What do you think?
Lullaby Girl
Who is the Lullaby Girl?
Found washed up on the banks of a remote loch, a mysterious girl is taken into the care of a psychiatric home in the Highlands of Scotland. Mute and covered in bruises, she has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clue to her identity is the Danish lullaby she sings.
Inside the care home, she should be safe. But, harassed by the media and treated as a nuisance by under-pressure staff, she finds the home is far from a haven. And as her memories slowly surface, the Lullaby Girl does her best to submerge them again. Some things are too terrible to remember...but unless she confronts her fear, how can she find out who she really is?
Found washed up on the banks of a remote loch, a mysterious girl is taken into the care of a psychiatric home in the Highlands of Scotland. Mute and covered in bruises, she has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clue to her identity is the Danish lullaby she sings.
Inside the care home, she should be safe. But, harassed by the media and treated as a nuisance by under-pressure staff, she finds the home is far from a haven. And as her memories slowly surface, the Lullaby Girl does her best to submerge them again. Some things are too terrible to remember...but unless she confronts her fear, how can she find out who she really is?
400 pages, ebook
First published April 16, 2015
About the author
Aly Sidgwick
1 book7 followersAlison Sidgwick spent many years in Oslo as a tattoo artist and comic strip-artist. She studied illustration in Edinburgh, before rediscovering her passion for writing. While living in Malmö in Sweden, Aly was inspired by the Scandi setting to start writing her first novel. She became obsessed with the story and didn’t tell anyone that she was working on it for six months, until her friend read a draft and encouraged her to pursue it. Her spare time is devoted to reading, painting, travelling and drinking lots of black coffee. Lullaby Girl is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 12, 2019
Kathy is washed up on the shore of a remote Scottish Loch. She’s lost her memory, she’s very bruised and beaten and she is taken to a place for the mentally ill to try to recover from her ordeal, find out who she is and what’s happened to her. Unsurprisingly, given the world we live in, the press discover her story and she is hounded by the media who are intrigued. Added to this stress, Kathy is not well treated by the staff. How can she learn the truth? The truly mysterious aspect is the lullaby she sings which is very intriguing but I shall say no more about that one!!! The story is told in alternating storylines between Kathy now and in flashbacks from which we learn what she has been through.
The story unfolds really well in a cleverly plotted book which is tense, intriguing and very well written. At times it is dark, chilling, very powerful and gripping. The book has had mixed reviews and it either hooks you in as it did me or it’s one that doesn’t float your boat and there’s little in between!! I really enjoyed it and it kept my interest throughout.
The story unfolds really well in a cleverly plotted book which is tense, intriguing and very well written. At times it is dark, chilling, very powerful and gripping. The book has had mixed reviews and it either hooks you in as it did me or it’s one that doesn’t float your boat and there’s little in between!! I really enjoyed it and it kept my interest throughout.
April 25, 2015
Lullaby Girl is a tense and claustrophobic psychological thriller, the kind I love where the story is told in both past and present, setting the scene and building you up to those reveal moments that make you gasp..
The “Lullaby Girl” of the title, Kathy, is a mess – washed up onshore, unsure who she is or what has happened to her, at the start of the novel she has reverted to a child like state that, as she talks, is very disconcerting. Fixated on one particular member of the care home she ends up in, she is constantly on edge and scared of everything. Slowly but surely she begins to gain her feet but it is a hard and scary journey as she starts to remember the past.
The author builds the tension beautifully and there is a haunting aspect to the writing that keeps you on edge and right beside Kathy as she confronts her demons. Kathy as a character is intriguing and often frustrating as she hides herself away, seen through her eyes the whole world and everyone in it is a menacing place where there are no places of safety. The reasons for this become apparent as she moves towards recovery…
Difficult to review the story aspects without giving anything away, suffice to say it is cleverly constructed to keep you involved all the way – Aly Sidgwick has a gorgeous way with words, descriptively lovely even through this dark story, the environment that Kathy is in comes to life around her and the further you get into it the more fascinating and often scary it becomes.
Overall this is a terrific book for fans of psychological thrillers – taut, intelligent and thought provoking, this comes highly recommended from me.
The “Lullaby Girl” of the title, Kathy, is a mess – washed up onshore, unsure who she is or what has happened to her, at the start of the novel she has reverted to a child like state that, as she talks, is very disconcerting. Fixated on one particular member of the care home she ends up in, she is constantly on edge and scared of everything. Slowly but surely she begins to gain her feet but it is a hard and scary journey as she starts to remember the past.
The author builds the tension beautifully and there is a haunting aspect to the writing that keeps you on edge and right beside Kathy as she confronts her demons. Kathy as a character is intriguing and often frustrating as she hides herself away, seen through her eyes the whole world and everyone in it is a menacing place where there are no places of safety. The reasons for this become apparent as she moves towards recovery…
Difficult to review the story aspects without giving anything away, suffice to say it is cleverly constructed to keep you involved all the way – Aly Sidgwick has a gorgeous way with words, descriptively lovely even through this dark story, the environment that Kathy is in comes to life around her and the further you get into it the more fascinating and often scary it becomes.
Overall this is a terrific book for fans of psychological thrillers – taut, intelligent and thought provoking, this comes highly recommended from me.
December 20, 2021
Found washed up on the banks of a remote Scottish loch, a mysterious girl mute and covered in bruises, has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clue to her identity is the Danish lullaby she sings.
So this mystery starts off well and I immediately had empathy for the girl. However as this story progressed my empathy waned. The girl was not doing the best to help herself and then WHAM! the book goes back in time before she was found in the loch. Slowly her backstory was revealed but in snatches as this book rolled along back and forth in time.
I found Lullaby Girl to be DISAPPOINTING - the plot was shallow and early on I lost empathy for her. The supporting characters were okay but nobody was outstanding. This book dragged on and I was annoyed by how often the author rambled on about the weather and cloud cover.
I got to the end of Lullaby Girl and found a POOR ending making my mind certain this is a 2 star read.
There was just one bit of social observation, which due to my day job as a coach driver on scheduled long distance services, I found to be spot on and worth quoting…
Me on a bus! I would never have believed, before, that I’d be able to handle these eight-hour bus rides. Back in the UK I only ever travelled by train. Then the bus swings into the bay, and like groupies we lurch at the door. Then it’s my turn, and I dive inside to claim a seat. I stuff my water, book and snacks into both seat pockets, then stretch out under my coat and pretend to sleep. I learnt this trick on my second trip north, and if I’m lucky it wins me a double seat for the whole journey.
So this mystery starts off well and I immediately had empathy for the girl. However as this story progressed my empathy waned. The girl was not doing the best to help herself and then WHAM! the book goes back in time before she was found in the loch. Slowly her backstory was revealed but in snatches as this book rolled along back and forth in time.
I found Lullaby Girl to be DISAPPOINTING - the plot was shallow and early on I lost empathy for her. The supporting characters were okay but nobody was outstanding. This book dragged on and I was annoyed by how often the author rambled on about the weather and cloud cover.
I got to the end of Lullaby Girl and found a POOR ending making my mind certain this is a 2 star read.
There was just one bit of social observation, which due to my day job as a coach driver on scheduled long distance services, I found to be spot on and worth quoting…
Me on a bus! I would never have believed, before, that I’d be able to handle these eight-hour bus rides. Back in the UK I only ever travelled by train. Then the bus swings into the bay, and like groupies we lurch at the door. Then it’s my turn, and I dive inside to claim a seat. I stuff my water, book and snacks into both seat pockets, then stretch out under my coat and pretend to sleep. I learnt this trick on my second trip north, and if I’m lucky it wins me a double seat for the whole journey.
October 11, 2015
Well, looking at the reviews at the time of writing it would appear this story is true Marmite variety. 45 One Stars, 91 Five Stars (86 One & Two Stars compared to 151 Four & Five Stars). I have no hesitation in stating I sit in the latter group.
This story captivated me, not least of all because it’s told through the eyes of a woman who’s slightly psychotic, and suffering from amnesia. She’s found beaten and bruised, and washed up on a loch in Scotland, and assigned to a house for the mentally ill, where various techniques are used to find out exactly who she is and what’s happened to her.
As the reader, we’re slightly ahead of the ‘carers’ in the house because the story flits between present day and her love affair with the enigmatic Magnus about a year ago. Magnus takes her away from her home in the North-East of England to Norway, yet goes on to treat her appallingly, having various affairs and insisting Kathy find work in a country where she doesn’t speak the language.
There’s a hint of sex slavery, although this never really materialises, but as we view Kathy’s impossible situations, both sides of the North Sea, the reader gains greater understanding of how it’s possible to imprison someone in a) a strange country and b) with the use of lithium and other mood stabilisers. Kathy also undergoes dialectical behaviour therapy with Rhona, who truly has her best interests at heart, although because of the drugs it’s not always easy for Kathy to see this.
As the plot unfolds, and Kathy is bullied and beaten by other ‘carers’ she hides her memories as they gradually work their way through the fog of amnesia.
This is a very clever book, and as I said above it captivated me. Watch out for the Thelma and Louise scene as the book reaches its climax.
This story captivated me, not least of all because it’s told through the eyes of a woman who’s slightly psychotic, and suffering from amnesia. She’s found beaten and bruised, and washed up on a loch in Scotland, and assigned to a house for the mentally ill, where various techniques are used to find out exactly who she is and what’s happened to her.
As the reader, we’re slightly ahead of the ‘carers’ in the house because the story flits between present day and her love affair with the enigmatic Magnus about a year ago. Magnus takes her away from her home in the North-East of England to Norway, yet goes on to treat her appallingly, having various affairs and insisting Kathy find work in a country where she doesn’t speak the language.
There’s a hint of sex slavery, although this never really materialises, but as we view Kathy’s impossible situations, both sides of the North Sea, the reader gains greater understanding of how it’s possible to imprison someone in a) a strange country and b) with the use of lithium and other mood stabilisers. Kathy also undergoes dialectical behaviour therapy with Rhona, who truly has her best interests at heart, although because of the drugs it’s not always easy for Kathy to see this.
As the plot unfolds, and Kathy is bullied and beaten by other ‘carers’ she hides her memories as they gradually work their way through the fog of amnesia.
This is a very clever book, and as I said above it captivated me. Watch out for the Thelma and Louise scene as the book reaches its climax.
September 22, 2015
I couldn't decide between 1 or 2 stars but after reading my review again I reckon one star it is! The book was simply tedious, overblown melodrama. The main character Katherine, washed up on the beach of a loch with injuries and total amnesia is totally annoying. When she isn't wilting against some piece of furniture she's falling flat on her face or lashing out at people. She's totally unreasonable, won't listen etc etc. She loves Rhona (her care worker) or she hates Rhona. But at all times she was completely pathetic.
OK you say, something terrible must have happened to her (the only reason I kept reading). As her memory slowly returns she gets more unpredictable and you just want to strangle her. Eventually she remembers the whole tawdry business and you think - is that it???? In the overall scheme of things it wasn't even that bad. And why the hell didn't she just leave Magnus earlier. I kept reading thinking the final revelation must be a shocker but alas - a real fizzer.
OK you say, something terrible must have happened to her (the only reason I kept reading). As her memory slowly returns she gets more unpredictable and you just want to strangle her. Eventually she remembers the whole tawdry business and you think - is that it???? In the overall scheme of things it wasn't even that bad. And why the hell didn't she just leave Magnus earlier. I kept reading thinking the final revelation must be a shocker but alas - a real fizzer.
May 23, 2015
Although I read this book extremely quickly, I have to say that I found it utterly dreadful. There are parts where the writing style drives me utterly crazy in the early parts of the book. I adore psychological thrillers, but this one was just not for me.
May 22, 2015
Frustrating and depressing book I couldn't wait to finish. I kept going in the hope of some revelation at the end, but sadly that didn't happen.
The writing style in the first part of the book was terrible, and the story did end up being a bit ridiculous.
I was really hoping for something meaty to get into, but this was so far from it.
The writing style in the first part of the book was terrible, and the story did end up being a bit ridiculous.
I was really hoping for something meaty to get into, but this was so far from it.
July 4, 2015
Thank god it's over! Had to keep with it just to see what happened. Was a painful read!
June 9, 2015
LULLABY GIRL BY ALY SIDGWICK
Who is the Lullaby Girl?
Found washed up on the banks of a remote loch, a mysterious girl is taken into the care of a psychiatric home in the Highlands of Scotland. Mute and covered in bruises, she has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clue to her identity is the Danish lullaby she sings…
Inside the care home, she should be safe. But, harassed by the media and treated as a nuisance by under-pressure staff, she finds the home is far from a haven. And as her memories slowly surface, the Lullaby Girl does her best to submerge them again. Some things are too terrible to remember… but unless she confronts her fear, how can she find out who she really is?
WHAT I SAY
I would like to thank Janne at Black & white publishing for letting me read and review this fabulous book as part of this book tour
THIS BOOK IS ALY SIDGWICK DEBUT IT SO TENSE AND MESMERISING I WAS HOOKED SO WILL YOU BE
Wow what can i say about this book i was hooked from the first page to the last one it a brilliant psychological thriller i can not praise enough it was so gripping i had to know what happen to Kathy or Lullaby girl i liked how she got her name very clever makes you think
I did fine the story a bit slow in places but this help to build up the tension to this very dark story as i just said it was dark but then it could be fun it had humour in there too in the right places just the right amount too i help to break the story up I enjoy the way Aly builds up the tension in the story
I found some parts very chilling
I did feel for the characters the book or story line stay in my mind long after I finished it i kept thinking about it
I found Kathy story so gripping i like how it was written by the first person and moves between Kathy current and very confusing situation and then to now it told as flashbacks she seem so scared of her past as the story unfolds you will see why it so powerful the story blends together so well your be so absorbed in it
I liked how the mystery side of it was unfolded it was so clever her confusion and fear were so gripping a real page turner you need to know what was happening
Kathy was a brilliant complex character she was just like a child at times at the start i could not work her out but she just capture me her state of mind so full of fear could she confront her fears
I was not sure of the care home she was in what did you think of it ?
This book take you on her journey to rediscover herself and what a journey it is
THE ONLY CLUE TO HER IDENTITY WAS THE DANISH LULLABY SHE SINGS OR WAS IT ?
please read this book for you self Aly is a very talented new author I really enjoy it so will you
TODAY ON MY BLOG I GOT THE AUTHOR OF LULLABY GIRL
ALY SIDWICK
I was asked where I get my ideas from.
Hmmm, I supposethey come from a lot of different places. Sometimes from odd things strangers have said or done, or ideas I’ve beenobsessed with. Lullaby Girl is the most personal thing I’vewritten because it was hugely influenced by my own healthproblems. I struggled with panic disorder for three years, so the panic attacks, fainting spells and medication-inducedhallucinations were things I’d personally experienced. I also wanted to explore the ’displaced’ feeling I accumulated from years of moving around. The theme of’home,’ or lack of one, has preoccupied me, as well as the idea of verbal communication/language barriers.
A major theme in the book is organised crime- specificallysex trafficking- and that was influenced by things I saw in Oslo. The number of immigrant sex workers there is huge, and at night they engulf the city centre. My favourite bar, Elm Street (R.i.p.) was on a particularly ’bad’ street for that. We’d go outside to smoke and twenty-odd girls, pimpsand dealers would’ve walked past by the time we wentback inside. There’s actually a huge problem with rape and violence against women in Oslo. Two men tried to drag meinto their car once, and a colleague came ridiculously closeto being gang raped behind Oslo central station. Vicious sex attacks were constantly in the news, and my femalefriends were often scared to walk home alone. My awareness of those things influenced the plot of LG. Noneof my characters are direct copies of anyone I know, butthere are little bits of real people mixed in there... I thinkthe closest-to-real-life character is Håkon. Mrs Bell is roughly based on one of my primary school teachers, and Mary is based on a troubled girl I knew years ago.
My next book is quite dark, but in a different way. There’sa mythical element to the story. But I don’t want to give toomuch away yet! I’m still at the drawing board...
Who is the Lullaby Girl?
Found washed up on the banks of a remote loch, a mysterious girl is taken into the care of a psychiatric home in the Highlands of Scotland. Mute and covered in bruises, she has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clue to her identity is the Danish lullaby she sings…
Inside the care home, she should be safe. But, harassed by the media and treated as a nuisance by under-pressure staff, she finds the home is far from a haven. And as her memories slowly surface, the Lullaby Girl does her best to submerge them again. Some things are too terrible to remember… but unless she confronts her fear, how can she find out who she really is?
WHAT I SAY
I would like to thank Janne at Black & white publishing for letting me read and review this fabulous book as part of this book tour
THIS BOOK IS ALY SIDGWICK DEBUT IT SO TENSE AND MESMERISING I WAS HOOKED SO WILL YOU BE
Wow what can i say about this book i was hooked from the first page to the last one it a brilliant psychological thriller i can not praise enough it was so gripping i had to know what happen to Kathy or Lullaby girl i liked how she got her name very clever makes you think
I did fine the story a bit slow in places but this help to build up the tension to this very dark story as i just said it was dark but then it could be fun it had humour in there too in the right places just the right amount too i help to break the story up I enjoy the way Aly builds up the tension in the story
I found some parts very chilling
I did feel for the characters the book or story line stay in my mind long after I finished it i kept thinking about it
I found Kathy story so gripping i like how it was written by the first person and moves between Kathy current and very confusing situation and then to now it told as flashbacks she seem so scared of her past as the story unfolds you will see why it so powerful the story blends together so well your be so absorbed in it
I liked how the mystery side of it was unfolded it was so clever her confusion and fear were so gripping a real page turner you need to know what was happening
Kathy was a brilliant complex character she was just like a child at times at the start i could not work her out but she just capture me her state of mind so full of fear could she confront her fears
I was not sure of the care home she was in what did you think of it ?
This book take you on her journey to rediscover herself and what a journey it is
THE ONLY CLUE TO HER IDENTITY WAS THE DANISH LULLABY SHE SINGS OR WAS IT ?
please read this book for you self Aly is a very talented new author I really enjoy it so will you
TODAY ON MY BLOG I GOT THE AUTHOR OF LULLABY GIRL
ALY SIDWICK
I was asked where I get my ideas from.
Hmmm, I supposethey come from a lot of different places. Sometimes from odd things strangers have said or done, or ideas I’ve beenobsessed with. Lullaby Girl is the most personal thing I’vewritten because it was hugely influenced by my own healthproblems. I struggled with panic disorder for three years, so the panic attacks, fainting spells and medication-inducedhallucinations were things I’d personally experienced. I also wanted to explore the ’displaced’ feeling I accumulated from years of moving around. The theme of’home,’ or lack of one, has preoccupied me, as well as the idea of verbal communication/language barriers.
A major theme in the book is organised crime- specificallysex trafficking- and that was influenced by things I saw in Oslo. The number of immigrant sex workers there is huge, and at night they engulf the city centre. My favourite bar, Elm Street (R.i.p.) was on a particularly ’bad’ street for that. We’d go outside to smoke and twenty-odd girls, pimpsand dealers would’ve walked past by the time we wentback inside. There’s actually a huge problem with rape and violence against women in Oslo. Two men tried to drag meinto their car once, and a colleague came ridiculously closeto being gang raped behind Oslo central station. Vicious sex attacks were constantly in the news, and my femalefriends were often scared to walk home alone. My awareness of those things influenced the plot of LG. Noneof my characters are direct copies of anyone I know, butthere are little bits of real people mixed in there... I thinkthe closest-to-real-life character is Håkon. Mrs Bell is roughly based on one of my primary school teachers, and Mary is based on a troubled girl I knew years ago.
My next book is quite dark, but in a different way. There’sa mythical element to the story. But I don’t want to give toomuch away yet! I’m still at the drawing board...
June 27, 2015
Lullaby Girl was a traumatic read. Aly Sigwick puts her heroine, Kathy, through the wringer and despite the fact the book should be about Kathy’s recovery from a life changing episode it is far from a smooth ride.
Kathy is found on a beach, she was on the brink of death yet is discovered just in time and ultimately finds herself in secluded convalescence home Gille Dubh in the remote Scottish Highlands. Kathy has amnesia, she cannot recall her name, her family or how she came to be washed up on a beach, however, in her dreams is the memory of a dark figure who Kathy knows she is terrified of and she is adamant that this figure must not find her.
When she is first brought to Gille Dubh Kathy will not speak but she does sing a mysterious song which is soon identified as a Scandinavian lullaby. The media are very interested in this mysterious girl and desperate for information they latch onto any morsels of gossip they can glean and, when word of Kathy’s singing leaks, the Press dub her the Lullaby Girl.
As Kathy begins the long road towards recovery we share her journey. She struggles to accept that the staff at Gille Dubh are working in her best interest. Kathy places her absolute trust in Rhona, one of the carers, and mistrusts almost everyone else. Unfortunately for Kathy, Rhona is facing issues in her personal life and she cannot devote the full time care to Kathy which both women would benefit from. This leaves Kathy also having to rely upon Rhona’s colleague Joyce. To say that Kathy and Joyce do not get on is something of an understatement and as a reader I was physically wincing at some of the scenes where the two clashed.
I am reluctant to discuss the story in too much detail as I am going to urge you to read Kathy’s story for yourself.
I loved Lullaby Girl as it evoked so many different responses and emotions as I read it. I feared for Kathy, anguished for her situation and then got frustrated with her when she fought those looking to help her – and that could all happen in just a single chapter. An intense and memorable book which I have to score 5/5. You have to read this – it is stunning.
Kathy is found on a beach, she was on the brink of death yet is discovered just in time and ultimately finds herself in secluded convalescence home Gille Dubh in the remote Scottish Highlands. Kathy has amnesia, she cannot recall her name, her family or how she came to be washed up on a beach, however, in her dreams is the memory of a dark figure who Kathy knows she is terrified of and she is adamant that this figure must not find her.
When she is first brought to Gille Dubh Kathy will not speak but she does sing a mysterious song which is soon identified as a Scandinavian lullaby. The media are very interested in this mysterious girl and desperate for information they latch onto any morsels of gossip they can glean and, when word of Kathy’s singing leaks, the Press dub her the Lullaby Girl.
As Kathy begins the long road towards recovery we share her journey. She struggles to accept that the staff at Gille Dubh are working in her best interest. Kathy places her absolute trust in Rhona, one of the carers, and mistrusts almost everyone else. Unfortunately for Kathy, Rhona is facing issues in her personal life and she cannot devote the full time care to Kathy which both women would benefit from. This leaves Kathy also having to rely upon Rhona’s colleague Joyce. To say that Kathy and Joyce do not get on is something of an understatement and as a reader I was physically wincing at some of the scenes where the two clashed.
I am reluctant to discuss the story in too much detail as I am going to urge you to read Kathy’s story for yourself.
I loved Lullaby Girl as it evoked so many different responses and emotions as I read it. I feared for Kathy, anguished for her situation and then got frustrated with her when she fought those looking to help her – and that could all happen in just a single chapter. An intense and memorable book which I have to score 5/5. You have to read this – it is stunning.
September 2, 2015
OK SO I APOLOGISE FOR THIS RANT IN ADVANCE... *(some spoilers included)*
I saw this on Amazon and thought the plot looked really intriguing, it was on sale so I picked it up.
I really do wish I'd read some reviews before putting myself through this book.
The book started off really confusing. The writing, I assume, was going for a clever, one of a kind sort of vibe but it was just ANNOYING. The short sentences and the 'iss' I MEAN UGH. But they do go away after a little while- oh BUT THEN the paragraphs of absolute gibberish begin! Seriously! It's like the writer just ran out of words so began to type a word and repeat it again and again just to fill up space! I get that it was to add to the effect of the madness that Kathy experiences but it was all just a bit over the top. Also, the first 15-20 chapters were such a waste. You find out basically nothing and the pages become torturous. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR 36 CHAPTERS, 15 WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR THE WHOLE BOOK.
The main character, Katherine, is such an annoying piece of work. She won't let anyone in (which is understandable after everything she's been through - but even then, her situation was not portrayed AS dramatically as it could have been. She was nearly sold to a freaking gangster! Instead of focusing on the madness, focus on the fact that she ESCAPED FROM A LETHAL DRUG LORD! Why make her so helpless?!) and she is RIDICULOUS. Attacking people and pushing away the only ones that truly cared about her! Although Joyce frustrated me to no end, there was no question as to why she treated Kathy the way she did. How are you supposed to help someone that is hell bent on destroying everyone around them?!
Mary/Rhona and Lina were the only likeable characters. Everyone else just got on my nerves. I do wish Tim was explored a little more though- what happened to his girlfriend? Did she have the child? Why has he come back for Kathy?
SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS YET A FOCUS ON PARAGRAPHS OF GIBBERISH.
Basically, to sum up this book- it is nowhere near Gone Girl and if that was the thing enticing you to read it, prepare to be extremely disappointed
I saw this on Amazon and thought the plot looked really intriguing, it was on sale so I picked it up.
I really do wish I'd read some reviews before putting myself through this book.
The book started off really confusing. The writing, I assume, was going for a clever, one of a kind sort of vibe but it was just ANNOYING. The short sentences and the 'iss' I MEAN UGH. But they do go away after a little while- oh BUT THEN the paragraphs of absolute gibberish begin! Seriously! It's like the writer just ran out of words so began to type a word and repeat it again and again just to fill up space! I get that it was to add to the effect of the madness that Kathy experiences but it was all just a bit over the top. Also, the first 15-20 chapters were such a waste. You find out basically nothing and the pages become torturous. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR 36 CHAPTERS, 15 WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR THE WHOLE BOOK.
The main character, Katherine, is such an annoying piece of work. She won't let anyone in (which is understandable after everything she's been through - but even then, her situation was not portrayed AS dramatically as it could have been. She was nearly sold to a freaking gangster! Instead of focusing on the madness, focus on the fact that she ESCAPED FROM A LETHAL DRUG LORD! Why make her so helpless?!) and she is RIDICULOUS. Attacking people and pushing away the only ones that truly cared about her! Although Joyce frustrated me to no end, there was no question as to why she treated Kathy the way she did. How are you supposed to help someone that is hell bent on destroying everyone around them?!
Mary/Rhona and Lina were the only likeable characters. Everyone else just got on my nerves. I do wish Tim was explored a little more though- what happened to his girlfriend? Did she have the child? Why has he come back for Kathy?
SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS YET A FOCUS ON PARAGRAPHS OF GIBBERISH.
Basically, to sum up this book- it is nowhere near Gone Girl and if that was the thing enticing you to read it, prepare to be extremely disappointed
September 16, 2015
Lullaby Girl is a haunting tale but won't be for all psychological thriller fans. It intrigued me enough to read from beginning to end. But it's dark, bleak and rather 'odd'.
A girl is found on the banks of a remote lock in Scotland. She's injured, mute and suffering from amnesia. She's moved to a care home, where she should be safe from the media. Yet she remains treated with suspicion while she recovers, and not everyone at the home is welcoming.
The girl, Kathy, is fragile in body, spirit and mind. As the narrative switches between past and present, she gradually begins to remember snippets from her past. And then realises that her life could be in danger.
Lullaby Girl had an interesting plot. But it did leave me with a few unanswered questions. Difficult to mention them without giving spoilers. But I was surprised that the police didn't take more of an active role in the case and check on her welfare.
The book is fairly well-written, but some of the dialogue annoyed me. Kathy speaks with a slow, drawl and lisp at the start, which then vanishes by the end of the book. This may have been due to her post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, which then disappeared as she discovered who she was and took back control. But I do think this could have been edited more strictly, as it became annoying after a while.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A girl is found on the banks of a remote lock in Scotland. She's injured, mute and suffering from amnesia. She's moved to a care home, where she should be safe from the media. Yet she remains treated with suspicion while she recovers, and not everyone at the home is welcoming.
The girl, Kathy, is fragile in body, spirit and mind. As the narrative switches between past and present, she gradually begins to remember snippets from her past. And then realises that her life could be in danger.
Lullaby Girl had an interesting plot. But it did leave me with a few unanswered questions. Difficult to mention them without giving spoilers. But I was surprised that the police didn't take more of an active role in the case and check on her welfare.
The book is fairly well-written, but some of the dialogue annoyed me. Kathy speaks with a slow, drawl and lisp at the start, which then vanishes by the end of the book. This may have been due to her post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, which then disappeared as she discovered who she was and took back control. But I do think this could have been edited more strictly, as it became annoying after a while.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2015
More like 2.5 stars really.
A girls washes up in a terrible state on a Loch.
At first she suffers severe amnesia , slowly her memories return. Very slowly.
For some reason she gets admitted to a psychiatric institution, where she clings on to one of the staff. The rest of the staff are too unprofessional to be believable.
Bit by bit the story emerges. The past and present merge.
What I've got against this book is that it's too black. There is no let up from the bleakness of the story. That makes for hard reading. No humor to break it, very little softness.
Plus I don't like the way mental health is being portrayed. The so called unit where Kathy is admitted is just nonsense. Places like that don't exist.
Kathy, the so called Lullaby Girl, she gets on my nerves after a while as well. Doesn't seem to do anything to help herself in past or present.
In its favor it's a novel concept, and fairly well written. Although initially the way Kathy speaks is rather irritating, it does improve from that perspective.
A girls washes up in a terrible state on a Loch.
At first she suffers severe amnesia , slowly her memories return. Very slowly.
For some reason she gets admitted to a psychiatric institution, where she clings on to one of the staff. The rest of the staff are too unprofessional to be believable.
Bit by bit the story emerges. The past and present merge.
What I've got against this book is that it's too black. There is no let up from the bleakness of the story. That makes for hard reading. No humor to break it, very little softness.
Plus I don't like the way mental health is being portrayed. The so called unit where Kathy is admitted is just nonsense. Places like that don't exist.
Kathy, the so called Lullaby Girl, she gets on my nerves after a while as well. Doesn't seem to do anything to help herself in past or present.
In its favor it's a novel concept, and fairly well written. Although initially the way Kathy speaks is rather irritating, it does improve from that perspective.
June 8, 2015
Awful! Didn't get past the first two pages
January 17, 2024
Κριτική στα Ελληνικά πιο κάτω...
Lullaby Girl had an interesting premise and I kind of enjoyed it, but I think it had potential to be much better.
First of all I don’t get the choice of the writing style, trying to depict the oral pronunciations and tongues, although I got used to it after a while. Then, as the narration started to get some pace, the author introduced some incidents that seemed forced to make a point and some events and characters felt very cliché.
Furthermore, as we start to get some of the Lullaby Girls’ story, I found her decisions stupid and irking and not very convincing. Both some developments in her past and some events in the present of the book were eye-rolling and poignant. Towards the end the book gets more and more unbelievable and over the top. The Lullaby thing isn’t that much important in the plot by the way…
In general something felt very off, although I found it an OK read to pass the time and finished it in two afternoons. Not a bad book, but not very gripping or memorable either.
Το Lullaby Girl είχε μια ενδιαφέρουσα υπόθεση και μου άρεσε ώς ένα βαθμό, αλλά νομίζω ότι είχε τις προϋποθέσεις να είναι πολύ καλύτερο. Πρώτα απ 'όλα, με ξένισε η επιλογή του τρόπου γραφής που προσπαθεί να απεικονίσει στο χαρτί τις προφορές και τις διαφορετικές γλώσσες, αν και το συνήθισα μετά από λίγο. Στη συνέχεια, καθώς η αφήγηση άρχισε να πιάνει κάποιο ρυθμό, η συγγραφέας εισήγαγε ορισμένα περιστατικά που έμοιαζαν τεχνητά, με σκοπό να κάνει μια επισήμανση στον αναγνώστη και ορισμένα γεγονότα και χαρακτήρες έμοιαζαν πολύ κλισέ.
Επιπλέον, καθώς αρχίζουμε να μαθαίνουμε λίγη από την ιστορία του Lullaby Girl, βρήκα τις αποφάσεις της ανόητες και ενοχλητικές και όχι πολύ πειστικές. Τόσο κάποιες εξελίξεις στο παρελθόν της όσο και κάποια γεγονότα στο παρόν του βιβλίου ήταν δεικτικά και υπερβολικά και ανόητα. Προς το τέλος το βιβλίο γίνεται όλο και πιο απίστευτο. Το lullaby/νανούρισμα δεν είναι και τόσο σημαντικό στην πλοκή παρεμπιπτόντως…
Γενικά κάτι δεν μου κόλλησε, αν και το βρήκα εντάξει για να περάσει η ώρα και το τελείωσα σε δύο απογεύματα. Δεν είναι κακό βιβλίο, αλλά ούτε και πολύ συναρπαστικό ή αξέχαστο.
Lullaby Girl had an interesting premise and I kind of enjoyed it, but I think it had potential to be much better.
First of all I don’t get the choice of the writing style, trying to depict the oral pronunciations and tongues, although I got used to it after a while. Then, as the narration started to get some pace, the author introduced some incidents that seemed forced to make a point and some events and characters felt very cliché.
Furthermore, as we start to get some of the Lullaby Girls’ story, I found her decisions stupid and irking and not very convincing. Both some developments in her past and some events in the present of the book were eye-rolling and poignant. Towards the end the book gets more and more unbelievable and over the top. The Lullaby thing isn’t that much important in the plot by the way…
In general something felt very off, although I found it an OK read to pass the time and finished it in two afternoons. Not a bad book, but not very gripping or memorable either.
Το Lullaby Girl είχε μια ενδιαφέρουσα υπόθεση και μου άρεσε ώς ένα βαθμό, αλλά νομίζω ότι είχε τις προϋποθέσεις να είναι πολύ καλύτερο. Πρώτα απ 'όλα, με ξένισε η επιλογή του τρόπου γραφής που προσπαθεί να απεικονίσει στο χαρτί τις προφορές και τις διαφορετικές γλώσσες, αν και το συνήθισα μετά από λίγο. Στη συνέχεια, καθώς η αφήγηση άρχισε να πιάνει κάποιο ρυθμό, η συγγραφέας εισήγαγε ορισμένα περιστατικά που έμοιαζαν τεχνητά, με σκοπό να κάνει μια επισήμανση στον αναγνώστη και ορισμένα γεγονότα και χαρακτήρες έμοιαζαν πολύ κλισέ.
Επιπλέον, καθώς αρχίζουμε να μαθαίνουμε λίγη από την ιστορία του Lullaby Girl, βρήκα τις αποφάσεις της ανόητες και ενοχλητικές και όχι πολύ πειστικές. Τόσο κάποιες εξελίξεις στο παρελθόν της όσο και κάποια γεγονότα στο παρόν του βιβλίου ήταν δεικτικά και υπερβολικά και ανόητα. Προς το τέλος το βιβλίο γίνεται όλο και πιο απίστευτο. Το lullaby/νανούρισμα δεν είναι και τόσο σημαντικό στην πλοκή παρεμπιπτόντως…
Γενικά κάτι δεν μου κόλλησε, αν και το βρήκα εντάξει για να περάσει η ώρα και το τελείωσα σε δύο απογεύματα. Δεν είναι κακό βιβλίο, αλλά ούτε και πολύ συναρπαστικό ή αξέχαστο.
April 20, 2021
To my surprise I really enjoyed this book. It was recommended by the iTunes. It was only $2.99 so I said why not . If I don’t like it , I didn’t waste that much. At first I was so confused when I started reading . It didn’t take long for me to get really into it . I couldn’t put my phone down. I wanted to know what happened next! The ending was okay. Not my favorite. Overall o would recommend this book !
March 25, 2022
I liked this book, it had me really wanting to know what had happened and it made me feel scared at the idea of going through something similar and then the abuse she faced from medical professionals as well, yeah it really got to me at times.
- my main issue is that in the end she like, was cured?? within like an hour, she went from attacking her therapist and screaming to being completely calm and rational with the same person she just attacked? it didn't really make much sense
- my main issue is that in the end she like, was cured?? within like an hour, she went from attacking her therapist and screaming to being completely calm and rational with the same person she just attacked? it didn't really make much sense
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2023
This is my favourite of the books I have read so far this year.
It was just so immersive that I couldn’t put it down and was constantly on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed my time reading it and it’s one of those books that I will think about often.
It was just so immersive that I couldn’t put it down and was constantly on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed my time reading it and it’s one of those books that I will think about often.
June 18, 2024
Great book, well written, smart and punchy
Excellent read, taking you on a journey of discovery from beginning to end. So clever and well written, looked forward to getting home from work and picking it up.
Excellent read, taking you on a journey of discovery from beginning to end. So clever and well written, looked forward to getting home from work and picking it up.
November 6, 2017
2.5 stars
March 5, 2022
Could not put this book down!!! Kept me guessing right to the very end!
August 1, 2024
Not even worth the 2£ i spent on it at the charity shop
March 16, 2025
Loved this book. It was terrifying and awful. I had to keep turning the pages to see what happens next. Loved the ending.
May 3, 2015
This review originally appeared on Pop Verse.
With Mental Health Awareness Week last week in the UK, mental health issues are a hot topic. Aly Sidgwick’s debut novel will tap into this zeitgeist perfectly, helping to dispel some of the myths around mental illness. The novel pulls no punches when it comes to exploring how it feels to experience a breakdown, to be completely stripped of every normal feeling you may have ever had. This is not a tale for the faint hearted; don’t attempt to read this novel if you dislike being challenged or feeling uncomfortable. Lullaby Girl will force you through the full gamut of emotions as you read; from experience the full lows of its protagonists mental illness to utter helplessness when she does what you know she shouldn’t, to joy at her eventual recovery.
Found washed up on the banks of a remote loch, a mysterious girl is taken into the care of a psychiatric home in the Highlands of Scotland. Apparently mute and covered in bruises, she has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clue to her identity is the Danish lullaby she sings.
Inside the care home, she should be safe. But, harassed by the media and treated as a nuisance by under-pressure staff, she finds the home is far from a haven. And as her memories slowly resurface, the Lullaby Girl does her best to submerge them again. Some things are too terrible to remember … but unless she confronts her fear, how can she find out who she really is?
Authorial expertise
Two of the strongest aspects of the novel are the accurate portrayal of mental illness and the setting of the Scottish Highlands. Both of these are pieces that the author, Aly Sidgwick, knows intimately, and that expertise gives the novel a feeling of legitimacy and harrowing realism. The problem of writing realistically about mental illness is that it makes for an uncomfortable read that never really lets up.
For the most part, the prose is short and punchy. It gets to the point and doesn’t hold back. There are even patient session transcripts provided to change up the voice and pacing of the story, but even then what comes out of those sessions is dark and terrifying. We are inside Kathy’s head, and that simply isn’t a good place for anyone to be.
Frustrations with the character
The biggest problem I had with the novel is also potentially one of its biggest strengths. We follow the story of Kathy, from her broken state to slowly remembering and rediscovering who she is and what happened to her. And while the reader can easily see that she isn’t well, she struggled – even before the breakdown – with crippling mental illness, it’s impossible to read it without wanting to shake some sense into her.
Kathy is frustrating and self-defeating; she gets herself into terrible situations that she should never have been in. It doesn’t make for a character you love, but it does make her a realistic character suffering from mental illness. So while I found her a difficult character to go on a journey with, that’s rather the point of Lullaby Girl. Thankfully, where the story could turn into a a kind of diatribe on the state of mental health institutions or even justice and retribution, Sidgwick keeps it to the singular story of one girl: a story of redemption and recovery. The issues being dealt with here are not light, fluffy, and fun, but they are real and very important for us to talk about.
Multiple red herrings
While the main gist of the story is a study of mental illness, looking at what we repress and why, it is also a mystery/thriller. What did happen to Kathy? Why did she end up beaten and half-dead in the water? What Sidgwick does expertly throughout the novel is dropping multiple red herrings, leading us off on certain paths that seem obvious to a reader. There are many ‘Ah, I see where this is going…’ moments that actually turn out to be misdirections. To find myself guessing what went down in a narrative like this is unusual, so props to Aly for keeping me on my toes.
That’s not to say that Kathy’s backstory is so unusual to readers that it won’t be familiar, but that’s half the beauty. It is potentially a very real and terrifying story that could happen to anyone (or at least someone with low self-esteem that might be inclined to get themselves in a similar situation). But while it is so entirely plausible, it isn’t necessarily obvious from the outset. In addition, there are a number of questions left open at the end. Are the connections Kathy drew real or just a sick mind trying to make sense of it all?
Verdict: A psychologically harrowing study of mental illness, Lullaby Girl is a rather astonishing debut novel. Confident, daring, and constantly uncomfortable, it will keep you on your toes. Definitely worth keeping an eye on where Sidgwick goes from here.
With Mental Health Awareness Week last week in the UK, mental health issues are a hot topic. Aly Sidgwick’s debut novel will tap into this zeitgeist perfectly, helping to dispel some of the myths around mental illness. The novel pulls no punches when it comes to exploring how it feels to experience a breakdown, to be completely stripped of every normal feeling you may have ever had. This is not a tale for the faint hearted; don’t attempt to read this novel if you dislike being challenged or feeling uncomfortable. Lullaby Girl will force you through the full gamut of emotions as you read; from experience the full lows of its protagonists mental illness to utter helplessness when she does what you know she shouldn’t, to joy at her eventual recovery.
Found washed up on the banks of a remote loch, a mysterious girl is taken into the care of a psychiatric home in the Highlands of Scotland. Apparently mute and covered in bruises, she has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clue to her identity is the Danish lullaby she sings.
Inside the care home, she should be safe. But, harassed by the media and treated as a nuisance by under-pressure staff, she finds the home is far from a haven. And as her memories slowly resurface, the Lullaby Girl does her best to submerge them again. Some things are too terrible to remember … but unless she confronts her fear, how can she find out who she really is?
Authorial expertise
Two of the strongest aspects of the novel are the accurate portrayal of mental illness and the setting of the Scottish Highlands. Both of these are pieces that the author, Aly Sidgwick, knows intimately, and that expertise gives the novel a feeling of legitimacy and harrowing realism. The problem of writing realistically about mental illness is that it makes for an uncomfortable read that never really lets up.
For the most part, the prose is short and punchy. It gets to the point and doesn’t hold back. There are even patient session transcripts provided to change up the voice and pacing of the story, but even then what comes out of those sessions is dark and terrifying. We are inside Kathy’s head, and that simply isn’t a good place for anyone to be.
Frustrations with the character
The biggest problem I had with the novel is also potentially one of its biggest strengths. We follow the story of Kathy, from her broken state to slowly remembering and rediscovering who she is and what happened to her. And while the reader can easily see that she isn’t well, she struggled – even before the breakdown – with crippling mental illness, it’s impossible to read it without wanting to shake some sense into her.
Kathy is frustrating and self-defeating; she gets herself into terrible situations that she should never have been in. It doesn’t make for a character you love, but it does make her a realistic character suffering from mental illness. So while I found her a difficult character to go on a journey with, that’s rather the point of Lullaby Girl. Thankfully, where the story could turn into a a kind of diatribe on the state of mental health institutions or even justice and retribution, Sidgwick keeps it to the singular story of one girl: a story of redemption and recovery. The issues being dealt with here are not light, fluffy, and fun, but they are real and very important for us to talk about.
Multiple red herrings
While the main gist of the story is a study of mental illness, looking at what we repress and why, it is also a mystery/thriller. What did happen to Kathy? Why did she end up beaten and half-dead in the water? What Sidgwick does expertly throughout the novel is dropping multiple red herrings, leading us off on certain paths that seem obvious to a reader. There are many ‘Ah, I see where this is going…’ moments that actually turn out to be misdirections. To find myself guessing what went down in a narrative like this is unusual, so props to Aly for keeping me on my toes.
That’s not to say that Kathy’s backstory is so unusual to readers that it won’t be familiar, but that’s half the beauty. It is potentially a very real and terrifying story that could happen to anyone (or at least someone with low self-esteem that might be inclined to get themselves in a similar situation). But while it is so entirely plausible, it isn’t necessarily obvious from the outset. In addition, there are a number of questions left open at the end. Are the connections Kathy drew real or just a sick mind trying to make sense of it all?
Verdict: A psychologically harrowing study of mental illness, Lullaby Girl is a rather astonishing debut novel. Confident, daring, and constantly uncomfortable, it will keep you on your toes. Definitely worth keeping an eye on where Sidgwick goes from here.
May 28, 2015
As soon as I had read the first few pages I knew I was going to be totally gripped by this book. The Lullaby Girl is such a fascinating character. Aly Sidgwick has brilliantly described the confusion, loneliness and fear she feels. Kathy (which we discover is the name of the Lullaby Girl) notices everything going on around her and makes sharp observations of what's happening and of the people around her. However, initially, she can't make sense of her surroundings. Being written as a first person narrative gave a great insight and immediacy to her thoughts. I was really intrigued by this portrayal of someone who has been tipped over the edge of mental illness. But how reliable a narrator can someone with memory loss be - how far can we trust the memories that start to return?
As glimpses of her memory start to come back through visions and terrifying flashbacks, the narrative moves to Scandinavia where we start to learn why Kathy sings a Danish Lullaby. The chapters there start to fill in the blanks in her story and we begin to build up a picture of what has happened. The Lullaby Girl headed for a new life which such optimism but it rapidly spiralled down into a nightmare. The mood of these chapters was very dark and very tense.
I thought that the other characters were very well drawn in this book, in particular the staff of Gille Dubh care facility. Rhona was one I really warmed to as she was so supportive despite her own problems. Joyce on the other hand, was really unlikeable and not someone I would want to be working with vulnerable patients! The characters in Scandinavia (I'm trying hard not to give away anything here!) were mostly really horrible and I felt so sorry for Kathy being mixed up with them and being trapped in such a dreadful situation. The one exception of course was her friend Lina.
I loved the language used in The Lullaby Girl, particularly in the chapters set in the present day. Just a hint of Scots dialect making me really hear The Lullaby Girl's voice. This is a really great tense psychological thriller and one I found really hard to put down. Forget comparisons to Gone Girl - this book deserves to be read just because it's great!
My thanks to Black and White Publishing for the review copy of this book and for the opportunity to take part in the blog tour.
As glimpses of her memory start to come back through visions and terrifying flashbacks, the narrative moves to Scandinavia where we start to learn why Kathy sings a Danish Lullaby. The chapters there start to fill in the blanks in her story and we begin to build up a picture of what has happened. The Lullaby Girl headed for a new life which such optimism but it rapidly spiralled down into a nightmare. The mood of these chapters was very dark and very tense.
I thought that the other characters were very well drawn in this book, in particular the staff of Gille Dubh care facility. Rhona was one I really warmed to as she was so supportive despite her own problems. Joyce on the other hand, was really unlikeable and not someone I would want to be working with vulnerable patients! The characters in Scandinavia (I'm trying hard not to give away anything here!) were mostly really horrible and I felt so sorry for Kathy being mixed up with them and being trapped in such a dreadful situation. The one exception of course was her friend Lina.
I loved the language used in The Lullaby Girl, particularly in the chapters set in the present day. Just a hint of Scots dialect making me really hear The Lullaby Girl's voice. This is a really great tense psychological thriller and one I found really hard to put down. Forget comparisons to Gone Girl - this book deserves to be read just because it's great!
My thanks to Black and White Publishing for the review copy of this book and for the opportunity to take part in the blog tour.
January 2, 2016
Review originally posted on my blog - www.jodetopia.com
A girl is washed up on the shore, singing a foreign Lullaby (hence the name ‘The Lullaby Girl’) with no idea of who she is or how she got there. She’s admitted to a rehabilitation/psychiatric ward to bring her to health, and the book follows the story of her battling with her inner self to figure out her past. It cleverly switches between present and past, so the reader can really live the memories as they come back to her.
I found the book quite slow to begin with, and did have difficulty getting into it at first. When the girl is initially found, her dialect is awful, and I struggled with the poor spelling and grammar (points for creativity, though). It wasnt until about half way through, and a good few months of giving up and trying again, that I got obsessed. I literally couldn’t put it down and finished the rest of the book in a day! The more you learn about the girl’s background, the more you want to find out what happened. You soon learn that everything is a lot more dark and sinister than she originally thought.
Also, lets talk about the book cover. I love the cover. I like books with black as the background colour, as it looks good on my shelf. I love how the girl is walking into the room from the light on the front cover, almost as if she’s an angel from heaven. Although, I pictured a skinny, freckly, brown haired rag doll type character… I can’t remember if that is how she is described or that is just my imagination getting carried away, but I don’t think the image on the front is the best portrayal of the lead character. Although, that being said, it could be portraying Mary….
Overall, the book is very well written, with unexpected plot twists and a strong leading character. Give the book a go and get through the slow first half and you won’t be disappointed.
A girl is washed up on the shore, singing a foreign Lullaby (hence the name ‘The Lullaby Girl’) with no idea of who she is or how she got there. She’s admitted to a rehabilitation/psychiatric ward to bring her to health, and the book follows the story of her battling with her inner self to figure out her past. It cleverly switches between present and past, so the reader can really live the memories as they come back to her.
I found the book quite slow to begin with, and did have difficulty getting into it at first. When the girl is initially found, her dialect is awful, and I struggled with the poor spelling and grammar (points for creativity, though). It wasnt until about half way through, and a good few months of giving up and trying again, that I got obsessed. I literally couldn’t put it down and finished the rest of the book in a day! The more you learn about the girl’s background, the more you want to find out what happened. You soon learn that everything is a lot more dark and sinister than she originally thought.
Also, lets talk about the book cover. I love the cover. I like books with black as the background colour, as it looks good on my shelf. I love how the girl is walking into the room from the light on the front cover, almost as if she’s an angel from heaven. Although, I pictured a skinny, freckly, brown haired rag doll type character… I can’t remember if that is how she is described or that is just my imagination getting carried away, but I don’t think the image on the front is the best portrayal of the lead character. Although, that being said, it could be portraying Mary….
Overall, the book is very well written, with unexpected plot twists and a strong leading character. Give the book a go and get through the slow first half and you won’t be disappointed.
December 5, 2015
Good
This is a book about a girl who was found in the water but doesn't remember who she is or where she came from
It's about how good and bad the media is when it comes to people's lives
I gave this book 2 stars because it was good but it was very slow! Yes she does eventually get her memory back and there are a few shocking moments that you can expect from any psychological thriller but I just found her a little annoying!it mentions depression and mental illness in this book but doesn't really go in to the actual illnesses themselves I would have liked if they maybe explained what she was feeling and going through as for the people who were working with her I found them just rude and uncaring as if anyone working in an establishment like that would act that way to their patients! I just didn't like the main character that much as for the ending.....a lot was left unsaid like they tried to end it as quick as possible where as they could have cut out half of the stuff in the middle of the book
This is a book about a girl who was found in the water but doesn't remember who she is or where she came from
It's about how good and bad the media is when it comes to people's lives
I gave this book 2 stars because it was good but it was very slow! Yes she does eventually get her memory back and there are a few shocking moments that you can expect from any psychological thriller but I just found her a little annoying!it mentions depression and mental illness in this book but doesn't really go in to the actual illnesses themselves I would have liked if they maybe explained what she was feeling and going through as for the people who were working with her I found them just rude and uncaring as if anyone working in an establishment like that would act that way to their patients! I just didn't like the main character that much as for the ending.....a lot was left unsaid like they tried to end it as quick as possible where as they could have cut out half of the stuff in the middle of the book
June 11, 2015
As the Lullaby Girl is washed up on the loch, the puzzle remains as to who she is and how she got there. Did she fall off a boat? as there is no public transport for a twenty-mile radius. Rhona a lady takes the Lullaby Girl to her care home where she will be safe with a big high fence surrounding the home and they only let nice people in. With the girl not speaking she only sings a haunting song Danish lullaby over and over again. eventually the Lullaby Girl gets chilling memories that slowly start to resurface.
This is story is taut and tense, lullaby Girl is a mesmerising and powerful psychological thriller.
It's summer I hope you are soaking up some of this glorious weather. Lullaby Girl is a fantastic summer reads out this month.It will be hitting bookshops this June, make sure to grab a copy to enjoy in the sunshine! I hope you all enjoy reading Lullaby Girl as much as I did.
May 16, 2015
** Books 150 - 2015 **
This books to accomplish New Author Reading Challenge 2015
3,2 of 5 stars!
"...The news that she got away hit my heart like sunshine, and i refuse to drag her back into this. Maybe that'll mean prison for me. Maybe Dundee. But I'm ready for those things. Only by letting go will i free myself. Only then can the clock start to tick again"
It's great story actually and quite plot twist. I love the parts with when Katherine run away with Rhona. However i really hate when she always yelling and didn't want to be care by caretaker beside Rhona. can you just stop for being selfish, can't you? >__<
Anyway, i love the cover itself. it really haunting and mysterious one. It's also reminds me of Taylor Swift haha.. Don't you think so?
This books to accomplish New Author Reading Challenge 2015
3,2 of 5 stars!
"...The news that she got away hit my heart like sunshine, and i refuse to drag her back into this. Maybe that'll mean prison for me. Maybe Dundee. But I'm ready for those things. Only by letting go will i free myself. Only then can the clock start to tick again"
It's great story actually and quite plot twist. I love the parts with when Katherine run away with Rhona. However i really hate when she always yelling and didn't want to be care by caretaker beside Rhona. can you just stop for being selfish, can't you? >__<
Anyway, i love the cover itself. it really haunting and mysterious one. It's also reminds me of Taylor Swift haha.. Don't you think so?
August 10, 2015
The basic story is pretty good and I think it would work well as a film.... with help on the screenplay from a different writer. The author uses a lot of onomatopoeia to build tension, which I found annoying after a while. The story is quite slow moving until 2/3 of the way through. I couldn't identify with the lead character....she is very passive and without giving too much away she keeps letting people control her and is very needy. There are also a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions throughout the novel that don't get answered which I assume is supposed to make you think....I just think it's lazy writing personally.
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