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Hidden Chapters
Hidden Chapters is an emotionally gripping story of family secrets and unearthing the past. Catrin, a devoted mother struggling to keep her marriage alive, is blindsided by the appearance of her daughter's birth mother, Elizabeth. Catrin must confront her own lies and secrets from the past, while struggling to accept the truth about her beloved 'golden brother' and alcoholic mother. Set on the picturesque Welsh Gower Peninsula, where Worm’s Head is a tidal island off Rhossili Bay, Mary Grand's writing is beautifully crafted and full of suspense. If you enjoy family dramas like Kate Atkinson's Life After Life and Maeve Binchy's Tara Road, you'll be captivated by Hidden Chapters.
- GenresFiction
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2016
34 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Mary Grand
20 books272 followersI grew up in Wales. Later I taught in London and then worked with Deaf Children in Hastings. I now live on the beautiful Isle of Wight with my family.
I am published by Boldwood Books and write murder mystery, whodunnits, set on the Isle of Wight. The House Party was published in July 2020
The next 'The Island' will be published on June 24th, 2021.
Previously I published three novels, Free to Be Tegan, Hidden Chapters and Behind the Smile. I have also written two anthologies of short stories, Making Changes and Catching the light is a FREE download.
I would love to hear from you on my blog here on Goodreads.
I am published by Boldwood Books and write murder mystery, whodunnits, set on the Isle of Wight. The House Party was published in July 2020
The next 'The Island' will be published on June 24th, 2021.
Previously I published three novels, Free to Be Tegan, Hidden Chapters and Behind the Smile. I have also written two anthologies of short stories, Making Changes and Catching the light is a FREE download.
I would love to hear from you on my blog here on Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 11, 2016
Having enjoyed 'Free to be Tegan,' I was eager to read Mary Grand's new novel 'Hidden Chapters,' and I wasn't disappointed. An emotional journey full of twists and turns. Beautiful descriptions of the Gower, it makes me want to visit there. 'Hidden Chapters' is a cleverly crafted, compelling story that you won't be able to put down.
February 16, 2017
What a lovely and wonderful romantic novel Hidden Chapters is! You cannot but love Catrin, the devoted mother of Bethan and Lowri, who dedicated her life to her family. She grew up in the shadow of her perfect brother Aled, who died 18 years ago. Their father, Lloyd, had always adored his son and since his death that feeling has multiplied. Now Lloyd wants to sell ‘The Dragon House’ on the Gower Peninsula – the family home where Catrin and Aled grew up. A special memorial service to be held for Aled induces the family to come back and face the hidden chapters of the past.
Storyline
Eighteen years ago, Catrin lost her elder brother Aled in a tragic accident around the dangerous rock Worm’s Head. To their father Lloyd, Aled was the perfect son and could do nothing wrong. Catrin is the daughter who had to stay home to take care of her mother, something her father found only logical since he felt she was not intelligent enough to study and have a career. Now her father is ready to sell the family home ‘The Dragon House’. Before doing so, he wants to hold a memorial service, dedicated to Aled, at Rhossili Church. Then there is Bethan, Aled’s daughter, born soon after his death. Since Aled’s girlfriend could not handle having a child, Catrin and her husband Gareth, who already had Lowri, were only too happy to adopt Bethan as their own. Because Bethan was born deaf, they surrounded her with all the help she could get and stimulated her to live her life without as little concession as possible to her deafness.
The whole family travels to the Gower Peninsula for the memorial service. For Catrin, it is the first time in 18 years and she dreads the haunting memories surrounding the place where she grew up. Bethan demands to know the truth about her birth mother and father. Added to that, Lloyd tries to determine Bethan’s future, ignoring Catrin’s parental role. With Bethan’s 18th birthday approaching, the whole of the family together and so many memories hidden; no wonder the atmosphere is tense. Elegant Londoner Elizabeth has also come down for the memorial – her arrival in the little Welsh village puts in motion a series of events forcing the truth to come out and changing the lives of all those involved, including her own. Time only heals wounds when you acknowledge what happened. Perhaps now is the perfect moment to clear away the hidden chapters of the past and face what really happened. Let’s find out!
My Thoughts
I am totally smitten with this beautifully written novel about love, loss, and coming to terms with the past. This is Mary Grand’s second novel set in beautiful rural Wales, this time in a coastal village on the Gower Peninsula. Because of the many characters, it took me a few chapters to get into the story but once I was acquainted with them I was drawn in completely. I believe that the author has grown with this second novel as it shows more depth and the story is wonderfully construed with an expertly woven plot. For me, Catrin is the protagonist and the author’s portrayal of her is so well written that it was easy to empathise. I loved how Mary Grand lets her characters evolve and does not judge them. If anything, Mary Grand shows us that love, especially parental love, should be unconditional, that what we see on the surface are sometimes only coping mechanisms, concealing a deep-felt pain. To be recommended!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/hidden...
Storyline
Eighteen years ago, Catrin lost her elder brother Aled in a tragic accident around the dangerous rock Worm’s Head. To their father Lloyd, Aled was the perfect son and could do nothing wrong. Catrin is the daughter who had to stay home to take care of her mother, something her father found only logical since he felt she was not intelligent enough to study and have a career. Now her father is ready to sell the family home ‘The Dragon House’. Before doing so, he wants to hold a memorial service, dedicated to Aled, at Rhossili Church. Then there is Bethan, Aled’s daughter, born soon after his death. Since Aled’s girlfriend could not handle having a child, Catrin and her husband Gareth, who already had Lowri, were only too happy to adopt Bethan as their own. Because Bethan was born deaf, they surrounded her with all the help she could get and stimulated her to live her life without as little concession as possible to her deafness.
The whole family travels to the Gower Peninsula for the memorial service. For Catrin, it is the first time in 18 years and she dreads the haunting memories surrounding the place where she grew up. Bethan demands to know the truth about her birth mother and father. Added to that, Lloyd tries to determine Bethan’s future, ignoring Catrin’s parental role. With Bethan’s 18th birthday approaching, the whole of the family together and so many memories hidden; no wonder the atmosphere is tense. Elegant Londoner Elizabeth has also come down for the memorial – her arrival in the little Welsh village puts in motion a series of events forcing the truth to come out and changing the lives of all those involved, including her own. Time only heals wounds when you acknowledge what happened. Perhaps now is the perfect moment to clear away the hidden chapters of the past and face what really happened. Let’s find out!
My Thoughts
I am totally smitten with this beautifully written novel about love, loss, and coming to terms with the past. This is Mary Grand’s second novel set in beautiful rural Wales, this time in a coastal village on the Gower Peninsula. Because of the many characters, it took me a few chapters to get into the story but once I was acquainted with them I was drawn in completely. I believe that the author has grown with this second novel as it shows more depth and the story is wonderfully construed with an expertly woven plot. For me, Catrin is the protagonist and the author’s portrayal of her is so well written that it was easy to empathise. I loved how Mary Grand lets her characters evolve and does not judge them. If anything, Mary Grand shows us that love, especially parental love, should be unconditional, that what we see on the surface are sometimes only coping mechanisms, concealing a deep-felt pain. To be recommended!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/hidden...
August 20, 2019
Catrin is 50 and she goes to stay at a holiday home in a small village along the Gower in south Wales. Follow her as she and her family have some drama thrust into their lives when an old face from the past suddenly appears.
Hidden Chapters is a character driven novel of family drama. The central character is Catrin as she has a lot to cope with. We also have interesting family members too, Lloyd her father, Gareth her husband plus their two daughters Bethan and Lowri. Dog owners will enjoy the inclusion of Safi, a new pet for Catrin’s birthday. And then we have an old face from the past adding emotion and history to the tale.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hidden Chapters. I found it to be better than other character driven family dramas because it had a unique angle that was developed and explained. This added value to this novel is something we don’t generally hear a lot about in mainstream fiction. Catrin’s youngest daughter Bethan was born Deaf.
Don’t get me wrong, Hidden Chapters is NOT a book about hearing OR disability, it is one of secrets and lies. I enjoyed the pace of this novel and the depths of emotions that were skillfully woven into the plot. I quickly developed an empathy for all the characters and enjoyed how life’s challenges were explored. We have adoption, education, adult dreams about their future, loss of a loved one and how to deal with secrets and lies.
I found Hidden Chapters to be a warm cosy read with a lot of love flowing out of the pages. It was a very pleasant and pleasing read for me. I think it is easy for men to put themselves into Catrin’s shoes.
Mary Grand taught Deaf children in Croydon and Hastings which gave her some great insights that she was able to use in Hidden Chapters. I thought these extras added a lot to this novel. It put the character of Bethan and her hearing into perspective. It was nice that Mary did not make hearing a focus of her novel but included it as part of life. I am a coach driver on the National Express network and we support Deaf passengers. I found these sections of Hidden Chapters to be a great refresher with my job as Deaf passengers can so easily miss out and we do not want to add any more stress to their journey. I would like to quote some sections of Hidden Chapters about hearing that I thought particularly should be highlighted…
...The Man serving might mumble or look away so that Bethan couldn’t lip read him or, if he saw hearing aids, and actually realised she was Deaf, he might over-enunciate in some kind of pantomime, making lip reading impossible. Of course, he might be the kind of person who refused to even try to communicate, who would stare at her blankly, and claim that he could not understand her simply because of her intonation was a bit flat and nasal.
‘It was easy. Do you know I ordered a round of drinks in the pub the other night? Orange juice for me, of course,’ Bethan added, grinning in a way that did nothing to reassure her mother. ‘Anyway, this woman behind the bar kept saying ‘What?’ to me, and looking at Sabrina to ask her what I was saying. Sabrina, of course, refused to play. In the end, the woman gave me a piece of paper and a pen, and told me to write down my order, so I wrote, ‘You’re a stupid cow,’ and handed it back to her.’
‘Dad told me the girl is, what do they call it now? Hearing impaired. Is that right?’
‘Actually, Bethan prefers to say she is Deaf. There are people you see that say the word impairment means something needs to be fixed. She was born Deaf.’
‘Lowri tells me you do music. How does that work? Is is all done by vibration?’
Bethan tutted. ‘It’s far more complicated than that. Hearing is only a small part of enjoying music. It’s multi-sensory, a physical thing. Music is a feeling, an emotion. A deaf person feels music within the vibrations in the same part of the brain that hearing people use when the melodies you love get caught in your head.’
‘She’s done well, hasn’t she? We’re so proud of her. It’s been a lot of hard work. People don’t realise how much effort she puts in. Take lip-reading. Actually, only about thirty per cent of English is visible on the lips, and she needs lots of other cues to really follow what you are saying. It’s why they call it speech reading now, Bethan is watching teeth, cheeks, eyes, facial expressions, and body language to piece together what you’re saying.’
‘To start signing with Bethan was a big decision. You see, there were plenty of professionals who said that if I signed with Bethan she would never learn to talk.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. The idea is, you see, that she has this tiny bit of hearing, her residual hearing, and she must work hard at using that. They said that if she signed she wouldn’t, and so would never learn to talk. The way I saw it, Bethan was getting very frustrated. It didn’t seem fair, so I found someone prepared to teach us, and that is the way we went. The expression they used then was ‘total communication’, when you use speech and signing in parallel. I think it’s called something different now.’
When he had gone, she looked at Bethan. ‘How ignorant can you get?’
‘I’ve had worse. One waiter asked me if I needed a menu in Braille.’
‘Good grief.’
‘You get used to it.’
Bethan was signing with Lowri. Catrin watched in awe, struck with the beauty of the signing, understanding again why signing had been described as dancing with words. As Catrin watched, she experienced a deep sense of calm. There were no more ghosts, no more hidden chapters.
...So I found Hidden Chapters to be a lovely warm cosy read that ticked all the boxes for me. Yes, I shed the odd tear along the way but that is due to strong story-telliing by a quality author. Well done Mary, your second novel gets the top score of 5 stars from me.
Hidden Chapters is a character driven novel of family drama. The central character is Catrin as she has a lot to cope with. We also have interesting family members too, Lloyd her father, Gareth her husband plus their two daughters Bethan and Lowri. Dog owners will enjoy the inclusion of Safi, a new pet for Catrin’s birthday. And then we have an old face from the past adding emotion and history to the tale.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hidden Chapters. I found it to be better than other character driven family dramas because it had a unique angle that was developed and explained. This added value to this novel is something we don’t generally hear a lot about in mainstream fiction. Catrin’s youngest daughter Bethan was born Deaf.
Don’t get me wrong, Hidden Chapters is NOT a book about hearing OR disability, it is one of secrets and lies. I enjoyed the pace of this novel and the depths of emotions that were skillfully woven into the plot. I quickly developed an empathy for all the characters and enjoyed how life’s challenges were explored. We have adoption, education, adult dreams about their future, loss of a loved one and how to deal with secrets and lies.
I found Hidden Chapters to be a warm cosy read with a lot of love flowing out of the pages. It was a very pleasant and pleasing read for me. I think it is easy for men to put themselves into Catrin’s shoes.
Mary Grand taught Deaf children in Croydon and Hastings which gave her some great insights that she was able to use in Hidden Chapters. I thought these extras added a lot to this novel. It put the character of Bethan and her hearing into perspective. It was nice that Mary did not make hearing a focus of her novel but included it as part of life. I am a coach driver on the National Express network and we support Deaf passengers. I found these sections of Hidden Chapters to be a great refresher with my job as Deaf passengers can so easily miss out and we do not want to add any more stress to their journey. I would like to quote some sections of Hidden Chapters about hearing that I thought particularly should be highlighted…
...The Man serving might mumble or look away so that Bethan couldn’t lip read him or, if he saw hearing aids, and actually realised she was Deaf, he might over-enunciate in some kind of pantomime, making lip reading impossible. Of course, he might be the kind of person who refused to even try to communicate, who would stare at her blankly, and claim that he could not understand her simply because of her intonation was a bit flat and nasal.
‘It was easy. Do you know I ordered a round of drinks in the pub the other night? Orange juice for me, of course,’ Bethan added, grinning in a way that did nothing to reassure her mother. ‘Anyway, this woman behind the bar kept saying ‘What?’ to me, and looking at Sabrina to ask her what I was saying. Sabrina, of course, refused to play. In the end, the woman gave me a piece of paper and a pen, and told me to write down my order, so I wrote, ‘You’re a stupid cow,’ and handed it back to her.’
‘Dad told me the girl is, what do they call it now? Hearing impaired. Is that right?’
‘Actually, Bethan prefers to say she is Deaf. There are people you see that say the word impairment means something needs to be fixed. She was born Deaf.’
‘Lowri tells me you do music. How does that work? Is is all done by vibration?’
Bethan tutted. ‘It’s far more complicated than that. Hearing is only a small part of enjoying music. It’s multi-sensory, a physical thing. Music is a feeling, an emotion. A deaf person feels music within the vibrations in the same part of the brain that hearing people use when the melodies you love get caught in your head.’
‘She’s done well, hasn’t she? We’re so proud of her. It’s been a lot of hard work. People don’t realise how much effort she puts in. Take lip-reading. Actually, only about thirty per cent of English is visible on the lips, and she needs lots of other cues to really follow what you are saying. It’s why they call it speech reading now, Bethan is watching teeth, cheeks, eyes, facial expressions, and body language to piece together what you’re saying.’
‘To start signing with Bethan was a big decision. You see, there were plenty of professionals who said that if I signed with Bethan she would never learn to talk.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. The idea is, you see, that she has this tiny bit of hearing, her residual hearing, and she must work hard at using that. They said that if she signed she wouldn’t, and so would never learn to talk. The way I saw it, Bethan was getting very frustrated. It didn’t seem fair, so I found someone prepared to teach us, and that is the way we went. The expression they used then was ‘total communication’, when you use speech and signing in parallel. I think it’s called something different now.’
When he had gone, she looked at Bethan. ‘How ignorant can you get?’
‘I’ve had worse. One waiter asked me if I needed a menu in Braille.’
‘Good grief.’
‘You get used to it.’
Bethan was signing with Lowri. Catrin watched in awe, struck with the beauty of the signing, understanding again why signing had been described as dancing with words. As Catrin watched, she experienced a deep sense of calm. There were no more ghosts, no more hidden chapters.
...So I found Hidden Chapters to be a lovely warm cosy read that ticked all the boxes for me. Yes, I shed the odd tear along the way but that is due to strong story-telliing by a quality author. Well done Mary, your second novel gets the top score of 5 stars from me.
October 26, 2017
Excellent read
Couldn't put this down. Good believable characters and story. Would recommend getting a cuppa and curling up on the sofa.
Couldn't put this down. Good believable characters and story. Would recommend getting a cuppa and curling up on the sofa.
June 30, 2017
3.5 - 4*s
The book opens with a birth and a death that after 18 years continue to have a profound impact on Catrin’s life. All the seething emotions re-surface when Catrin’s father decides to sell Dragon House, the family home and hold a memorial service for Aled, the perfect, idolised son who died all those years ago..
Catrin along with daughters Lowrie and Bethan, journey back to Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula to help pack up the house. What actually happens is not so much a packing away as a peeling back the layers to reveal the hidden secrets and lies that go back much further than the fateful night that the book opens with.
It was an intriguing story with Catrin enmeshed in the centre first as the dutiful daughter, loving sister and then as supportive wife and mother. From the outset I think it was clear that all was not as it had been portrayed to, and by, Catrin. The story line was very much played out largely within the dialogue between the characters and though this worked for the most part, on occasions, the conversations felt a bit stilted as they endeavoured to reveal facts and plot. Equally some characters I felt were there as a means of relaying plot and were less rounded. Beyond that though, the characters worked well, and Catrin was for me, the most sympathetic character, though I took a while to warm to her. Initially I felt like shouting at her to stop being so reasonable and unselfish, but as the story unravelled, I was quite admiring she had any self belief left at all. I have to say the male gender did not cover themselves in glory, and while her partner redeemed himself, her father was one of the most selfish, unfeeling characters I’ve met in a while – I’d have been cheering that he was leaving to live in New York, packing his bags and pushing him on the plane!
Her daughters were two very different characters Lowrie was bright, bubbly, positive and well-rounded, while Bethan left me in two minds. On the one hand very motivated and positive with the way she coped with her deafness and didn’t let it be a hindrance, but on the other very childlike and quite selfish, though I guess that was also largely due to being cosseted and indulged by Catrin.
The number of threads that run through the book, gave it an added complexity that will strike different chords with different readers, but the nature of family dynamics and motherhood were primary themes, followed by adoption and deafness. It was a dramatic, and ultimately cathartic, uncovering of family secrets and lies, that opened up the way for hope and optimism. For anyone who likes family dramas, with a small town setting, this one should hit all the right buttons.
The book opens with a birth and a death that after 18 years continue to have a profound impact on Catrin’s life. All the seething emotions re-surface when Catrin’s father decides to sell Dragon House, the family home and hold a memorial service for Aled, the perfect, idolised son who died all those years ago..
Catrin along with daughters Lowrie and Bethan, journey back to Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula to help pack up the house. What actually happens is not so much a packing away as a peeling back the layers to reveal the hidden secrets and lies that go back much further than the fateful night that the book opens with.
It was an intriguing story with Catrin enmeshed in the centre first as the dutiful daughter, loving sister and then as supportive wife and mother. From the outset I think it was clear that all was not as it had been portrayed to, and by, Catrin. The story line was very much played out largely within the dialogue between the characters and though this worked for the most part, on occasions, the conversations felt a bit stilted as they endeavoured to reveal facts and plot. Equally some characters I felt were there as a means of relaying plot and were less rounded. Beyond that though, the characters worked well, and Catrin was for me, the most sympathetic character, though I took a while to warm to her. Initially I felt like shouting at her to stop being so reasonable and unselfish, but as the story unravelled, I was quite admiring she had any self belief left at all. I have to say the male gender did not cover themselves in glory, and while her partner redeemed himself, her father was one of the most selfish, unfeeling characters I’ve met in a while – I’d have been cheering that he was leaving to live in New York, packing his bags and pushing him on the plane!
Her daughters were two very different characters Lowrie was bright, bubbly, positive and well-rounded, while Bethan left me in two minds. On the one hand very motivated and positive with the way she coped with her deafness and didn’t let it be a hindrance, but on the other very childlike and quite selfish, though I guess that was also largely due to being cosseted and indulged by Catrin.
The number of threads that run through the book, gave it an added complexity that will strike different chords with different readers, but the nature of family dynamics and motherhood were primary themes, followed by adoption and deafness. It was a dramatic, and ultimately cathartic, uncovering of family secrets and lies, that opened up the way for hope and optimism. For anyone who likes family dramas, with a small town setting, this one should hit all the right buttons.
October 15, 2017
Hidden Chapters
This was a family in crisis. So many lies kept the real pat hidden. But with perseverance and determination the truth comes out. Will it be enough or will it more than this family can handle? This was not my type of read but it caught my eye and I enjoyed the story.
This was a family in crisis. So many lies kept the real pat hidden. But with perseverance and determination the truth comes out. Will it be enough or will it more than this family can handle? This was not my type of read but it caught my eye and I enjoyed the story.
March 20, 2017
Sadly I just couldn't get on with this book and I really struggled with it. The story line is full of family secrets and drama which usually is a subject I relish in my reading, but it wasn't the case with Hidden Chapters. In fact I'm tempted to say that there were almost too many secrets to keep up with.
I found the dialogue between the characters quite stilted and forced, it never felt natural and that's the main thing I struggled with. However I have to say there are some stunningly beautiful descriptions of Gower. I could picture it perfectly in my mind and I could almost breath in the sea air.
I couldn't warm to the main character, Catrin. On paper she is a strong woman who will do anything for her children, but that didn't necessarily translate and I found her quite frustrating at times. My favourite character was Catrin's adopted daughter, Bethan. A young girl who hasn't let the fact she's deaf stop her at doing anything and her passion and talent for music is inspiring. I particularly enjoyed her audition - she proved she is a force to be reckoned with! Catrin's father, Lloyd has to be one of the most despicable characters I have ever come across. He is an awful man and an awful father and his behaviour made me see red!
Overall this wasn't a book for me but that doesn't mean others won't enjoy it. I loved the descriptions of Wales but I need more than that to thoroughly enjoy a book.
I found the dialogue between the characters quite stilted and forced, it never felt natural and that's the main thing I struggled with. However I have to say there are some stunningly beautiful descriptions of Gower. I could picture it perfectly in my mind and I could almost breath in the sea air.
I couldn't warm to the main character, Catrin. On paper she is a strong woman who will do anything for her children, but that didn't necessarily translate and I found her quite frustrating at times. My favourite character was Catrin's adopted daughter, Bethan. A young girl who hasn't let the fact she's deaf stop her at doing anything and her passion and talent for music is inspiring. I particularly enjoyed her audition - she proved she is a force to be reckoned with! Catrin's father, Lloyd has to be one of the most despicable characters I have ever come across. He is an awful man and an awful father and his behaviour made me see red!
Overall this wasn't a book for me but that doesn't mean others won't enjoy it. I loved the descriptions of Wales but I need more than that to thoroughly enjoy a book.
July 26, 2017
Hidden Chapters is a contemporary story set on the Gower peninsula in Wales. The characters all plan to meet near Rhossili Bay to hold a memorial service for a young man who died on the Worm’s Head eighteen years ago.
They will celebrate the talented young man, who died so young. However, the gathering brings up old wounds for more than one character and secrets from the past are revealed.
Bethan is a skilled musician and her grandfather would like to help her make a rich life in America. Catrin hasn’t been back to the Gower for eighteen years, and she’s never understood her father’s hostility towards her. Elizabeth needs to lay her own ghosts to rest, and the memorial service offers her this opportunity.
I jumped at the chance to read this book because I’ve been to the Gower on several occasions visiting friends and attending weddings, so I was looking forward to a reminder of the area. I particularly enjoyed the parts about the location and its history. I thought that Catrin’s personal story moved well through a strong arc, ending in a most satisfactory way. However, the writing style was a challenge for me. I enjoy a book where dialogue is used to enhance the narrative and give the characters their own unique voices, but much of the plot in Hidden Chapters is related in large chunks of dialogue, which to me felt unnatural. There is much exposition: the characters explain points in order to get them across to the audience when, often, the characters would already have known the points she/he was making. I advise the author to make the most of the strengths of this nicely thought out story by finding a different way of putting information across, so that the reader is being told a story, rather than facts via conversation.
I liked many of the characters, particularly Bethan and how she overcame her challenges. Glamorous Elizabeth was well suited to her lifestyle too and I enjoyed how she evolved. I learnt much about deafness and sign language; however, in places it became repetitive, and at times more like a lecture than a story.
The whole storyline is about discovery of hidden truths and it makes for high emotions amongst the players. For me, the potential to take the reader on a rollercoaster wave was missed. I would have like to see a wider range of emotions, perhaps going deeper with shock, fear, pain etc rather than using shouting and anger in most of the key moments.
The book has its good points and the Welsh setting will be a plus for some, but I'm afraid it missed the mark for me.
They will celebrate the talented young man, who died so young. However, the gathering brings up old wounds for more than one character and secrets from the past are revealed.
Bethan is a skilled musician and her grandfather would like to help her make a rich life in America. Catrin hasn’t been back to the Gower for eighteen years, and she’s never understood her father’s hostility towards her. Elizabeth needs to lay her own ghosts to rest, and the memorial service offers her this opportunity.
I jumped at the chance to read this book because I’ve been to the Gower on several occasions visiting friends and attending weddings, so I was looking forward to a reminder of the area. I particularly enjoyed the parts about the location and its history. I thought that Catrin’s personal story moved well through a strong arc, ending in a most satisfactory way. However, the writing style was a challenge for me. I enjoy a book where dialogue is used to enhance the narrative and give the characters their own unique voices, but much of the plot in Hidden Chapters is related in large chunks of dialogue, which to me felt unnatural. There is much exposition: the characters explain points in order to get them across to the audience when, often, the characters would already have known the points she/he was making. I advise the author to make the most of the strengths of this nicely thought out story by finding a different way of putting information across, so that the reader is being told a story, rather than facts via conversation.
I liked many of the characters, particularly Bethan and how she overcame her challenges. Glamorous Elizabeth was well suited to her lifestyle too and I enjoyed how she evolved. I learnt much about deafness and sign language; however, in places it became repetitive, and at times more like a lecture than a story.
The whole storyline is about discovery of hidden truths and it makes for high emotions amongst the players. For me, the potential to take the reader on a rollercoaster wave was missed. I would have like to see a wider range of emotions, perhaps going deeper with shock, fear, pain etc rather than using shouting and anger in most of the key moments.
The book has its good points and the Welsh setting will be a plus for some, but I'm afraid it missed the mark for me.
April 17, 2018
Riveting ...a must read
This is the 3rd book I’ve read by Mary Grand and as with Free to be Tegan and Behind the Smile you become totally absorbed very quickly. If I had to have a favourite then it’s probably this one.
This is the 3rd book I’ve read by Mary Grand and as with Free to be Tegan and Behind the Smile you become totally absorbed very quickly. If I had to have a favourite then it’s probably this one.
October 30, 2016
Found this un-put-downable : Mary, as ever, dealing in a masterful way with familial
issues,loved it!
issues,loved it!
June 5, 2017
I knew nothing much about the Welsh Gower Peninsula with its tidal island of Worms Head off Rhossili Bay, but how I want to go there after reading Mary Grand’s book. Oh my this beautiful place is so very firmly etched into my mind that her book became very visual while I was reading. I could see where these characters went and what they did.
When Catrin has to return to the family home that she was raised in, it forces her to face the ghosts of the past and a tyrant father that should never have had children. When her brother died in very dodgy circumstances 18 years before she left, Catrin adopted baby Bethan that his girlfriend gave birth to. Bethan had accompanied her mum to seek answers about her origins.
Lloyd, Catrin’s father wants a memorial for his dead son Aled, before everything is wound up. As more people arrive then more of the truth surrounding the events begin to surface. There are so many boxes of worms opened, but no matter how long the truth is hidden it can’t be changed, it is still the truth.
This was quite a complex story that at first I had to get my head around but then it became much easier. One character that I particularly liked was Bethan. Bethan was such a strong person emotionally, although born deaf she was an accomplished musician and more than capable of giving as good as still got when she stood up for yourself. The journey back to her roots would change her life, not only her future but also a life of cover up and lies in her past.
There is a lot of story packed into this book, so take it steady and let the characters form in your mind to get the full enjoyment of this tragic family saga.
When Catrin has to return to the family home that she was raised in, it forces her to face the ghosts of the past and a tyrant father that should never have had children. When her brother died in very dodgy circumstances 18 years before she left, Catrin adopted baby Bethan that his girlfriend gave birth to. Bethan had accompanied her mum to seek answers about her origins.
Lloyd, Catrin’s father wants a memorial for his dead son Aled, before everything is wound up. As more people arrive then more of the truth surrounding the events begin to surface. There are so many boxes of worms opened, but no matter how long the truth is hidden it can’t be changed, it is still the truth.
This was quite a complex story that at first I had to get my head around but then it became much easier. One character that I particularly liked was Bethan. Bethan was such a strong person emotionally, although born deaf she was an accomplished musician and more than capable of giving as good as still got when she stood up for yourself. The journey back to her roots would change her life, not only her future but also a life of cover up and lies in her past.
There is a lot of story packed into this book, so take it steady and let the characters form in your mind to get the full enjoyment of this tragic family saga.
October 29, 2017
Excellent
This is an extremely well written and thought out book. I was really impressed with the character's,they were so real. You really felt for the worn down Caitlin who eventually found her own voice.
I can highly recommend it to lovers of family problems and secrets.
This is an extremely well written and thought out book. I was really impressed with the character's,they were so real. You really felt for the worn down Caitlin who eventually found her own voice.
I can highly recommend it to lovers of family problems and secrets.
March 23, 2017
If you like family sagas and you have ever visited the Gower peninsula you will love Hidden Chapters. This is not a long novel, which reflects the modern pace of life. A Victorian or a Russian author would need several books to cover the story. The writing is compressed and urgent and there do seem to be chapters that have been hidden. Chapter six sees an abrupt change of viewpoint which might throw some readers and make them think they had missed something. But it turns out that this is a clever ploy to introduce a central character who the older generation tried to write out of the family history. Each member of the family is battling their own demons and difficulties. The web of lies that the head of the family has woven for his own ends and to hide the truth even from himself comes unravelled. It is left to the central character, his emotionally abused daughter, to rebuild relationships and tie up loose ends as her father rather conveniently leaves the stage. The evocative descriptions of Gower and Rhossili Bay provide a dramatic and disturbing background to this saga of love and betrayal and a mother who needs all her strength to mend the hurt. The writing is vivid and urgent: the emotional conflict will have you in tears
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February 17, 2018quote from 5* Amazon review
This is not written by me but by someone on Amazon : The book drew me in from the first chapter, I read it in two sittings. The beautiful narrative descriptions of the Gower brings the book alive. The exploration of complicated family relationships and the of the differing roles of motherhood gives depth and substance.
I throughly enjoyed the book. I look forward to Marys next offering.
This is not written by me but by someone on Amazon : The book drew me in from the first chapter, I read it in two sittings. The beautiful narrative descriptions of the Gower brings the book alive. The exploration of complicated family relationships and the of the differing roles of motherhood gives depth and substance.
I throughly enjoyed the book. I look forward to Marys next offering.
October 24, 2016
The main thing that comes across to me in Mary Grand’s writing, is her love of the setting for her story. In her sense of place, you can feel her wanting to draw the reader in, show them what she sees, feel what she feels. Amid whatever drama is going on (and there are plenty of them) with the lies, deceit, and hidden history. Mary will take you and show you the beauty around her. As the title ‘Hidden Chapters’ suggests, there is a lot going on from the past and present. Well done, Mary.
January 1, 2023
Absolutely love this book!
This was an amazing book! The stories behind the sad smiles, the forgiveness and restoration of relationships, was so moving and so relatable. And then the healing and love completed. Wonderful ending!
This was an amazing book! The stories behind the sad smiles, the forgiveness and restoration of relationships, was so moving and so relatable. And then the healing and love completed. Wonderful ending!
December 25, 2016
Lies and secrets, even when enacted to protect loved ones, always have consequences. At the very least, they distance people who ought to be close.
In this story, lies and secrets did much more than that to Catrin: they changed the course of her life and stopped her from following her dreams. Only now, when her younger daughter is turning eighteen, does Catrin discover the truth behind the events of her youth.
I found this novel riveting even though it is not perfect. The typos, a scene in which the timing seems wrong, and deafness, which appears as an added factor, irrelevant to the main storyline, all detracted from my enjoyment. Yet, I enjoyed reading it very much and continue to think about the effects of lives and secrets on the characters in this story, as well as on real people in real life.
In this story, lies and secrets did much more than that to Catrin: they changed the course of her life and stopped her from following her dreams. Only now, when her younger daughter is turning eighteen, does Catrin discover the truth behind the events of her youth.
I found this novel riveting even though it is not perfect. The typos, a scene in which the timing seems wrong, and deafness, which appears as an added factor, irrelevant to the main storyline, all detracted from my enjoyment. Yet, I enjoyed reading it very much and continue to think about the effects of lives and secrets on the characters in this story, as well as on real people in real life.
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