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Sing me to Sleep
Some love is neverending. First love. A mother's love for her child. This, Jenny Mycroft learns when she finds herself unable to leave her husband, Ed and her daughter Bee, despite the fact she has died in a tragic car accident.
But no matter how strong, how enduring, her love, Jenny learns that life goes on and that for the living there is still time for new love, for fresh heartbreak.
Through a series of snapshots spanning over 30 years, Sing Me To Sleep looks at the lives of three women who love, and are loved, by one man. Through heartbreak, joy and hope to the eventual dramatic events that bring all three women together.
Sing Me To Sleep is the story of how we are driven by love, even after death. A tale of what might have been, what should have been, and what was.
But no matter how strong, how enduring, her love, Jenny learns that life goes on and that for the living there is still time for new love, for fresh heartbreak.
Through a series of snapshots spanning over 30 years, Sing Me To Sleep looks at the lives of three women who love, and are loved, by one man. Through heartbreak, joy and hope to the eventual dramatic events that bring all three women together.
Sing Me To Sleep is the story of how we are driven by love, even after death. A tale of what might have been, what should have been, and what was.
- GenresFiction
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
8 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 9, 2014
Firstly I am a massive fan of Helen Moorhouse's Books, as I know I am not going to be disappointed. The only problem is I now cannot wait for her to write another book!!
This was so different to the other 2 books, but was just as enjoyable, and very heartwarming. I really liked the way it was written, and over such a time span. The way that real life events tied in with the story, show how well researched and thought out it was. The glimpses into the future of London were very well thought out too, and I liked how they made me think the future could very well be.
I really got to know the characters, deep to the core, especially Jenny, who I felt I knew inside out, what she felt, thought, her emotions - I really felt them. I really enjoyed the perspective of Jenny, her being dead, but still there watching, it was quite thought provoking - can this happen?, does it happen?
I found myself staying up far too late, as I just had to keep turning the page to find out a little more of the story.
I can highly recommend this book, and look forward to the next book by Helen Moorhouse.
This was so different to the other 2 books, but was just as enjoyable, and very heartwarming. I really liked the way it was written, and over such a time span. The way that real life events tied in with the story, show how well researched and thought out it was. The glimpses into the future of London were very well thought out too, and I liked how they made me think the future could very well be.
I really got to know the characters, deep to the core, especially Jenny, who I felt I knew inside out, what she felt, thought, her emotions - I really felt them. I really enjoyed the perspective of Jenny, her being dead, but still there watching, it was quite thought provoking - can this happen?, does it happen?
I found myself staying up far too late, as I just had to keep turning the page to find out a little more of the story.
I can highly recommend this book, and look forward to the next book by Helen Moorhouse.
February 2, 2020
I got into this book very quickly, but then the pace of the novel shifted down a gear about one third of the way through. The last 100 pages or so were rather gripping and I loved the ending.
The characters are so well drawn out and realistic. This story spans about 20 years and it was really interesting to see these characters' lives span out.
This was a well thought out, well planned and well put together piece of work. I would get a headache planning the book let alone penning it!
I really enjoyed the plot, and as previously mentioned I enjoyed the host of characters as they were realistic and well portrayed.
My edition of the book has two chapters of "Dark Waters", which I devoured. I am definitely going to read more from this author!
I really enjoyed this book and hope you do too!
The characters are so well drawn out and realistic. This story spans about 20 years and it was really interesting to see these characters' lives span out.
This was a well thought out, well planned and well put together piece of work. I would get a headache planning the book let alone penning it!
I really enjoyed the plot, and as previously mentioned I enjoyed the host of characters as they were realistic and well portrayed.
My edition of the book has two chapters of "Dark Waters", which I devoured. I am definitely going to read more from this author!
I really enjoyed this book and hope you do too!
May 30, 2019
not that interesting for me compared to the first two but still well written. Will def keep an eye on this author
August 19, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
July 19, 2014
3.5 stars.
Jenny is dead. She is stuck in a kind of limbo, where she remains at home in London, watching over her husband, Ed and her young daughter, Bee. She aches to be able to touch them or communicate somehow, but this is not an option. She must watch as her husband melts into a puddle of grief and retreats further inside himself on a daily basis. Small things set him off into tears and Bee watches on, too young to understand. The whole thing is heartbreaking, especially as Jenny knows she doesn't deserve the pedestal that Ed has placed her on. He never knew the real her.
The story is broken into three. Firstly, there is Jenny and Ed, How they met, how they married and the arrival of Bee and the death of Jenny. The second part is how Ed moves on in life and meets Rowan, who then slips into the family and mends Ed's heart. The final part is Bee's story. How she reacted to her mother's death, the introduction of Rowan into her life and finally looks slightly into the future to see how their lives pan out.
This is Helen Moorehouse's third novel, although the first I have read. An Irish author who has a great following, I have read many wonderful things about her work. I adore the book's cover and the idea behind the story. Similar to The Dead Wife's Handbook by Hannah Beckerman, the reader can imagine what it must be like to watch over your loved ones but not be able to interact with them. The frustration of being neither here nor there. Unlike Hannah Beckerman's novel, this is more the story of a lie, a chain of events and a child's reaction to losing a parent. I was not a fan of Bee. While we don't get to see the pre-teen years, her character seems to be have been formed with the idea that it's ok for a child to be troublesome, if she has lost a parent. Her father seems to have let her away with a lot over the years and the bond between herself and Rowan is pretty much non-existent. I found the second part of the book very drawn out, with no need for it's length. Rowan started off as a nice enough character, but soon became boring. The initial story of Jenn and Ed, their marriage, and how things began to get away from Jenn, was a great start to the book but the second part lost its momentum. Things picked up a little in the third part when Bee is in her twenties and finally starts to grow up. She was still annoying though and I found I really lost interest in the whole family by the end of the book.
However, I will say that I thought the author writes beautifully. Her style is gentle and descriptive with the right balance between the story and the characters. I just didn't like the characters very much and therefor couldn't connect.
I think this book would be perfect for fans of Sheila O'Flanagan or Trisha Ashley. Maybe the characters will appeal to others more than me. I have the authors two earlier novels, and look forward to reading more of her work.
Jenny is dead. She is stuck in a kind of limbo, where she remains at home in London, watching over her husband, Ed and her young daughter, Bee. She aches to be able to touch them or communicate somehow, but this is not an option. She must watch as her husband melts into a puddle of grief and retreats further inside himself on a daily basis. Small things set him off into tears and Bee watches on, too young to understand. The whole thing is heartbreaking, especially as Jenny knows she doesn't deserve the pedestal that Ed has placed her on. He never knew the real her.
The story is broken into three. Firstly, there is Jenny and Ed, How they met, how they married and the arrival of Bee and the death of Jenny. The second part is how Ed moves on in life and meets Rowan, who then slips into the family and mends Ed's heart. The final part is Bee's story. How she reacted to her mother's death, the introduction of Rowan into her life and finally looks slightly into the future to see how their lives pan out.
This is Helen Moorehouse's third novel, although the first I have read. An Irish author who has a great following, I have read many wonderful things about her work. I adore the book's cover and the idea behind the story. Similar to The Dead Wife's Handbook by Hannah Beckerman, the reader can imagine what it must be like to watch over your loved ones but not be able to interact with them. The frustration of being neither here nor there. Unlike Hannah Beckerman's novel, this is more the story of a lie, a chain of events and a child's reaction to losing a parent. I was not a fan of Bee. While we don't get to see the pre-teen years, her character seems to be have been formed with the idea that it's ok for a child to be troublesome, if she has lost a parent. Her father seems to have let her away with a lot over the years and the bond between herself and Rowan is pretty much non-existent. I found the second part of the book very drawn out, with no need for it's length. Rowan started off as a nice enough character, but soon became boring. The initial story of Jenn and Ed, their marriage, and how things began to get away from Jenn, was a great start to the book but the second part lost its momentum. Things picked up a little in the third part when Bee is in her twenties and finally starts to grow up. She was still annoying though and I found I really lost interest in the whole family by the end of the book.
However, I will say that I thought the author writes beautifully. Her style is gentle and descriptive with the right balance between the story and the characters. I just didn't like the characters very much and therefor couldn't connect.
I think this book would be perfect for fans of Sheila O'Flanagan or Trisha Ashley. Maybe the characters will appeal to others more than me. I have the authors two earlier novels, and look forward to reading more of her work.
July 26, 2016
This was a good book with a good plot and interesting characters which all kept me reading and not wanting to put it down till I read another page or another chapter.
My only real gripe is that the book went back and forth in time,not so much from past to present but there was no real order to it,one moment Bee was 5 then she was 14 and then she was 6 then 20 then back to 13. That took something away from the feel of the book,it somehow felt less heartfelt than what it could have.
I liked Jenny when alive tho after death she wasn't really a full version of herself so.
I really did dislike Bee a lot of the time as she was just a moody spoilt bitch and even right to the end nearly she blamed everyone else for everything.
I didn't like the way the end was gradually brought about and the letter that arrived,why change Bees opinion of her mother now and why did Gui never know what happened to Jenny,he lived in his own ego driven world blissfully unaware that Jenny was no longer in the world he had left her in.
The end itself was just right.
My only real gripe is that the book went back and forth in time,not so much from past to present but there was no real order to it,one moment Bee was 5 then she was 14 and then she was 6 then 20 then back to 13. That took something away from the feel of the book,it somehow felt less heartfelt than what it could have.
I liked Jenny when alive tho after death she wasn't really a full version of herself so.
I really did dislike Bee a lot of the time as she was just a moody spoilt bitch and even right to the end nearly she blamed everyone else for everything.
I didn't like the way the end was gradually brought about and the letter that arrived,why change Bees opinion of her mother now and why did Gui never know what happened to Jenny,he lived in his own ego driven world blissfully unaware that Jenny was no longer in the world he had left her in.
The end itself was just right.
May 5, 2018
Sing me to Sleep is the story of three women who all have their own, special and unique relationship with the one same man, at differing intervals, spanning over thirty years of his life.
Initially excited about this read, being the third novel by this author who has a great following, unfortunately both the plot and characters failed to inspire; an unoriginal plot exploring themes of love, loss, regret, sadness and hope through family saga, and characters which failed to instill empathy, Sing me to Sleep was a disappointing read. Moreover, despite the intelligent and beautifully descriptive writing, the plot was often sadly lost as a result of this over-description.
Aimed at the general adult reader, if you enjoy highly descriptive prose, set in a mildly interesting family saga, without any real fast action, this novel is for you.
Initially excited about this read, being the third novel by this author who has a great following, unfortunately both the plot and characters failed to inspire; an unoriginal plot exploring themes of love, loss, regret, sadness and hope through family saga, and characters which failed to instill empathy, Sing me to Sleep was a disappointing read. Moreover, despite the intelligent and beautifully descriptive writing, the plot was often sadly lost as a result of this over-description.
Aimed at the general adult reader, if you enjoy highly descriptive prose, set in a mildly interesting family saga, without any real fast action, this novel is for you.
January 25, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this book very well written, I found myself trying to keep one eye open each night to fit an extra page in. when you get into it you can't put it down.
July 20, 2016
great book to read. :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews