Chasing Angels

by Meg Henderson

“[A] winning tale of struggle and hard-won reward” featuring “sharp-tongued, viciously funny Kathy Kelly” from the bestselling author of Finding Peggy (Publishers Weekly).   Kathy Kelly, born in the heart of Glasgow’s East End, comes from a family torn apart by conflict. She grows up with a sharp wit and a quick temper, constantly challenging those who cross her reproving grandmother; Con, her hard-drinking father; even the local priest—Kathy takes no prisoners. But at least she copes, unlike her older brother Peter, who disappears as fast as he can.   Kathy also escapes—to the Highlands. Here she finds work and a home with the Macdonalds, an eccentric, easy-going couple. But Con’s death drags Kathy back to Glasgow, where she is forced to look at things afresh, at past events and the people she thought she knew so well, and begin the search for her missing brother, a search which will result in an extraordinary, devastating discovery.  “The overall effect is of being at your auntie’s, of listening to an enthusiastic storyteller, of the fascination of taking a microscope to seemingly ordinary lives, seemingly mundane situations, and bringing them into dramatic focus.” —Scotland on Sunday  “Henderson writes from a position of uncompromising humanity. A strong, atmospheric writer with gifts of insight, she has a sharp and tarry black humor, so while she attacks the objects of her wrath, she leavens the battle with a running current of dark and infectious wit.” —Sunday Herald

345 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

*note - Born in 1948 however the date/month on my part is unknown and unable to find*

Journalist and author Meg Henderson was born in Townhead, Glasgow. The youngest of three children (2 brothers). Her parents an Irish Catholic father and her mother an Irish/Scottish Protestant.

Meg Henderson lived in several parts of the city including Blackhill, Drumchapel, and Maryhill. After the death of her beloved aunt Peggy; Meg Henderson left her convent secondary school at the age of sixteen to care for her family, an alcoholic father and a mother who was unable to cope with the loss of her sister. On which her first novel 'Finding Peggy' was born out of research into her family history.

First working within the NHS and then travelling to India with the Voluntary Service Overseas. On her return to Scotland she married and went to live on a Scottish island and became an adoptive and foster parent while writing the occasional newspaper article. When Meg Henderson gave up fostering she decided to write full-time.

Henderson now lives with her husband on the East Coast of Scotland works as both a journalist and an author, writting for newspapers, magazines, and television documentaries for the BBC and C4.

Henderson's novels are generally set in pre-war and wartime Glasgow.

Reviews

[julia macfarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Finding Peggy

[Karen Baadsgaard · Rating 1 out of 5]

BAD- DIDN'T READ

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually want to give this book 3.5 stars.
I liked a lot of it, but found some parts hard to persevere through. Overall definitely worth reading.

[Solenne HENRY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compelling story.
Love the narrative style.
Struggled a bit with the written Scottish accent:)

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. This is the tale of a woman who escapes her rough life in the Glasgow Barras for the beautiful Western Highlands. The beginning is very gritty and tragic but Kathy Kelly is a colourful, feisty character with an enormous mouth, which leads to some very amusing dialogue. It is written in dialetic and as I live in Scotland and half my family is Scottish I didn't struggle reading it but people who aren't familiar with the strong Glaswegian dialect might. However it is worth it. This book is funny, touching and very endearing. Couldn't put it down. Will be reading more of this author's work.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved some of it ....... liked some of it...... could have lived without the last part.
Loved the Scottish phonetic conversations between Kathy and her Aunty Jessie
Loved her battles with Father McCabe
I am visting Fort William and Glenfinnan next year - so it was great that part of the book was based in that area.
Re - the last part..... Hmmm dont want to spoil it for anyone, but, it spoilt the atmosphere of the book.

[Virginia]

A BOOK NOTED IN MY 1998 VISIT TO SCOTLAND. OF SAGA OF KATHY OF GLASGOW. SEEMED TO BE KNOWN AS FINDING PEGGY IN SCOTLAND

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first, I found it a bit difficult to read in the Glaswegian accent but with a little persistence, started to get into the story. The last couple of chapters slightly fizzled for me.