be where they are. The book was divided into three parts, with those three parts not really serving an obvious purpose or distinct from each other.
Frankie's character and story arc was the most interesting (she reminded me of Matilda in some ways) and her love for gates was really unique. With so much emphasis on gates, you would think that it will have a massive purpose to the story. But in the end, it was just that - a love for gates and a slight metaphor to it being a shield from outward dangers.
As I'm writing this, I'm struggling to think what this book was really about. It felt like it was about everything, and then nothing. I struggled to get past each chapter but I made a resolution to go back into reading again so I persevered to finish. When you think that the story is going somewhere, it ends up being just a long, straight road with seemingly random things happening along the way. Serial murders, accidents, infidelity and domestic abuse - these were touched upon with the part about the domestic abuse expressed really well and with care and realism. Over the course of the book, we started getting to know more about Peggy's point of view and the abuse she'd had to take. The accounts were heartbreaking and I can't imagine anyone going through something like that.
Overall, I still do not know what this book was trying to do, what message it wanted to send. I failed to connect how each character's account connected to the overall plot (and if there is even an overall plot) and often times, there were a lot of random characters mentioned that had me going back a few pages to recall who they were or if they had been mentioned before. Did I miss the part where Peggy let go of her preferred name Devon?
Peggy's character was with a lot of self-pity and no accountability. Throughout the book, the reason for why she hit rock-bottom was blamed on all external reasons. Of course, the things she went through are difficult but the mindset made me fail to empathise with her. It was like her fate was already set in stone. She could never get back up because she went through this, she'll never be okay again because of this or that. And this kind of thinking went way, way back. Reading about those accounts made you feel almost hopeless too because it felt like there was no way you could ever get back up and the only way is down when life deals you these kinds of blows.
I feel like you have to have a foreword about what this book will really be about before going in. The blurb, I found very misleading and I'm not sure if I'm the only one who didn't get the agenda. I really wanted to like this book. It is either really confusing or the author's goals were lost on me. Each character had their story but how and in what way they should add up together is something I'm still trying to understand.
I really adored Frankie's character (although at times it was surprising how her character has such an unexpected facet - dark thoughts that innocently creep their way in and mix into her way of thinking) and hoped the book was presented in a more structured, formulaic way in this case.
Like finding a clue to the case and then slowly peeling more layers to reveal what had really happened. Aside from Frankie, I was happy to read about the caring Vinnie. Such a caring and kind friend that really complemented Frankie's personality. I wished to see more of their friendship together and maybe even had him help Frankie with the case in some ways.
I picked up this book and read the blurb and became really interested. I expected to read a story about mystery, thriller with a tinge of sadness and bleakness.
But I was disappointed to find it was not the case. At best, it felt more like a disintegrated pieces of the characters' accounts of what happened (to each of their lives) and why they got to be where they are. The book was divided into three parts, with those three parts not really serving an obvious purpose or distinct from each other.
Frankie's character and story arc was the most interesting (she reminded me of Matilda in some ways) and her love for gates was really unique. With so much emphasis on gates, you would think that it will have a massive purpose to the story. But in the end, it was just that - a love for gates and a slight metaphor to it being a shield from outward dangers.
As I'm writing this, I'm struggling to think what this book was really about. It felt like it was about everything, and then nothing. I struggled to get past each chapter but I made a resolution to go back into reading again so I persevered to finish. When you think that the story is going somewhere, it ends up being just a long, straight road with seemingly random things happening along the way. Serial murders, accidents, infidelity and domestic abuse - these were touched upon with the part about the domestic abuse expressed really well and with care and realism. Over the course of the book, we started getting to know more about Peggy's point of view and the abuse she'd had to take. The accounts were heartbreaking and I can't imagine anyone going through something like that.
Overall, I still do not know what this book was trying to do, what message it wanted to send. I failed to connect how each character's account connected to the overall plot (and if there is even an overall plot) and often times, there were a lot of random characters mentioned that had me going back a few pages to recall who they were or if they had been mentioned before. Did I miss the part where Peggy let go of her preferred name Devon?
Peggy's character was with a lot of self-pity and no accountability. Throughout the book, the reason for why she hit rock-bottom was blamed on all external reasons. Of course, the things she went through are difficult but the mindset made me fail to empathise with her. It was like her fate was already set in stone. She could never get back up because she went through this, she'll never be okay again because of this or that. And this kind of thinking went way, way back. Reading about those accounts made you feel almost hopeless too because it felt like there was no way you could ever get back up and the only way is down when life deals you these kinds of blows.
I feel like you have to have a foreword about what this book will really be about before going in. The blurb, I found very misleading and I'm not sure if I'm the only one who didn't get the agenda. I really wanted to like this book. It is either really confusing or the author's goals were lost on me. Each character had their story but how and in what way they should add up together is something I'm still trying to understand.
I really adored Frankie's character (although at times it was surprising how her character has such an unexpected facet - dark thoughts that innocently creep their way in and mix into her way of thinking) and hoped the book was presented in a more structured, formulaic way in this case.
Like finding a clue to the case and then slowly peeling more layers to reveal what had really happened. Aside from Frankie, I was happy to read about the caring Vinnie. Such a caring and kind friend that really complemented Frankie's personality. I wished to see more of their friendship together and maybe even had him help Frankie with the case in some ways.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2020
The Weight of Small Things sounds like crime fiction - and in a sense it is - but it is so much more besides. At the heart of the story are three female characters and this hard-hitting novel never shies away from exploring the damage inflicted on some women by the men in their lives.
That's not to say the women are without flaws; there are times when their behaviour is utterly shocking but it's impossible not to feel at least some sympathy for all of them, at least at some points. It's the youngest protagonist, nine-year-old Frankie Appleton who is the stand-out character, however and I can't believe that anybody will be able to resist falling in love with her. She's a strangely precocious child who has an obsession with gates and she doesn't just like to count them, her favourite books are about them too, especially her most treasured title, 'The Grandeur of Gates'. It's soon evident that she has had to grow up too fast and doesn't have an easy life, with early clues to the neglect and violence she has been exposed to. The scene where she finds the body of her mother, Peggy is heartbreaking, not just because of the tragedy of her loss but for the sheer, aching loneliness of that moment.
Peggy's death doesn't end her involvement in the book as the storyline switches between various narratives, particularly hers and Frankie's. After an early chapter reveals her own desperately troubled childhood, it's easier to sympathise with the damaged woman she becomes, especially after she is abruptly robbed of her chance of having a happy family. Her reaction to Frankie's birth is terribly sad and it's obvious that she is mentally ill. The circumstances mean this is hardly surprising and although she receives some treatment, it's clear that she needed so much more help. Of course, mental health was less understood in the Eighties, when this book is set than it is now and so her eventual reliance on pills is almost inevitable.
Other chapters feature Stella who also experienced a tragic loss and who has her own dark secrets to bear. She is trapped with her memories in an unhappy marriage and although she is a character I struggled to like at times, her situation and the horribly upsetting experiences she carries with her perhaps help to explain some of her actions.
It's Frankie and Peggy's narratives which form the most affecting parts of the novel and though these are lives ripped apart by abuse, neglect and domestic violence, there is a gentle sense of humour which runs throughout the book, most notably through the delightfully sharp observations of the wonderful Frankie. After she moves in with her grandmother, there's a lovely scene where she tries to come to terms with living several floors up. From her straightforward questioning of the other residents of her block of flats, to her endless notes, to the poignant yet often very funny letters she writes to her mother, she is a beautifully realised character and the absolute highlight of this very strongly character-driven novel.
Later in the book there are a number of shocking and disturbing revelations and the plot twists in ways I hadn't expected. Throughout it all, however, is the damaged yet still somehow touching relationship between a mother and daughter. The Weight of Small Things moved me to tears several times; these are bleak lives and the subject matter is often grim but the moments of hope and kindness moved me too - there's a heartrending scene involving Frankie's friend, Vinnie which was one of my favourite parts of the book despite only playing a small part in the plot.
The Weight of Small Things tackles some difficult subjects with such sensitive insight and this dark, emotive story, filled with authentic, memorable characters couldn't fail to win my heart. It's a stunning debut novel and I'm looking forward to her next book with eager anticipation.
That's not to say the women are without flaws; there are times when their behaviour is utterly shocking but it's impossible not to feel at least some sympathy for all of them, at least at some points. It's the youngest protagonist, nine-year-old Frankie Appleton who is the stand-out character, however and I can't believe that anybody will be able to resist falling in love with her. She's a strangely precocious child who has an obsession with gates and she doesn't just like to count them, her favourite books are about them too, especially her most treasured title, 'The Grandeur of Gates'. It's soon evident that she has had to grow up too fast and doesn't have an easy life, with early clues to the neglect and violence she has been exposed to. The scene where she finds the body of her mother, Peggy is heartbreaking, not just because of the tragedy of her loss but for the sheer, aching loneliness of that moment.
Peggy's death doesn't end her involvement in the book as the storyline switches between various narratives, particularly hers and Frankie's. After an early chapter reveals her own desperately troubled childhood, it's easier to sympathise with the damaged woman she becomes, especially after she is abruptly robbed of her chance of having a happy family. Her reaction to Frankie's birth is terribly sad and it's obvious that she is mentally ill. The circumstances mean this is hardly surprising and although she receives some treatment, it's clear that she needed so much more help. Of course, mental health was less understood in the Eighties, when this book is set than it is now and so her eventual reliance on pills is almost inevitable.
Other chapters feature Stella who also experienced a tragic loss and who has her own dark secrets to bear. She is trapped with her memories in an unhappy marriage and although she is a character I struggled to like at times, her situation and the horribly upsetting experiences she carries with her perhaps help to explain some of her actions.
It's Frankie and Peggy's narratives which form the most affecting parts of the novel and though these are lives ripped apart by abuse, neglect and domestic violence, there is a gentle sense of humour which runs throughout the book, most notably through the delightfully sharp observations of the wonderful Frankie. After she moves in with her grandmother, there's a lovely scene where she tries to come to terms with living several floors up. From her straightforward questioning of the other residents of her block of flats, to her endless notes, to the poignant yet often very funny letters she writes to her mother, she is a beautifully realised character and the absolute highlight of this very strongly character-driven novel.
Later in the book there are a number of shocking and disturbing revelations and the plot twists in ways I hadn't expected. Throughout it all, however, is the damaged yet still somehow touching relationship between a mother and daughter. The Weight of Small Things moved me to tears several times; these are bleak lives and the subject matter is often grim but the moments of hope and kindness moved me too - there's a heartrending scene involving Frankie's friend, Vinnie which was one of my favourite parts of the book despite only playing a small part in the plot.
The Weight of Small Things tackles some difficult subjects with such sensitive insight and this dark, emotive story, filled with authentic, memorable characters couldn't fail to win my heart. It's a stunning debut novel and I'm looking forward to her next book with eager anticipation.
August 21, 2020
“The Weight of Small Things” by Julie Lancaster, is a debut novel that reads so well, it’s as if the author has already several books published under her belt.
“Nine-year-old Frankie Appleton likes to count gates. One day she hopes to design the perfect gate - a gate to keep the bad things out. Little does she know that the bad things have already got in. Now her mother is dead, and the only other person with a house key has disappeared. Frankie thinks she knows who it is. But first she has to prove it. Going to live with her grandmother, she takes it upon herself to find her mother’s killer.”
Told in two timelines starting in 1988 when Frankie comes home to a life changing event and reverts back to 1979 with her mother Peggy and how Frankie came to be born, which then alternates between the two, showing us Peggy’s life leading up to her death. I really enjoyed the time setting, relating to all of the things mentioned - C&A, Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special, Club biscuits etc and this enabled me to get a genuine feel for the era of the story.
There are a lot of triggers in this story. Domestic violence, suicide, death, among a few. Not many life events aren’t covered, to a point where looking back it was quite a depressing and dark story. Frankie is mature beyond her years and at times her age of eight years old was rather hard to believe.
I still found this book to be unputdownable, Frankie was a likeable character who I had tremendous sympathy for and although Peggy wasn’t endearing, reading her back story and what she endures leading up to her death was very pitying and I could easily understand why her mental health suffered the way it did. I was however, slightly disappointed at the sharp ending as I could have happily read on for longer.
Touching, heartwarming, dark and brutal at times, if contemporary women’s fiction focusing on family dramas is your choice of read, I’d without a doubt recommend “The Weight of Small Things” and I’d certainly be more than happy to read more stories by Julie Lancaster in the future.
4 stars
“Nine-year-old Frankie Appleton likes to count gates. One day she hopes to design the perfect gate - a gate to keep the bad things out. Little does she know that the bad things have already got in. Now her mother is dead, and the only other person with a house key has disappeared. Frankie thinks she knows who it is. But first she has to prove it. Going to live with her grandmother, she takes it upon herself to find her mother’s killer.”
Told in two timelines starting in 1988 when Frankie comes home to a life changing event and reverts back to 1979 with her mother Peggy and how Frankie came to be born, which then alternates between the two, showing us Peggy’s life leading up to her death. I really enjoyed the time setting, relating to all of the things mentioned - C&A, Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special, Club biscuits etc and this enabled me to get a genuine feel for the era of the story.
There are a lot of triggers in this story. Domestic violence, suicide, death, among a few. Not many life events aren’t covered, to a point where looking back it was quite a depressing and dark story. Frankie is mature beyond her years and at times her age of eight years old was rather hard to believe.
I still found this book to be unputdownable, Frankie was a likeable character who I had tremendous sympathy for and although Peggy wasn’t endearing, reading her back story and what she endures leading up to her death was very pitying and I could easily understand why her mental health suffered the way it did. I was however, slightly disappointed at the sharp ending as I could have happily read on for longer.
Touching, heartwarming, dark and brutal at times, if contemporary women’s fiction focusing on family dramas is your choice of read, I’d without a doubt recommend “The Weight of Small Things” and I’d certainly be more than happy to read more stories by Julie Lancaster in the future.
4 stars
June 2, 2020
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Nine-year-old Frankie Appleton likes to count gates.
One day she hopes to design the perfect gate – a gate to keep the bad things out.
Little does she know that the bad things have already got in.
Now her mother is dead, and the only other person with a house key has disappeared.
Frankie thinks she knows who it is. But first she has to prove it.
A delicately brutal exploration of what lies behind closed doors, and of the secrets and lies that form the fabric of every family, The Weight of Small Things is as charming as it is chilling.
Review: Okay I really hated this book and I hate giving poor ratings but I always promise to be honest so here goes.
I was originally intrigued by this book because it sounded painfully similar to one by an Australian Author that was recently published, so I was curious. Turns out the books are completely different, the other book is actually worth reading. This book started off super rocky and confusing. Two character plot lines turned into three, on different timelines. Completely interwoven and erratic with no point i’m assuming other than to confuse the reader. The middle of the book was great! I was ready to give it a four star rating. I had no idea how to categorise the book or what to expect and was thoroughly enjoying my reading journey with this book. And then the last 20 pages came. Spoilers: this book has the worst ending in any book known to humans. The author has clearly lacked creativity for an ending and wanting to tie all the loose ends together using a little creativity as possible. I was irate that I hate wasted time in my life reading this book for it to end like that.
So with that, I give it a two star rating, which I know is a terrible rating but you know what else is terrible? This book.
2/5 Stars
Nine-year-old Frankie Appleton likes to count gates.
One day she hopes to design the perfect gate – a gate to keep the bad things out.
Little does she know that the bad things have already got in.
Now her mother is dead, and the only other person with a house key has disappeared.
Frankie thinks she knows who it is. But first she has to prove it.
A delicately brutal exploration of what lies behind closed doors, and of the secrets and lies that form the fabric of every family, The Weight of Small Things is as charming as it is chilling.
Review: Okay I really hated this book and I hate giving poor ratings but I always promise to be honest so here goes.
I was originally intrigued by this book because it sounded painfully similar to one by an Australian Author that was recently published, so I was curious. Turns out the books are completely different, the other book is actually worth reading. This book started off super rocky and confusing. Two character plot lines turned into three, on different timelines. Completely interwoven and erratic with no point i’m assuming other than to confuse the reader. The middle of the book was great! I was ready to give it a four star rating. I had no idea how to categorise the book or what to expect and was thoroughly enjoying my reading journey with this book. And then the last 20 pages came. Spoilers: this book has the worst ending in any book known to humans. The author has clearly lacked creativity for an ending and wanting to tie all the loose ends together using a little creativity as possible. I was irate that I hate wasted time in my life reading this book for it to end like that.
So with that, I give it a two star rating, which I know is a terrible rating but you know what else is terrible? This book.
2/5 Stars
May 20, 2020
Frankie Appleton hasn’t had the easiest of lives, but she has pluck and determination to be the best that she can be. She is nine years old but has honestly lived the life of someone much older. She is witness to her mother Peggy’s addiction to both alcohol and illegal substances, she has also watched as her mother has been slowly emotionally destroyed by a brutal domestic partner, which has meant that her mother has been less than stellar as a mother, never protecting, much less promoting her daughters well being. But scratch the surface of Peggy and one finds a wounded soul that was never given a chance to thrive herself, suffering grievous sins against her own body and spirit that would cripple her emotionally, seemingly forever, making for a flawed but understandable character. And woven through the two storylines are a myriad of other characters that seem trivial or unimportant until all the threads come together at the end.
This novel is a history twisting mystery that covers several storylines over several periods that twist and turn much like a plait/braid. This is not a book that one can read in fits and starts unless one wants to be thoroughly confused, rather it requires careful, thoughtful reading to keep each storyline clearly delineated in the mind so as to make sense of the story as it unravels. The lives of people around Frankie impact her time and time again, only it isn’t revealed until the very end of the story, making it shocking and terrifying at the same time.
This novel is clever, dark and painful, absorbing and deeply heartening all at once. It plays its cards close to its chest, never making anything obvious, always leaving the reader wondering how the story will come to a satisfying conclusion. The characters are deeply flawed and at times are so mired in pain and suffering that they either create deep sympathy or potentially hatred in the reader. This story is heartbreakingly sad, and the twists at the end sting. Beautifully written there are passages that feel poetic in style, with such stunning imagery such as the sun being an unpeeled orange or when her mother is described as trying to capture all her thoughts as they fell out of her head and scattered onto the floor. The book is charming, poignant and gripping, this book explores the hardships people often face alone, unable to find the help they so desperately need. This is not a true mystery as such. It is the exploration and magnification of personal foibles, hidden strengths and courage to deal with challenges.
This novel is a history twisting mystery that covers several storylines over several periods that twist and turn much like a plait/braid. This is not a book that one can read in fits and starts unless one wants to be thoroughly confused, rather it requires careful, thoughtful reading to keep each storyline clearly delineated in the mind so as to make sense of the story as it unravels. The lives of people around Frankie impact her time and time again, only it isn’t revealed until the very end of the story, making it shocking and terrifying at the same time.
This novel is clever, dark and painful, absorbing and deeply heartening all at once. It plays its cards close to its chest, never making anything obvious, always leaving the reader wondering how the story will come to a satisfying conclusion. The characters are deeply flawed and at times are so mired in pain and suffering that they either create deep sympathy or potentially hatred in the reader. This story is heartbreakingly sad, and the twists at the end sting. Beautifully written there are passages that feel poetic in style, with such stunning imagery such as the sun being an unpeeled orange or when her mother is described as trying to capture all her thoughts as they fell out of her head and scattered onto the floor. The book is charming, poignant and gripping, this book explores the hardships people often face alone, unable to find the help they so desperately need. This is not a true mystery as such. It is the exploration and magnification of personal foibles, hidden strengths and courage to deal with challenges.
July 18, 2020
This book may seem very unassuming from the cover and the blurb. A book that seems entirely innocuous. Told mostly from the perspective of nine year old Frankie Appleton, who believes her mother has been murdered by an abusive partner, you could think this is a type of murder mystery. It's so much more than that.
The book is very dark and very triggering. It deals with a myriad of emotive topics including suicide, addiction, mental health, paedophilia, domestic abuse, miscarriage... it had so many horrible characters, so many tragic characters, I found myself pausing every so often just to digest the content.
This is a slow read (because of the content, it's pretty rough being honest) and also, I found the chopping and changing between characters to be entirely confusing! Don't let that put you off though, it's still a very good book..
I loved Frankie, she was the one redeeming character in the whole sorry mess of characters. She was clever, articulate and kind. She grew up in difficult circumstances and was the mother in the relationship between her and her mum. She was the type of person who came out good despite having a desperate childhood.
My heart broke (literally I fell to pieces a good few times reading this book, particularly about 90% of the way through it where I cried for 10 minutes into a roll of toilet tissue) for Peggy. She had a horrendous life. Growing up was an absolute sh*tshow for her and her adult life was just as desperate but she loved her daughter... and I'm still feeling a bit wobbly typing that now...
85% of the characters are despicable, ugly hearted people but were moulded by their equally ugly childhoods. Results of a system that utterly failed them. Results of a family that chose to pretend everything was fine to the neighbours. Now, the cycle continues.
I thought the ending was excellent and like most of the book, sad. There are a few twists and they were chilling.
This book isn't glamorous, or heartwarming or happy. It's an incredibly tragic book. It is one of the most upsetting books I have read in a while. I think fans of A Little Life will understand this book. Disclaimer: I hated A Little Life. However, I liked this book. Another disclaimer: Like or love is a weird word to use due to the heavy content.
This is a solid offering from Julie Lancaster.
I recieved this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is very dark and very triggering. It deals with a myriad of emotive topics including suicide, addiction, mental health, paedophilia, domestic abuse, miscarriage... it had so many horrible characters, so many tragic characters, I found myself pausing every so often just to digest the content.
This is a slow read (because of the content, it's pretty rough being honest) and also, I found the chopping and changing between characters to be entirely confusing! Don't let that put you off though, it's still a very good book..
I loved Frankie, she was the one redeeming character in the whole sorry mess of characters. She was clever, articulate and kind. She grew up in difficult circumstances and was the mother in the relationship between her and her mum. She was the type of person who came out good despite having a desperate childhood.
My heart broke (literally I fell to pieces a good few times reading this book, particularly about 90% of the way through it where I cried for 10 minutes into a roll of toilet tissue) for Peggy. She had a horrendous life. Growing up was an absolute sh*tshow for her and her adult life was just as desperate but she loved her daughter... and I'm still feeling a bit wobbly typing that now...
85% of the characters are despicable, ugly hearted people but were moulded by their equally ugly childhoods. Results of a system that utterly failed them. Results of a family that chose to pretend everything was fine to the neighbours. Now, the cycle continues.
I thought the ending was excellent and like most of the book, sad. There are a few twists and they were chilling.
This book isn't glamorous, or heartwarming or happy. It's an incredibly tragic book. It is one of the most upsetting books I have read in a while. I think fans of A Little Life will understand this book. Disclaimer: I hated A Little Life. However, I liked this book. Another disclaimer: Like or love is a weird word to use due to the heavy content.
This is a solid offering from Julie Lancaster.
I recieved this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2020
This was such a quick read! Thank you so much to Summit Books for the advanced ADVANCED copy. 😏 I got this before it even went live on netgalley
If you loved My Grandmother Told Me To Tell You She’s Sorry or All That’s Bright and Gone by (another ARC I received and loved!), you may really love this one. It’s told in two different timelines and at first- I couldn’t quite figure out what tied the characters together but then it all makes sense.
Frankie Appleton is a nine year old who is mature beyond her years, is obsessed with fences, and tries her hardest to take care of her mom who suffers from mental health issues and doesn’t quite know how to be a mom.
This is one of those family sagas (though it’s billed more as a murder/mystery and I wouldn’t quite call it that) that shows the depths of childhood trauma and the ways that one decision can unravel for many generations to come. It was hard to read at times, Frankie just wasn’t loved the way you would’ve wished she was (the mother in me was just aching for her) and you can see the lasting effects of this.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It’s like a solid 3.75 stars for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This book is set to release on August 6th, 2020
If you loved My Grandmother Told Me To Tell You She’s Sorry or All That’s Bright and Gone by (another ARC I received and loved!), you may really love this one. It’s told in two different timelines and at first- I couldn’t quite figure out what tied the characters together but then it all makes sense.
Frankie Appleton is a nine year old who is mature beyond her years, is obsessed with fences, and tries her hardest to take care of her mom who suffers from mental health issues and doesn’t quite know how to be a mom.
This is one of those family sagas (though it’s billed more as a murder/mystery and I wouldn’t quite call it that) that shows the depths of childhood trauma and the ways that one decision can unravel for many generations to come. It was hard to read at times, Frankie just wasn’t loved the way you would’ve wished she was (the mother in me was just aching for her) and you can see the lasting effects of this.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It’s like a solid 3.75 stars for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This book is set to release on August 6th, 2020
June 5, 2025
I really liked this book overall. The way the timelines connected and the focus on the complicated relationship between mother and daughter really pulled me in. It handled mental health, trauma, and grief in a way that felt honest and real.
Frankie’s love of gates was a beautiful metaphor, representing safety in a world that felt completely out of control. I was genuinely surprised at how she turned out, considering everything she went through.
That said, I did get a bit confused by some of the characters. A few felt like they came out of nowhere and didn’t quite fit into the overall story. Also, the whole storyline about “Stan” had a lot of potential but didn’t really go as deep as I thought it would. I really enjoyed the way of writing and how the characters were gradually portrayed.
I was expecting a more complete end, we were sort of left with nothing, which confused me a little. Mother’s death and domestic violence to random serial killer to Frankie possibly missing, then….But maybe that’s what the writer was going for?
Frankie’s love of gates was a beautiful metaphor, representing safety in a world that felt completely out of control. I was genuinely surprised at how she turned out, considering everything she went through.
That said, I did get a bit confused by some of the characters. A few felt like they came out of nowhere and didn’t quite fit into the overall story. Also, the whole storyline about “Stan” had a lot of potential but didn’t really go as deep as I thought it would. I really enjoyed the way of writing and how the characters were gradually portrayed.
I was expecting a more complete end, we were sort of left with nothing, which confused me a little. Mother’s death and domestic violence to random serial killer to Frankie possibly missing, then….But maybe that’s what the writer was going for?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2020
Thank you to Mirror Books for inviting me to read a digital proof via NetGalley - my thoughts are my own.
This was a difficult book to read due to the subject matter. I work with young people and the story kept shouting 'safeguarding issue'.
The positives - Frankie is determined to get on with life despite the tough start to life she has had - she is a resourceful young woman who has been surrounded by a set of adults with major issues. She is determined to prove that her mother was murdered and the story is full of twists before we find out what really happened to Peggy.
The negatives - the stories are very dark - rape, suicide, prison, murder, child abuse.
I did read the book through to the end because I wanted to know what happened to Frankie, but I found the ending to be rather abrupt - I'm not sure if the final copy would have some further information.
This was a difficult book to read due to the subject matter. I work with young people and the story kept shouting 'safeguarding issue'.
The positives - Frankie is determined to get on with life despite the tough start to life she has had - she is a resourceful young woman who has been surrounded by a set of adults with major issues. She is determined to prove that her mother was murdered and the story is full of twists before we find out what really happened to Peggy.
The negatives - the stories are very dark - rape, suicide, prison, murder, child abuse.
I did read the book through to the end because I wanted to know what happened to Frankie, but I found the ending to be rather abrupt - I'm not sure if the final copy would have some further information.
May 24, 2020
Deep, dark, depressing, violent, abusive. This book was not at all what I expected. Multiple time lines, different characters in the timelines, sometimes you are not sure why you are reading about them and sometimes it doesn't even become evident.
Clearly, this book was not written for me. I found it very confusing and depressing.
The one bright spot in the book was Frankie, a 9 year old girl whose mother is found hanging in the first few pages. Due to her upbringing Frankie was wise beyond her year. A very bright and determined child. Frankie is the reason I am giving this book an extra star.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review purposes.
Clearly, this book was not written for me. I found it very confusing and depressing.
The one bright spot in the book was Frankie, a 9 year old girl whose mother is found hanging in the first few pages. Due to her upbringing Frankie was wise beyond her year. A very bright and determined child. Frankie is the reason I am giving this book an extra star.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review purposes.
June 13, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. The blurb & the cover really appealed. However I found it very difficult to get into & I got confused with the characters so I'm afraid I had to give up.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read & review this book. I'm sure many will love it, but it just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read & review this book. I'm sure many will love it, but it just wasn't for me.
December 10, 2020
I was so bored, what with gates being the epitome of Frankie's obsession, I was jealous of Peggy for being murdered!
DNF...zzzzz...
DNF...zzzzz...
February 6, 2024
Well mixed emotions about this book.
To be honest nearly stopped reading it. Jumps about with the dates in which I’m not so good with. Sad story and thought provoking of how some live and tragic.
To be honest nearly stopped reading it. Jumps about with the dates in which I’m not so good with. Sad story and thought provoking of how some live and tragic.
May 11, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
sorry to say i couldnt get on with this one...just wasnt for me...
i could see it was well written and the characters were well established....
it was just me
sorry
sorry to say i couldnt get on with this one...just wasnt for me...
i could see it was well written and the characters were well established....
it was just me
sorry
October 13, 2020
I received this copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I'm not really sure how to review this story. Some parts grabbed me from the start, some parts really didnt. It took me ages to read as I just couldn't get into it as much as I wanted.
I'm not really sure how to review this story. Some parts grabbed me from the start, some parts really didnt. It took me ages to read as I just couldn't get into it as much as I wanted.
May 16, 2021
I feel a bit unfair with only the 3 stars because I did enjoy the characters, particularly Peggy (Frankie’s mum). I did struggle to get into it though and when I did I found myself flicking back too often to work out who everyone was. Few too many characters to keep up with.
June 4, 2020
Some reviews are easier to write than others, the words and thoughts flow and it’s clear to articulate how much you enjoyed the reading experience or not! I really had to consider and order my thoughts upon finishing this impressive and ambitious debut novel whose main protagonist Frankie is a character it’s impossible not to take to your heart and cherish.
I found this quite an unusual storyline in terms of the writing style,not expecting it to turn into a murder mystery, albeit not one of your usual sort. I had been imagining a novel driven by a quirky, lovable character and fairly lighthearted and certainly Frankie’s character on the face of it is quite eccentric with her obsession with gates. However behind this strange habit lies a life for a nine year old child that is full of dark and disturbing events meaning the author tackles some serious subjects. Forced to live with her grandmother upon the death of her mother Peggy, Frankie is determined to find the culprit who murdered her mother, a fact she is utterly convinced of and her determination in carry out this mission is admirable. She is very intelligent, resourceful and resilient but her life is devoid of love which made me feel both sad and angry that she doesn’t have the privilege of a ‘normal’ childhood. She is quite literally carrying the weight of shattered,troubled lives on her small shoulders.
The narrative does jump around from past to present and switches between multiple narrators so that you begin to understand the backstory to Frankie and Peggy’s lives as well as Stella’s and their complex natures. If I’m completely honest I did get muddled at times with whose voice I was listening to but that is a very minor criticism.
Frankie is a solitary figure forced to assume a far more adult life than should ever be expected of her since it’s abundantly clear Peggy her mother is incapable of being the responsible, caring and loving individual she should be. To say the females in this storyline, namely Peggy and Stella are incredibly unlikeable is an understatement and for the majority of the time I felt little compassion for either of them. However,when the narrative goes back in time and you learn of Peggy’s past childhood and events that have led her to become the dysfunctional adult she is you can’t help but feel history is somewhat to blame and a cycle of abuse and neglect is the inevitable outcome for Frankie. As for Stella, it would seem to me she has led a life of disappointment, let down by the men that darken her doorstep, harbouring much resentment aimed primarily at Peggy and Frankie. Obviously their lives are all connected in ways that become apparent you deeper you delve but it’s fair to say the men in this novel are equally appalling and even worse characters than the women, ranging from despicably evil, controlling and manipulative, untrustworthy, unfaithful and deeply unsavoury, capable of murder, child abuse and domestic violence.
It’s not all doom and gloom; there is some light and hope amidst the darkness. Whilst the subject matter is harrowing there is love and humour to be found. Mrs Barlow, mother of Frankie’s friend Ellie provides nourishment, respite from Peggy and a degree of safety until she is moved away from the area to live with her grandmother. Thankfully she recognises the need for intervention and Frankie’s vulnerability. I think her friend Vinnie does too, recognising a fellow broken mate. I loved the innocence of their exchanges, a brief interlude from the harshness of Frankie’s existence. What makes Frankie so resilient and uncowed by such a miserable childhood when Peggy has allowed the burden of her past to destroy her makes her so inspiring. Her attention to detail and passion for all things concerning gates is like a comfort blanket warding off further evil. If I could have whisked her away from her surroundings and enveloped her in the love she so deserves I would have!!
The pages preceding this novels rather abrupt (and not wholly satisfying) ending contain some shocking revelations that I wasn’t expecting. I was so wrapped up in wanting Frankie to have a happier settled life that I almost forgot I needed to discover the truth behind Peggy’s death.
Overall I thought the approach to this unusual murder mystery was refreshing and the creation of such an interesting character as Frankie goes some way to making the reading of the horrors that befall these individuals slightly more palatable. Nothing though can detract from the grim and stark reality that exists for some children.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read . I think this author has a promising writing career ahead of her. I will look forward to her next offering!
I found this quite an unusual storyline in terms of the writing style,not expecting it to turn into a murder mystery, albeit not one of your usual sort. I had been imagining a novel driven by a quirky, lovable character and fairly lighthearted and certainly Frankie’s character on the face of it is quite eccentric with her obsession with gates. However behind this strange habit lies a life for a nine year old child that is full of dark and disturbing events meaning the author tackles some serious subjects. Forced to live with her grandmother upon the death of her mother Peggy, Frankie is determined to find the culprit who murdered her mother, a fact she is utterly convinced of and her determination in carry out this mission is admirable. She is very intelligent, resourceful and resilient but her life is devoid of love which made me feel both sad and angry that she doesn’t have the privilege of a ‘normal’ childhood. She is quite literally carrying the weight of shattered,troubled lives on her small shoulders.
The narrative does jump around from past to present and switches between multiple narrators so that you begin to understand the backstory to Frankie and Peggy’s lives as well as Stella’s and their complex natures. If I’m completely honest I did get muddled at times with whose voice I was listening to but that is a very minor criticism.
Frankie is a solitary figure forced to assume a far more adult life than should ever be expected of her since it’s abundantly clear Peggy her mother is incapable of being the responsible, caring and loving individual she should be. To say the females in this storyline, namely Peggy and Stella are incredibly unlikeable is an understatement and for the majority of the time I felt little compassion for either of them. However,when the narrative goes back in time and you learn of Peggy’s past childhood and events that have led her to become the dysfunctional adult she is you can’t help but feel history is somewhat to blame and a cycle of abuse and neglect is the inevitable outcome for Frankie. As for Stella, it would seem to me she has led a life of disappointment, let down by the men that darken her doorstep, harbouring much resentment aimed primarily at Peggy and Frankie. Obviously their lives are all connected in ways that become apparent you deeper you delve but it’s fair to say the men in this novel are equally appalling and even worse characters than the women, ranging from despicably evil, controlling and manipulative, untrustworthy, unfaithful and deeply unsavoury, capable of murder, child abuse and domestic violence.
It’s not all doom and gloom; there is some light and hope amidst the darkness. Whilst the subject matter is harrowing there is love and humour to be found. Mrs Barlow, mother of Frankie’s friend Ellie provides nourishment, respite from Peggy and a degree of safety until she is moved away from the area to live with her grandmother. Thankfully she recognises the need for intervention and Frankie’s vulnerability. I think her friend Vinnie does too, recognising a fellow broken mate. I loved the innocence of their exchanges, a brief interlude from the harshness of Frankie’s existence. What makes Frankie so resilient and uncowed by such a miserable childhood when Peggy has allowed the burden of her past to destroy her makes her so inspiring. Her attention to detail and passion for all things concerning gates is like a comfort blanket warding off further evil. If I could have whisked her away from her surroundings and enveloped her in the love she so deserves I would have!!
The pages preceding this novels rather abrupt (and not wholly satisfying) ending contain some shocking revelations that I wasn’t expecting. I was so wrapped up in wanting Frankie to have a happier settled life that I almost forgot I needed to discover the truth behind Peggy’s death.
Overall I thought the approach to this unusual murder mystery was refreshing and the creation of such an interesting character as Frankie goes some way to making the reading of the horrors that befall these individuals slightly more palatable. Nothing though can detract from the grim and stark reality that exists for some children.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read . I think this author has a promising writing career ahead of her. I will look forward to her next offering!
May 7, 2020
The Weight of Small Things is a poignant and haunting murder mystery that gives the reader a realistic look into the struggles of mental health disorders and their numerous ramifications and consequences. Told mostly from the perspective of a nine-year-old girl, albeit an unusually mature child, the story is given a unique voice in an unexpected mystery style.
Peggy Moon Appleton is a mother and a sufferer from what appears to tragically be schizophrenia – hard to treat and hugely impactful on a person’s quality of life and those of people around them. Peggy’s life has consisted of one challenge after another, each one becoming harder and harder to overcome until eventually, they engulfed her, leaving her mentally broken with little hope of successful treatment. Struggling to raise a daughter on her own and finding herself in an abusive relationship after abusive relationship, it is easy to understand how motherhood was more challenging for her than to most.
I love the way that mental health disorders are handled in this story. The portrayal of the mother’s psychosis is handled genuinely and with deep respect and sensitivity. Imagining what must go through the mind of someone who has been struggling with schizophrenia most of her life is difficult even to contemplate much less do. Still, Lancaster writes about it in a truly educated and sympathetic manner.
Frankie Appleton is wise beyond her years. Seeing much that other people overlook, she manages to make the best of any situation – and there are many. A large part of the story is told from Frankie’s POV, and I love how genuinely it came across as a nine-year-old telling the story. Never once does the story feel like an adult trying to tell the story through the eyes of a child. Instead, it feels very much like a child telling her story with all the determination and grit that defines Frankie.
Frankie loves gates. She reads about them, studies them, draws them, and photographs them. The theme of gates is so telling in this story. Gateways protect while allowing you to see what’s coming. Peggy and Frankie needed protection throughout the entire novel. Frankie must long for protection from the men in her mom’s life to her mother’s mental health disorder. Not to mention protection from her mother’s murderer, and she is confident that her mother was murdered, being the keen observer that she is. She saw many things that the police overlooked.
Yes, it is a murder mystery, and I love the way the plot is set up – mostly a story about Frankie and Peggy’s lives interspersed with the relevant historical events of the cast of potential murderers. The story provides all the appropriate clues to figure out if Peggy took her own life or if one of the handfuls of people with motive did it. I partially figured out the who but not the why – even though looking back, I realized the clues were right there staring me in the face. This is not, in any way, your typical murder mystery, with the plot being carried by the thrills of the investigation. Instead, it is a harrowing tale that compels the pages to turn faster and faster just by the sheer intrigue of the life unfolding in its pages.
To Read or Not to Read
If you like dark, intense murder mysteries that focus more on the story of the lives of the people involved, then this is the tale for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Peggy Moon Appleton is a mother and a sufferer from what appears to tragically be schizophrenia – hard to treat and hugely impactful on a person’s quality of life and those of people around them. Peggy’s life has consisted of one challenge after another, each one becoming harder and harder to overcome until eventually, they engulfed her, leaving her mentally broken with little hope of successful treatment. Struggling to raise a daughter on her own and finding herself in an abusive relationship after abusive relationship, it is easy to understand how motherhood was more challenging for her than to most.
I love the way that mental health disorders are handled in this story. The portrayal of the mother’s psychosis is handled genuinely and with deep respect and sensitivity. Imagining what must go through the mind of someone who has been struggling with schizophrenia most of her life is difficult even to contemplate much less do. Still, Lancaster writes about it in a truly educated and sympathetic manner.
Frankie Appleton is wise beyond her years. Seeing much that other people overlook, she manages to make the best of any situation – and there are many. A large part of the story is told from Frankie’s POV, and I love how genuinely it came across as a nine-year-old telling the story. Never once does the story feel like an adult trying to tell the story through the eyes of a child. Instead, it feels very much like a child telling her story with all the determination and grit that defines Frankie.
Frankie loves gates. She reads about them, studies them, draws them, and photographs them. The theme of gates is so telling in this story. Gateways protect while allowing you to see what’s coming. Peggy and Frankie needed protection throughout the entire novel. Frankie must long for protection from the men in her mom’s life to her mother’s mental health disorder. Not to mention protection from her mother’s murderer, and she is confident that her mother was murdered, being the keen observer that she is. She saw many things that the police overlooked.
Yes, it is a murder mystery, and I love the way the plot is set up – mostly a story about Frankie and Peggy’s lives interspersed with the relevant historical events of the cast of potential murderers. The story provides all the appropriate clues to figure out if Peggy took her own life or if one of the handfuls of people with motive did it. I partially figured out the who but not the why – even though looking back, I realized the clues were right there staring me in the face. This is not, in any way, your typical murder mystery, with the plot being carried by the thrills of the investigation. Instead, it is a harrowing tale that compels the pages to turn faster and faster just by the sheer intrigue of the life unfolding in its pages.
To Read or Not to Read
If you like dark, intense murder mysteries that focus more on the story of the lives of the people involved, then this is the tale for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2020
I've never thought too much about gates other than a means to an end. You open the gate, walk through, then close the gate behind you, but for nine-year-old Frankie Appleton gates are very important indeed. They keep the bad things out and believe me there are more than enough bad things to be locking out of Frankie's life. Frankie is being roughly brought up by an indifferent mother who has more than enough mental health issues without, as Peggy sees it, the added burden of bringing up a child who, quite frankly, irritates the life out of her, and it is this challenging upbringing which makes Frankie's story all the more poignant.
Told in Frankie's remarkably mature voice, an emerging story of neglect, indifference and the trauma of loss comes through loud and clear. And yet, this is not just Frankie's story, it's also about Frankie's mother, Peggy and her troubled relationships with men, and Stella who has a connection to both Peggy and Frankie which is revealed as the story progresses. All three are strong and forceful characters, and yet, throughout it all, it is Frankie who gives the story its heart and soul.
The Weight of Small Things puts under the literary microscope three lives which have been changed irrevocably by the tragedy of circumstance. Making the wrong decisions with the wrong men and simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time all have an impact on the way both Peggy and Stella deal with the hand that fate has given them. Frankie has her own share of angst but her remarkable ability to see the quirky aspects of life, make her such a fascinating little character, and someone who stays with you long after the story is finished.
Whilst the book is more or less a sort of whodunit, there are lots of other aspects to the story which make it more than just your average murder/mystery. I particularly enjoyed how the story flipped around in time, sometimes back in 1979 with Peggy's back-ground story and then jumping forward to be with Frankie and occasionally, with Stella, in 1988/1989.
At times tragic, with desperation never very far away, The Weight of Small Things tugs away at your heart strings, and even though parts of it are really quite bleak in places, the absolute strength of the novel comes in the author's ability to make us smile throughout some of the more troubling parts. It's a great debut by a talented author and I look forward to seeing what she gives us next time.
Told in Frankie's remarkably mature voice, an emerging story of neglect, indifference and the trauma of loss comes through loud and clear. And yet, this is not just Frankie's story, it's also about Frankie's mother, Peggy and her troubled relationships with men, and Stella who has a connection to both Peggy and Frankie which is revealed as the story progresses. All three are strong and forceful characters, and yet, throughout it all, it is Frankie who gives the story its heart and soul.
The Weight of Small Things puts under the literary microscope three lives which have been changed irrevocably by the tragedy of circumstance. Making the wrong decisions with the wrong men and simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time all have an impact on the way both Peggy and Stella deal with the hand that fate has given them. Frankie has her own share of angst but her remarkable ability to see the quirky aspects of life, make her such a fascinating little character, and someone who stays with you long after the story is finished.
Whilst the book is more or less a sort of whodunit, there are lots of other aspects to the story which make it more than just your average murder/mystery. I particularly enjoyed how the story flipped around in time, sometimes back in 1979 with Peggy's back-ground story and then jumping forward to be with Frankie and occasionally, with Stella, in 1988/1989.
At times tragic, with desperation never very far away, The Weight of Small Things tugs away at your heart strings, and even though parts of it are really quite bleak in places, the absolute strength of the novel comes in the author's ability to make us smile throughout some of the more troubling parts. It's a great debut by a talented author and I look forward to seeing what she gives us next time.
May 24, 2020
A fantastic find!
This book was excellent. I don't read a lot of fiction-mostly memoirs; true stories. But I loved this. It's told from different characters' own points of view, and well observed and detailed, so it often feels realistic and really gets you engrossed in their story.
The book starts with seemingly trivial things; quirks. And becomes much more. The small, everyday things can escalate to bigger things. The book quickly hooked me in, got me asking lots of questions, and reading on to find out more.
Some of these thoughts 9 year old Frankie voices to the reader seem almost comical. Yet I was feeling, should I be smiling at this she's said, given the darker side to the book? But this did provide a great balance. Sad, dark. But also some funny things some of the characters say. An entertaining and different read. A great book which keeps you questioning and guessing.
This book reminds me of 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine'. Not in any happenings-just the gradual unfolding of events. Some dark times. The characters' thoughts. And that it was an unknown quantity. Then you read it and think: That is a gem!
First glance at blurb: Young Frankie obsessed with gates......eh? You could go straight past this wonderful book and never know how fantastic it is. There are so many things going on. And believable, real life issues the characters go through. Unexpectedly, there is a crime to puzzle out in the midst of all this. It was just so well crafted. Could it be this year's book find that everyone will be talking about? I think it could.
This book was excellent. I don't read a lot of fiction-mostly memoirs; true stories. But I loved this. It's told from different characters' own points of view, and well observed and detailed, so it often feels realistic and really gets you engrossed in their story.
The book starts with seemingly trivial things; quirks. And becomes much more. The small, everyday things can escalate to bigger things. The book quickly hooked me in, got me asking lots of questions, and reading on to find out more.
Some of these thoughts 9 year old Frankie voices to the reader seem almost comical. Yet I was feeling, should I be smiling at this she's said, given the darker side to the book? But this did provide a great balance. Sad, dark. But also some funny things some of the characters say. An entertaining and different read. A great book which keeps you questioning and guessing.
This book reminds me of 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine'. Not in any happenings-just the gradual unfolding of events. Some dark times. The characters' thoughts. And that it was an unknown quantity. Then you read it and think: That is a gem!
First glance at blurb: Young Frankie obsessed with gates......eh? You could go straight past this wonderful book and never know how fantastic it is. There are so many things going on. And believable, real life issues the characters go through. Unexpectedly, there is a crime to puzzle out in the midst of all this. It was just so well crafted. Could it be this year's book find that everyone will be talking about? I think it could.
May 23, 2020
The Weight of Small Things is a beautifully written book with a young narrator who will capture your heart. It reminded me of a book I had read a few years ago What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn where a young protagonist seeks answers to questions that they don’t fully understand. It’s not an easy book to read-it’s a very sad story and as the flashbacks show, the characters have had their lives mapped out for them for some years so to escape their fate would have been almost impossible. To show how Frankie handles her mother’s death, we have to turn the clocks back and as we read about how her mothers past has shaped the woman she became everything becomes much clearer.
Their is a mystery at the heart of The Weight of Small Things and the author very cleverly created tension and a heartbreaking story combined to explain why Frankie reacts the way she does. The plot is a complex one at times and it was also hard to read occasionally due to scenes of domestic violence and abuse so although the dark secrets that lay at the heart of Peggys demise are all handled without gratuity, it was still a difficult subject matter to cover without feeling uncomfortable.
This is Julie Lancasters debut novel and she has done an amazing job of capturing the emotions of all of her characters, even the ones we love to hate! Yes it could be disturbing at times but the young protagonist kept me glued to this book from start to finish.
Their is a mystery at the heart of The Weight of Small Things and the author very cleverly created tension and a heartbreaking story combined to explain why Frankie reacts the way she does. The plot is a complex one at times and it was also hard to read occasionally due to scenes of domestic violence and abuse so although the dark secrets that lay at the heart of Peggys demise are all handled without gratuity, it was still a difficult subject matter to cover without feeling uncomfortable.
This is Julie Lancasters debut novel and she has done an amazing job of capturing the emotions of all of her characters, even the ones we love to hate! Yes it could be disturbing at times but the young protagonist kept me glued to this book from start to finish.
July 9, 2020
3.5 stars, The Weight of Small Things by Julie Lancaster, was unique and dark and troubling.... I had some mixed feelings reading this book. First, I must reflect that I had some difficulty following the narrative. It jumps around between characters and time periods without a clear transition which required me to go back and review the last page or so and catch up again. I initially attributed this to perhaps a portrayal of an autistic child as Frankie is 9 years old and much was detailed in her stream of consciousness style writing about her favorite subject of gates. As Frankie tells more about her life the book becomes more than what happened to Frankie's mom, Peggy, who is found hanging in her bedroom when Frankie returns from Ellie's birthday party. As I read further, I noted that there are glimpses in each of these characters narratives that expose who and what shaped them and connected them as it all unfolds. Often, these connections and glimpses were awful and disturbing. I feel the ending of the book could have been so much more closure and perhaps I would not be so unsettled. In the end, I like this author and hope to give her another try. I found Frankie's story heartbreaking and also feel it is a unique perspective at abusive relationships, child abuse and neglect, mental illness and deceiptfulness that is so prevalent in our society today. I received an ARC of this story, all opinions are my own.
August 12, 2020
I read a free review copy of this from Mirror Books, but this review is entirely my own unbiased opinions.
This is a book which is highly emotionally charged, fraught with difficult subjects which are generally handled well. However, for many people this sort of content may well be extremely hard to read or triggering, and I feel like the cover and blurb could do with adjusting to give some indication of that. I also object to the fact that the title is jumping on the "The Unbearable Lightness of Spongecake/Hedgehogs/Being" bandwagon (obviously these titles are not correct, but you get the idea).
Initially there were far too many florid and unnecessary metaphors, and small chunks of exposition and pointless detail (really, does anyone need to know that they're 15 denier tights? Is it at all relevant? Spoiler alert: NO). However, the writing style seemed to settle a little as the book continued, and the story was interesting enough to blot out any further niggles of that sort.
Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it to friends? Probably not, unless I know them to be emotionally stable and with no difficulties in the past which might cause problems when reading this. However, it's not badly written, and the story is fairly engrossing. I did feel like I wanted a more conclusive ending; it felt too open and unresolved for my liking, but that is a purely personal preference. Not a bad debut novel, and I'll be interested to see what the author does next.
This is a book which is highly emotionally charged, fraught with difficult subjects which are generally handled well. However, for many people this sort of content may well be extremely hard to read or triggering, and I feel like the cover and blurb could do with adjusting to give some indication of that. I also object to the fact that the title is jumping on the "The Unbearable Lightness of Spongecake/Hedgehogs/Being" bandwagon (obviously these titles are not correct, but you get the idea).
Initially there were far too many florid and unnecessary metaphors, and small chunks of exposition and pointless detail (really, does anyone need to know that they're 15 denier tights? Is it at all relevant? Spoiler alert: NO). However, the writing style seemed to settle a little as the book continued, and the story was interesting enough to blot out any further niggles of that sort.
Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it to friends? Probably not, unless I know them to be emotionally stable and with no difficulties in the past which might cause problems when reading this. However, it's not badly written, and the story is fairly engrossing. I did feel like I wanted a more conclusive ending; it felt too open and unresolved for my liking, but that is a purely personal preference. Not a bad debut novel, and I'll be interested to see what the author does next.
August 30, 2020
I struggled over what rating to give this book but eventually gave it four stars because I enjoyed the writing and was heavily involved with the characters in each chapter. However the multiple timelines from different character's perspectives do not make it an easy read and the ending, well, the ending was very abrupt, as if the writer had run out of steam but after consideration I realised that from the reader's perspective we do know what happened - it is Frankie who is left in limbo (and who we feel sorry for).
The blurb for The Weight of Small Things suggests it is something of a detective story but this is actually only a small part of the plot. The remainder of the read builds up the characters of Frankie, a nine year old, who spends most of her life looking after herself and her hapless mother. Frankie's mother, Peggy, who had a bad start in life then continues to make many bad life choices eventually becoming embroiled with the unlovely Stan, whom Frankie is convinced killed her.
The two main characters of Frankie and Peggy are well drawn and convincing and leave the reader rooting for them both as their lives nose dive. The writing is quirky and plot absorbing, but it is not an easy read.
The blurb for The Weight of Small Things suggests it is something of a detective story but this is actually only a small part of the plot. The remainder of the read builds up the characters of Frankie, a nine year old, who spends most of her life looking after herself and her hapless mother. Frankie's mother, Peggy, who had a bad start in life then continues to make many bad life choices eventually becoming embroiled with the unlovely Stan, whom Frankie is convinced killed her.
The two main characters of Frankie and Peggy are well drawn and convincing and leave the reader rooting for them both as their lives nose dive. The writing is quirky and plot absorbing, but it is not an easy read.
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