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The Road Dance
Life in the Scottish Hebrides can be harsh — the edge of the world some call it. For Kirsty MacLeod, the love of Murdo promises a new life away from the scrape of the land and the repression of the church. But the Great War looms.
210 pages
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 28, 2022
So fucking tired of the same story told over and over. Why? Why wallow in these women's trauma? What about it is entertaining?
Somebody call me when there's a story where a girl is raped, someone in the village realises what's happened, and they turn the place upside down until they find the man who did it, and then exact very graphic justice.
Somebody call me when there's a story where a girl is raped, someone in the village realises what's happened, and they turn the place upside down until they find the man who did it, and then exact very graphic justice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2008
This book was also a book I couldn't put down, I read it in a day. At points the tears were pouring down my face it was so emotional, the writer is a Scottish Newsreader - he should change jobs - his writing skills are wonderful.
September 30, 2023
This was quite dark, to say the least. I guess it was sort of well done—it’s almost so dark that all other aspects are hard to think about.
I mean, the plot goes:
-beautiful teenage girl falls in love with teenage boy
-boy is drafted to fight in WWI
-the day before boy ships out, girl is raped
-girl doesn’t tell anyone about the rape, because she is afraid for her reputation
-boy ships out and is killed in battle a few months later
-girl has baby in secret and ends up throwing baby off a cliff, to its death
-investigation into dead baby focuses on girl who they suspect may have given birth. Long story short, for the second vaginal exam of girl, the sisters trick the second doctor by pretending her sister is the girl in question. The second doctor penetrates her sister with his fist, to confirm that she had never given birth
-girl realizes that it was the first doctor who raped her, while he was drunk
-first doctor kills himself by setting his house on fire while he is in it
-girl lives alone for the rest of her life, pining for her teenage love who died in WWI
There is no denying that is a dark tale. I can’t really tell why the author wrote it. It is dark and depressing and I’m not sure what it is supposed to tell us, beyond horrifying us about a terrible, fictitious life scenario.
This book definitely read like a man writing about the female experience. It was frankly kind of odd, that way—semi-detailed discussions of rape and childbirth impacting the female body… but as depicted by a man. And the depiction of the second doctor doing a vaginal exam of the teen sister. I mean, what kind of novel is this? I just can’t quite figure out why this guy wrote this story.
I mean, the plot goes:
-beautiful teenage girl falls in love with teenage boy
-boy is drafted to fight in WWI
-the day before boy ships out, girl is raped
-girl doesn’t tell anyone about the rape, because she is afraid for her reputation
-boy ships out and is killed in battle a few months later
-girl has baby in secret and ends up throwing baby off a cliff, to its death
-investigation into dead baby focuses on girl who they suspect may have given birth. Long story short, for the second vaginal exam of girl, the sisters trick the second doctor by pretending her sister is the girl in question. The second doctor penetrates her sister with his fist, to confirm that she had never given birth
-girl realizes that it was the first doctor who raped her, while he was drunk
-first doctor kills himself by setting his house on fire while he is in it
-girl lives alone for the rest of her life, pining for her teenage love who died in WWI
There is no denying that is a dark tale. I can’t really tell why the author wrote it. It is dark and depressing and I’m not sure what it is supposed to tell us, beyond horrifying us about a terrible, fictitious life scenario.
This book definitely read like a man writing about the female experience. It was frankly kind of odd, that way—semi-detailed discussions of rape and childbirth impacting the female body… but as depicted by a man. And the depiction of the second doctor doing a vaginal exam of the teen sister. I mean, what kind of novel is this? I just can’t quite figure out why this guy wrote this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2021
John MacKay, veteran Scottish newsreader, has written a devastating novel evoking the atmosphere of the Scottish islands in the first part of the last century. I first read this when it was published in 2002 and decided to pick it for our book club this month as it has just been made into a film - and one I'll be making a point of seeing. Kirsty MacLeod falls for local lad Murdo and they make big plans for their future. Murdo and the other young lads are called up for war and there is a big road dance the night before they leave. What happens that night affects Kirsty's life forever. I changed my mind a few times as I read on who was responsible but I still found the ending sad and shocking. This book brought out lots of different emotions and really held my attention. I raced through this as I was so caught up in the story. A great read. #theroaddance
June 27, 2022
3.5 stars. A great setting and plot, with unexpected twists, but some of the harrowing events were not explored deeply enough for me and it felt like I only got to know the characters on the surface. A bit more detail and character development and this would have been amazing.
May 13, 2022
Had me hooked from page 1, read it in 2 days!!
November 21, 2022
I saw dis film at mareel a couple o months ago and really enjoyed it so thought I’d read da book. I really liked da book too but I preferred da film ending 😮💨 dir is little to no joy in dis book so not one to turn to if you’re looking for something feel good 😅
December 3, 2020
Disappointing ending
I enjoyed reading this book but found that it felt as if there should have been so much more to the story. A very unsatisfactory conclusion!
I enjoyed reading this book but found that it felt as if there should have been so much more to the story. A very unsatisfactory conclusion!
November 8, 2023
Heftig en verdrietig verhaal maar wel mooi geschreven.
October 9, 2024
An interesting read, hard to put down.
May 9, 2022
Oh my god… this book is DARK and heartbreaking. I went into this one almost completely blind and I’m so glad I did. And I was not expecting that ending. I was so certain I knew how things would end, but I was so wrong.
I will definitely be picking this one up again.
This is the first book I’ve read from John Mackay, but it won’t be the last. I loved his writing so much. His words are just so descriptive, I could really imagine being on that island.
I look forward to seeing the movie soon.
I will definitely be picking this one up again.
This is the first book I’ve read from John Mackay, but it won’t be the last. I loved his writing so much. His words are just so descriptive, I could really imagine being on that island.
I look forward to seeing the movie soon.
March 25, 2015
So disappointed that I have finished this amazing book...took me no time at all to read, just had to keep reading..The relationship between Kirsty and Murdo is so special..very sad in parts so tissues needed..
April 10, 2022
Powerfully evokes the god-heavy, conscience-restricted, weather-dictated harshness of life in the Hebrides and the tension is held tight throughout the unrolling of this ugly, tragic story.
I only wish Luath Press had been a bit more generous with their margins.
I only wish Luath Press had been a bit more generous with their margins.
June 2, 2025
"This was the only world Kirsty MacLeod knew, but she dreamed of more. There had alwasy ben a restlessness within her. It was the very essence of her. She read in her Bible of people and lands so different from anything she knew."
"Life on the island was a constant struggle against nature. It lay on the very Western edge of Europe and was the firs to bear the brunt of the uninterrupted Atlantic storms and the last to the feel the warmth of the continental air streams form the south."
"Murdo was enthralled by her quiet determination. No woman had ever before confided in him like this and it thrilled him."
"Now, she was helplessly in love with him because he had shown her what could be."
"It was a warped world that placed more on community acceptance that on the life of a newborn baby."
"This is where the sea comes to die." The skipper said.
"No, Kirsty. The one who should be punished is the person who did this to you. You did nothing wrong."
"How remarkable it was. The love of an old, dry women for a youth, forever fresh and young."
"Aren't you? Is every sin the same? Are they all equal? And if what others are ruined by what you have done?"
--
I first came across The Road Dance as a film during a rainy day in March. I wasn’t expecting much, but its simplicity gave way to something deeply moving. The powerful acting, the poignant themes of forgiveness and second chances, and the stunning setting of a small Scottish village left a lasting impression. Kirsty’s story stayed with me, and I knew I had to read the book.
The novel The Road Dance is just as emotionally impactful, though it takes a darker and more intense turn than the film. Set in the remote Outer Hebrides of Scotland, the story unfolds in a close-knit, deeply religious village where the harsh climate and isolation force people to rely on one another to survive.
Kirsty MacLeod is a young woman living in this world, devoted to her family, her Christian faith, and quietly dreaming of a new life in America. As she falls in love with Murdo, a kind and thoughtful man from the village, their gentle romance begins to blossom. But their happiness is short-lived. When World War I breaks out, the village receives word that its young men, including Murdo, have been drafted. Before their departure, the village hosts a traditional "Road Dance" to send them off—an evening filled with music, dancing, and bittersweet goodbyes.
That night, however, tragedy strikes. Kirsty steps away from the celebration for a moment and is violently assaulted by an unknown man. Disoriented and bleeding, she seeks help from the village doctor, confiding in him as the only person who knows what happened. Not even Murdo is aware of the attack. As he goes off to war, Kirsty is left to deal with the emotional and physical aftermath alone, hoping desperately she is not pregnant. But as the months pass, her worst fear comes true.
When her mother discovers the pregnancy, she quietly prepares to help Kirsty give birth in secret. After the baby is born, Kirsty comes to a horrifying realization: her attacker was the village doctor—the very man she had trusted with her care. In a powerful confrontation, she tells him how his actions destroyed her life and her family’s peace.
What makes this novel unforgettable is how it explores the strength of women—Kirsty, her sister Annie, and their mother—as they endure unthinkable trauma under the oppressive scrutiny of a small, devoutly religious community. Gossip moves fast in the village, and Kirsty’s mother, desperate to protect the family from shame, insists the baby must be given away. But Kirsty, having bonded deeply with her son, realizes that love—not biology or circumstance—is what truly defines a mother.
In a moment of overwhelming despair, Kirsty makes a heartbreaking choice and throws her premature baby into the sea. It’s a devastating turning point that forces her mother to see the terrible cost of prioritizing social appearance over her daughter’s emotional well-being.
What I loved most about the book was its vivid setting—the windswept beauty of the Hebrides, the ever-present sea, and the simplicity of village life. Kirsty's longing for America, her relationship with Murdo, and the quiet dignity with which she endures hardship all make her story deeply resonant.
The novel is not about the tragedy of one night. It’s about how Kirsty reclaims her life in the face of trauma, shame, and silence.
Ultimately, the night of the road dance doesn’t define Kirsty. What defines her is the strength she finds to move forward and reclaim her life.
"Life on the island was a constant struggle against nature. It lay on the very Western edge of Europe and was the firs to bear the brunt of the uninterrupted Atlantic storms and the last to the feel the warmth of the continental air streams form the south."
"Murdo was enthralled by her quiet determination. No woman had ever before confided in him like this and it thrilled him."
"Now, she was helplessly in love with him because he had shown her what could be."
"It was a warped world that placed more on community acceptance that on the life of a newborn baby."
"This is where the sea comes to die." The skipper said.
"No, Kirsty. The one who should be punished is the person who did this to you. You did nothing wrong."
"How remarkable it was. The love of an old, dry women for a youth, forever fresh and young."
"Aren't you? Is every sin the same? Are they all equal? And if what others are ruined by what you have done?"
--
I first came across The Road Dance as a film during a rainy day in March. I wasn’t expecting much, but its simplicity gave way to something deeply moving. The powerful acting, the poignant themes of forgiveness and second chances, and the stunning setting of a small Scottish village left a lasting impression. Kirsty’s story stayed with me, and I knew I had to read the book.
The novel The Road Dance is just as emotionally impactful, though it takes a darker and more intense turn than the film. Set in the remote Outer Hebrides of Scotland, the story unfolds in a close-knit, deeply religious village where the harsh climate and isolation force people to rely on one another to survive.
Kirsty MacLeod is a young woman living in this world, devoted to her family, her Christian faith, and quietly dreaming of a new life in America. As she falls in love with Murdo, a kind and thoughtful man from the village, their gentle romance begins to blossom. But their happiness is short-lived. When World War I breaks out, the village receives word that its young men, including Murdo, have been drafted. Before their departure, the village hosts a traditional "Road Dance" to send them off—an evening filled with music, dancing, and bittersweet goodbyes.
That night, however, tragedy strikes. Kirsty steps away from the celebration for a moment and is violently assaulted by an unknown man. Disoriented and bleeding, she seeks help from the village doctor, confiding in him as the only person who knows what happened. Not even Murdo is aware of the attack. As he goes off to war, Kirsty is left to deal with the emotional and physical aftermath alone, hoping desperately she is not pregnant. But as the months pass, her worst fear comes true.
When her mother discovers the pregnancy, she quietly prepares to help Kirsty give birth in secret. After the baby is born, Kirsty comes to a horrifying realization: her attacker was the village doctor—the very man she had trusted with her care. In a powerful confrontation, she tells him how his actions destroyed her life and her family’s peace.
What makes this novel unforgettable is how it explores the strength of women—Kirsty, her sister Annie, and their mother—as they endure unthinkable trauma under the oppressive scrutiny of a small, devoutly religious community. Gossip moves fast in the village, and Kirsty’s mother, desperate to protect the family from shame, insists the baby must be given away. But Kirsty, having bonded deeply with her son, realizes that love—not biology or circumstance—is what truly defines a mother.
In a moment of overwhelming despair, Kirsty makes a heartbreaking choice and throws her premature baby into the sea. It’s a devastating turning point that forces her mother to see the terrible cost of prioritizing social appearance over her daughter’s emotional well-being.
What I loved most about the book was its vivid setting—the windswept beauty of the Hebrides, the ever-present sea, and the simplicity of village life. Kirsty's longing for America, her relationship with Murdo, and the quiet dignity with which she endures hardship all make her story deeply resonant.
The novel is not about the tragedy of one night. It’s about how Kirsty reclaims her life in the face of trauma, shame, and silence.
Ultimately, the night of the road dance doesn’t define Kirsty. What defines her is the strength she finds to move forward and reclaim her life.
June 24, 2025
This was compelling writing. Once I had started it I couldn't put it down so I have just flown through it already. Heartbreaking and powerful and fascinating. I enjoy reading books set in different parts of Scotland and I was trying to work out which island off the west coast it is. At first, with mention of the winds, I wondered about Coll or Tiree. But then it mentioned Murdo walking twenty miles to get to the library in town, so it must have been somewhere much bigger, like Lewis or Harris. But it's remote and hard living, where dowr repressive religion has a strangle holc. Plus it's 1914, and the world was a very different place to the one we live in now.
The attitudes to women are infuriating although I doubt such things were exclusive to the islands. Unmarried mothers were stigmatised everywhere and the pregnancy always was seen as the fault of the woman. For the few that know, the issue of who the rapist was never seems that pressing. And Kirsty keeping first the attack to herself as she couldn't let Murdo go off to war worrying about that, and then keeping it all hidden. I know most of that was the shame and stigma the community would have pressed on her, but was part of it to preserve Murdos memory. Because of course folk would have made presumptions.
There is a little hope in that her mother and sister stick by her despite all that happens. I bet there were some that would have thrown her out of the house as soon as they found out.
And over it all, everything traces back to all those dreams and futures destroyed by the first World War. Not just the men killed, if that wasn't enough, but the women left waiting behind. Kirstys hopes of getting off the island and living a life vanish. And the hope of families, parents, siblings.... in such a remote small community the loss of the young men would be felt even harder. And then the Spanish flu came through to take out more.
Such an addictive read but not a happy tale.
The attitudes to women are infuriating although I doubt such things were exclusive to the islands. Unmarried mothers were stigmatised everywhere and the pregnancy always was seen as the fault of the woman. For the few that know, the issue of who the rapist was never seems that pressing. And Kirsty keeping first the attack to herself as she couldn't let Murdo go off to war worrying about that, and then keeping it all hidden. I know most of that was the shame and stigma the community would have pressed on her, but was part of it to preserve Murdos memory. Because of course folk would have made presumptions.
There is a little hope in that her mother and sister stick by her despite all that happens. I bet there were some that would have thrown her out of the house as soon as they found out.
And over it all, everything traces back to all those dreams and futures destroyed by the first World War. Not just the men killed, if that wasn't enough, but the women left waiting behind. Kirstys hopes of getting off the island and living a life vanish. And the hope of families, parents, siblings.... in such a remote small community the loss of the young men would be felt even harder. And then the Spanish flu came through to take out more.
Such an addictive read but not a happy tale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2023
John MacKay has created a powerful and moving story about a young couple Kirsty and Murdo who are two young people navigating their new relationship within the social mores and isolation of the Scottish Hebrides.
Under the watchful eyes of family and neighbours young people clutch a bible,keep up appearances and enjoy dances as a way to socialise,snatch intimate moments and add joy to their hardworking lives.
Kirsty and Murdo discuss the possibility and dream of living in America. They secretly pledge to marry and openly declare their love forever to each other.
Conscription makes it mandatory for the young men to fight in the war. Prayers and a dance are arranged as a farewell. This dance is to be a pivotal evening in the plot of the story. It instigates dark hidden secrets and life-altering change.
I railed at the harsh judgement and recrimination from
men in authority towards women. I celebrated the love, bonds of family and sisterhood.
This was a deeply moving, emotional and powerful story.
The epilogue rounds out the events.
I followed up by watching the movie and delighted at the scenery, accents and musical score that enhanced my immersion into the story and sense of place.
An unsettling, dark, but very worthy addition to my booklist/ film catalogue
Under the watchful eyes of family and neighbours young people clutch a bible,keep up appearances and enjoy dances as a way to socialise,snatch intimate moments and add joy to their hardworking lives.
Kirsty and Murdo discuss the possibility and dream of living in America. They secretly pledge to marry and openly declare their love forever to each other.
Conscription makes it mandatory for the young men to fight in the war. Prayers and a dance are arranged as a farewell. This dance is to be a pivotal evening in the plot of the story. It instigates dark hidden secrets and life-altering change.
I railed at the harsh judgement and recrimination from
men in authority towards women. I celebrated the love, bonds of family and sisterhood.
This was a deeply moving, emotional and powerful story.
The epilogue rounds out the events.
I followed up by watching the movie and delighted at the scenery, accents and musical score that enhanced my immersion into the story and sense of place.
An unsettling, dark, but very worthy addition to my booklist/ film catalogue
May 22, 2024
Wonderful storytelling by the author, with the setting of the wind-swept hills and rocky landscape of the Hebrides as much a character as the people themselves…
The story is set during the First World War in a small, religiously dominated Scottish village. Kristy, who is sought after by the local males, is raped while attending a road dance for the young draftees going off to war. Soon after she's violated, Kristy discovers she’s pregnant, but hides her pregnancy until the night of the delivery. Desperate, Kristy jumps off a cliff with her prematurely born baby to avoid the shame and fear of public humiliation she knows she'll face from the small-minded villagers. But Kristy is saved from her attempted suicide by her mother and sister, who vow to be the guardians of her well-kept secret. When the baby is found floating on the beach, and Kristy falls under the scrutiny of the local constable, she will discover that her violator is a respected member of the community.
The Road Dance is a heart-wrenching, sensitive, and well-written story that is as dramatic and gray in mood as the island where it takes place.
The story is set during the First World War in a small, religiously dominated Scottish village. Kristy, who is sought after by the local males, is raped while attending a road dance for the young draftees going off to war. Soon after she's violated, Kristy discovers she’s pregnant, but hides her pregnancy until the night of the delivery. Desperate, Kristy jumps off a cliff with her prematurely born baby to avoid the shame and fear of public humiliation she knows she'll face from the small-minded villagers. But Kristy is saved from her attempted suicide by her mother and sister, who vow to be the guardians of her well-kept secret. When the baby is found floating on the beach, and Kristy falls under the scrutiny of the local constable, she will discover that her violator is a respected member of the community.
The Road Dance is a heart-wrenching, sensitive, and well-written story that is as dramatic and gray in mood as the island where it takes place.
July 9, 2024
A dark and tragic story set in a crofting community on Lewis just before the start of the First World War calls the young men away to fight for King and Country. Traditional ways of life and dominance of the Calvinist church exert powerful influences on the people living not too differently than centuries of their forebears, though outside influences are beginning to have an impact on this beautiful but harsh island.
A young couple Kirsty and Murdo fall in love and happily make plans for life together freed from limitations and strictures of their birthplace and class. The appalling consequences of the Road Dance held to mark the departure of the first conscripts are shocking, uncomfortable reading made bearable by Mackay's beautiful writing.
The story though devastating has the authenticity of real life 100 years ago in a patriarchal society dominated by religion and fear of what others will think. Atmospheric, emotional, tense and heartbreaking.
A young couple Kirsty and Murdo fall in love and happily make plans for life together freed from limitations and strictures of their birthplace and class. The appalling consequences of the Road Dance held to mark the departure of the first conscripts are shocking, uncomfortable reading made bearable by Mackay's beautiful writing.
The story though devastating has the authenticity of real life 100 years ago in a patriarchal society dominated by religion and fear of what others will think. Atmospheric, emotional, tense and heartbreaking.
August 5, 2023
Kirsty lives in the Outer Hebrides, a lonely and desolate place and dreams of escaping to America. When the men of the island are called away to fight in WWI a set of events is put in place which have repercussions far beyond the individuals involved.
It's hard to say much without giving away what happens but it all starts at the local dance
This is a fascinating and powerful read and although very dark in places the author writes with such emotional language you feel you are there.
I really liked the way that the postman adapted how he delivered telegrams to families after seeing how people were suffering.
The epilogue rounded off the story beautifully. Without it the story would have been incomplete.
It's hard to say much without giving away what happens but it all starts at the local dance
This is a fascinating and powerful read and although very dark in places the author writes with such emotional language you feel you are there.
I really liked the way that the postman adapted how he delivered telegrams to families after seeing how people were suffering.
The epilogue rounded off the story beautifully. Without it the story would have been incomplete.
March 10, 2021
Wow. This book was completely heart breaking, a harrowingly sad story, yet no doubt true to that era and rural setting. I read this as part of my book club, and truthfully, I wasn’t looking forward to it. It’s certainly not a book I would have chosen myself. That said, the writing was excellent (I feel that I adopted a Stornaway type accent while reading!), I could vividly imagine the scenery and the dwellings described. Kirsty and Murdo’s story was just so lovely, but sad. I won’t add any spoilers. It’s worth a read. It’s made me thankful for today. It’s made me want to read more from John Mackay!
March 25, 2021
Would not have looked twice at this book if it hadn't been a book club read! It is dark and harrowing in terms of storyline, and dark and bleak in terms of setting.
It is a real eye opener into life in small island communities a little over a hundred years ago, the main storyline is shocking but also the impact that the war had on these communities.
The writing is very descriptive and really sets the scene well. I had guessed one of the twists but the other left me with my mouth open in surprise! Not sure I'd seek out anything else by this author, but definitely glad I read this.
It is a real eye opener into life in small island communities a little over a hundred years ago, the main storyline is shocking but also the impact that the war had on these communities.
The writing is very descriptive and really sets the scene well. I had guessed one of the twists but the other left me with my mouth open in surprise! Not sure I'd seek out anything else by this author, but definitely glad I read this.
May 14, 2022
Saw the trailer for the film and was intrigued to read the book first, which is very rare for me!
I enjoyed how this story was told, and especially loved the detail of the postman’s perspective of delivering telegrams informing families of men’s deaths. That was beautifully done.
Something about this story makes me a little sad that a man has written of the implications of a woman being raped, bearing her rapist’s baby, and choosing what to do about it (from the few options available). I think it’s well done, but it’s definitely one of those contexts within which we need more female voices.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the film is done, and what it leaves out (hopefully not much, as it’s a short book). Overall a very enjoyable read.
I enjoyed how this story was told, and especially loved the detail of the postman’s perspective of delivering telegrams informing families of men’s deaths. That was beautifully done.
Something about this story makes me a little sad that a man has written of the implications of a woman being raped, bearing her rapist’s baby, and choosing what to do about it (from the few options available). I think it’s well done, but it’s definitely one of those contexts within which we need more female voices.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the film is done, and what it leaves out (hopefully not much, as it’s a short book). Overall a very enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2024
This book was one I will not soon forget. I watched the film, not realising there was a novel, but as soon as I found out there was one, I had to read.
It is the most incredible story, written so beautifully by John, one of my favourite newscasters here in Scotland. He has a natural talent with words, and it’s very clear throughout this story. Heartbreaking but beautiful.
I know this was based on a conversation John had with his family member, which is crazy, that a story like this happened to someone and it isn’t all entirely fictional.
And that twist at the end!? Wow. Incredible.
It is the most incredible story, written so beautifully by John, one of my favourite newscasters here in Scotland. He has a natural talent with words, and it’s very clear throughout this story. Heartbreaking but beautiful.
I know this was based on a conversation John had with his family member, which is crazy, that a story like this happened to someone and it isn’t all entirely fictional.
And that twist at the end!? Wow. Incredible.
December 13, 2022
"The Road Dance" is a story about a young girl who dreams to leave the dreadfully remote Scottish island she has grown up on. She makes a plan with a fellow she had disregarded before to travel to New York together. They fall in love real quick but things go downhill shortly after. The novel is predictable yet pretty traumatic and overall just disheartening really, so only read it if you feel up to it. 3 stars
TW/CW & SPOILERS: rape, abuse, childbirth, murder, infanticide.
TW/CW & SPOILERS: rape, abuse, childbirth, murder, infanticide.
August 26, 2019
It was a book you couldn’t put down. Not necessarily because it was spectacular writing, but more so because the story was so devastating. Urgh. How easily a life you thought you could have, can be taken from you. The mindset back in the early 1900s was a sad one.
December 20, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book, people living on an island before the outbreak of war, young men then going off to war and how lives changed. Little unexpected twist at the end. Will not spoil it
May 21, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. A heartbreaking, well told story on "the edge of the earth" during a different era in the beautiful, harsh Hebrides. I enjoyed the setting an tale and would read more by this author.
May 22, 2022
A sad and gripping story
The writer takes you away to the wind torn and beautiful Isle of Lewis. The story is very sad and the lives of the people affected are brought to the fore. Looking forward to reading more of Johns books. Could not put it down.
The writer takes you away to the wind torn and beautiful Isle of Lewis. The story is very sad and the lives of the people affected are brought to the fore. Looking forward to reading more of Johns books. Could not put it down.
June 9, 2022
What a book. Certainly not what I expected but it has me hooked from start to finish. It takes you through village life at the start of world war 1 and the harsh reality of what life can be. Looking forward to reading more of John’s books
September 5, 2022
Sad to say that my rating has nothing to do with the story, but is purely for the writing/ style which is so unemotionally bad that it reads as if an accountant had written it. So much potential lost - a shame.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews