Beatrice

by Noëlle Harrison

Now, as an adult, Eithne is an artist, and tries to remember her sister in her prints of the dark wooded bogs behind her house: 'I print my landscapes, but they are no longer just that. Objects enter their arenas, all hidden in the woods... by the lough, under the Aspen trees... a string of pearls, a compact, a hat, a sketchbook...' household, a dark, guilty secret that her disappearance only made worse. Something about Beatrice's birth and an Englishman, covered forever by Sarah's shame and Joe's bitter anger. And now, almost twenty years later, it is all blown apart, when a girl appears, claiming to be Beatrice's daughter, given up for adoption all those years ago... magic and beauty of art running through it, this is a richly compelling, haunting story of family secrets, passion and ultimately redemption.

Genres: Fiction

286 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

pseudonym: Evie Blake

Born in London, I moved to Ireland in 1991, shortly afterwards setting up the theatre company Aurora. I have written four stage plays, Northern Landscapes, Black Virgin, Runaway Wife and The Good Sister, and one short film, Blue Void. I have also written extensively on visual art in Ireland, contributing to various journals and artists’ catalogues over the years.

In August 2004 my first novel Beatrice was published by Tivoli/ Pan Macmillan. My second novel, A Small Part Of Me, was published by Tivoli / Pan Macmillan in September 2005. My third novel I Remember was published by Pan Macmillan in September 2008. The Adulteress an erotic ghost story set now and in 1941 in Ireland was published by Pan Macmillan in September 2009. The Secret Loves of Julia Caesar is an illustrated limited edition novella, a companion book to The Adulteress as well as a novel in its own right. It is published October 2012.

I currently live in Bergen in Norway. In September 2012 Beatrice was published by Juritzen Forlag in Norwegian. My books have also been translated and published in Italy, Germany, Holland, and Hungary.

I offer a critiquing service for budding writers and teach various creative writing workshops through Inkwell Writers.

I also write under the pen name of Evie Blake, author of Valentina published by Headline in October 2012, Valentina on the edge (March 2013) and Valentina Unlocked (October 2013). The Valentina Trilogy will be translated and published in Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain, France, Portugal, Brazil, and Serbia.

Reviews

[Taran Sjøberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in norwegian, but there wasn’t a norwegian version I could change it to. I was really invested in this book, but i really don’t know how to feel about the ending. Overall, i think it was a good book and i enjoyed reading it.

[Esme · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She was an open book, a life with no end that had hardly begun."

Eines Tages verschwand Beatrice, ihre Familie glaubte jahrelang, dass sie ermordet wurde. Seltsamerweise fanden sich damals in der Umgebung ihres Hauses, im Wald und im Moor, Gegenstände, die ihr sehr wichtig waren. Fast zwanzig Jahre später taucht ein junges Mädchen auf, das Beatrices Verschwinden in einem ganz neuen Licht erscheinen lässt.

Noëlle Harrisons Debutroman Beatrice ist brillant. Dabei ist die Geschichte nicht neu oder besonders. Es liegt an der Art, wie sie erzählt. Ihr Stil ist fast lyrisch und legt menschliche Gefühle bloß. Die einzelnen Kapitel sind mit den Fundstücken betitelt, der Schal etc. und erzählen aus der Sicht verschiedener Personen, was geschah und wie sie mit diesem Schicksalsschlag umgingen.

Eithne, Beatrices jüngere Schwester, ist die einzige Ich-Erzählerin. Sie hat den Verlust der Schwester nie überwinden können und verarbeitet ihre Trauer in ihrer Kunst, sie ist Fotografin. Über die anderen Familienmitglieder wird in der dritten Person geschrieben. Die Geschichte von Sarah, die Mutter, ist eigentlich Beatrices pränatale Geschichte. Denn das, was in dieser Familie später geschieht, begann schon lange Zeit vorher. Und man möchte als Leser Sarah manchmal schütteln und ihr Paß auf! zurufen. Auch die abwesende Beatrice wirbelt in ihrer jugendlich-unangepassten und lebensfrohen Art durch ein irisches Dorf in den achtziger Jahren.

Das Tragische an der Geschichte dieser Familie ist, dass nur der Leser alle Teile des Geschehens erfährt, die Beteiligten finden nur Bruchstücke der Wahrheit. Und das Traurige daran ist, dass es sie kaputt macht, auch wenn es ein klein wenig Hoffnung für einige von ihnen gibt. Und selbst wenn sie wüssten, hätte es ihnen keinen Schmerz ersparen können. Sie können versuchen, daran zu wachsen und einen eigenen Weg zu finden.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Beatrice' is narrated by three characters - Beatrice, the missing sister; Eithne, who is now in her 30s and a married artist, the sister of Beatrice and Sarah, the mother of the two girls. This is a love story, but not a romance - it is more a story of how love can be lost and denied and often found again, but also a story of how love can ruin lives. The three stories are expertly woven together to make a complete tale that really sucks the reader in.

The story is so sad at times, the disappearance of Beatrice has such an impact on her family - the heartbreaking fact is that the family will never know why or where Beatrice went to.

'Beatrice' was Noelle Harrison's first novel and is is wonderfully written and entirely believeable. The descriptions of the County Meath countryside are so dramatic and are a major part of the story.

I'm looking forward to reading more by Noelle Harrison.

[Lynn Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was frustrated by the constant jumping back and forth between people and, at times, wasn’t sure whose story I was reading.

[Emma S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the different perspectives from characters across times. Good story. But linguistically wasn't bowled over.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a young woman who went missing. Beatrice left behind various objects - a necklace, a scarf, a sketchbook and more - and the novel is loosely structured around each one of these, as they are discovered after her disappearance.

Actually, though, it's the story of three connected women. There are many subplots, weaving in and out, pulling past and present closer together. I can’t say I was deeply moved, but I certainly felt involved. There were some rather sordid parts which I didn’t particularly like; nothing highly explicit, but plenty of subject matter that would make me reluctant to recommend this to a teenager. However, although I put it aside for a few weeks, for the most part the story drew me in more and more as I read.

At times I found it easy to forget the names of minor characters, some of whom were quite two-dimensional - but it didn't really matter. There was drama and excitement and hope.. and then an epilogue which answered some questions although I didn’t particularly like it. Still, it did at least bring some closure.

On the whole I’d recommend it as a gentle book with some very hard-hitting, even shocking sections that are surprisingly matter-of-fact in the telling. Perhaps three and a half stars would be fairer than three.

[Lyda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beatrice disappears at age 18. Her mother goes into a deep depression/grief and her father becomes an alcoholic and her sister is now age 34 and re-discovering her past and her sisters disappearance. When Beatrice disappears she leaves behind a trail of items, a string of pearls, a scarf, a beret, a sketchbook, a compact, and a purse. The book is divided into parts, each titled by a specific item, then they are sub-divided into chapters which are named after 5 main characters, the mother Sarah, the Sister Eithne, the disappeared daughter - Beatrice, Joseph and Phil. Each item and each woman is connected by the relationships they have with the men in their lives. The items, the women, and their experiences with their romantic relationships intertwines and is a carried theme throughout the book.

The book is wriiten like a poem at times, it's very insightful, there's a lot of reference to the earth and nature, solitude, grief and art and the surrounding landscapes.

This book takes place in County Meath, Irleand, where the author is from.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twenty years have passed since the disappearance of Beatrice, a free spirited 19 year old. This book looks at her mother's life in London before Beatrice's birth; how Eithne her artist sister is coping in the present day and excerpts from Beatrice herself. At the time of her disappearance a few of her favourite things were found in various places on the bogland near her family home and that was all the family had to hold on to as no body was ever found. All these years later the family make new discoveries as to what could have happened Beatrice. This book kept me interested to the end and the descriptions of the bog scenery are lovely. Worth a read

[Georgina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather too self-aware writing for my liking. Also I am uncomfortable with too many references to products/bands/TV that establish period - they jar me out of the world of the narrative. Other than that, the story is compelling, the mystery carefully plotted, the characters interesting if not fully realised. As a protagonist, Sarah's apathetic response to all aspects of her life is not convincing although the theme of abandonment is sustained.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that surprises you. I didn't expect it to be as good as it is. it caught me at the first page and didn't let go until the last. Not a fast paced book but never slow. Interesting characters that are well formed and the description of the Irish countryside especially the bogs make me wish I could go and see them. Highly recommended.

[Aurelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved it and flew through it. HOWEVER, one thing - part of the drama would have been less if people remembered basic genetics - Lisa could not have been blonde if her father had been darkhaired..... So this hole in logic lessened the impact of the book a little.

[Jam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the book within a week I enjoyed this very much I was so interested in the story of 2 of the 3 women what would happen at the end. The ending felt very like the author got fed up writing & just made up something quick at the end though which was a pity.

[Smiling_girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book it is entertaining and well written. as i live in meath and the book is set in meath i enjoyed the book even more

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I usually read, but I couldn't put it down. Riveting.

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful; couldn't finish it.

[Jan Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting twist and atmospheric novel. some of characters are a bit 1 dimensional. 2nd time of reading as it was book gp this time

[Marion]

Rubbish. Hated the way it was written. Couldn’t finish it!