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The Slow Awakening
In the middle of the last century the prospects for an orphan or an unwanted child could be grim indeed. Such a child was Kirsten MacGregor, for her parents had died suddenly of a fever while traveling in Northumberland, and there were no relatives or friends to claim her.
She fell, therefore, into the hands of Ma Bradley, a baby farmer, who in time used her to tend the younger boys and girls who were the mainstay of a profitable and sinister trade. In this service she grew to womanhood, her good looks marred by a cast in one eye. Though this was so slight as to be noticeably only in times of tension or fear, it was to force upon Kirsten a still meaner fate: for the superstitious fishermen of the area regarded it as a cause of bad luck, and in time their prejudices reached so high a pitch that she had to be got rid of. She was made over to Hop Fuller, a traveling tinker and a hard, even vicious master.
But then a great storm and flood changed everything.
She fell, therefore, into the hands of Ma Bradley, a baby farmer, who in time used her to tend the younger boys and girls who were the mainstay of a profitable and sinister trade. In this service she grew to womanhood, her good looks marred by a cast in one eye. Though this was so slight as to be noticeably only in times of tension or fear, it was to force upon Kirsten a still meaner fate: for the superstitious fishermen of the area regarded it as a cause of bad luck, and in time their prejudices reached so high a pitch that she had to be got rid of. She was made over to Hop Fuller, a traveling tinker and a hard, even vicious master.
But then a great storm and flood changed everything.
316 pages, Mass Market Paperback
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 27, 2020
4 1/2 Stars
My first "Catherine Cookson" AKA Catherine Marchant on this copy.
I have always avoided her books..Back in the day, I thought her style of writing/plots were ones my Grandma enjoyed reading, and not for me.
The cover sucked me in so..I gave in.
To be honest, it did take me a while to get into her style of writing, I found at the beginning it to be very "silted" "stiff?"
It just wasn't flowing right for me, but I hung in.
As other characters came into play..it started to work and didn't feel like "only Grandma would like this.
Good plot..enough historical background.. just enough mystery ..likable characters (and not some) nice romance and relationship building and no OTT crap.
It did drag a few times, but not enough to make me give up.
So yes, I will try another of hers..I do have "The Whip" which I might read for this challenge as well.
Oh..by the way, thanks Grandma for leaving me your books..wish I could let you know my thoughts on your favorite author :)
My first "Catherine Cookson" AKA Catherine Marchant on this copy.
I have always avoided her books..Back in the day, I thought her style of writing/plots were ones my Grandma enjoyed reading, and not for me.
The cover sucked me in so..I gave in.
To be honest, it did take me a while to get into her style of writing, I found at the beginning it to be very "silted" "stiff?"
It just wasn't flowing right for me, but I hung in.
As other characters came into play..it started to work and didn't feel like "only Grandma would like this.
Good plot..enough historical background.. just enough mystery ..likable characters (and not some) nice romance and relationship building and no OTT crap.
It did drag a few times, but not enough to make me give up.
So yes, I will try another of hers..I do have "The Whip" which I might read for this challenge as well.
Oh..by the way, thanks Grandma for leaving me your books..wish I could let you know my thoughts on your favorite author :)
February 23, 2020
Another great Catherine Cookson book! I did hope that Kirsten might find her family but not to be...
June 1, 2023
One shocking life event happens after another and another...the love aspects seem a bit juvenile but the main character is a teen so it's a bit expected. Overall couldn't put it down
October 14, 2024
A story of grief and love and understanding by Catherine Marchant in “The Slow Awakening”
More at
https://vramonline.wordpress.com/2024...
More at
https://vramonline.wordpress.com/2024...
March 11, 2023
Excellent.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews