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The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger
The secrets of the past won't remain hidden forever...
Arthur Pettinger's memory isn't what it used to be. He can't always remember the names of his grandchildren, where he lives or which way round his slippers go. He does remember Maryse though, a woman he hasn't seen for decades, but whose face he will never forget.
When Arthur's granddaughter, Maddy, moves in along with her daughter Esther, it's her first step towards pulling her life back together. But when Esther makes a video with Arthur, the hunt for the mysterious Maryse goes viral.
There's only one person who can help Maddy track down this woman – the one that got away, Joe. Their quest takes them to France, and into the heart of the French Resistance.
When the only way to move forwards is to look back, will this family finally be able to?
Arthur Pettinger's memory isn't what it used to be. He can't always remember the names of his grandchildren, where he lives or which way round his slippers go. He does remember Maryse though, a woman he hasn't seen for decades, but whose face he will never forget.
When Arthur's granddaughter, Maddy, moves in along with her daughter Esther, it's her first step towards pulling her life back together. But when Esther makes a video with Arthur, the hunt for the mysterious Maryse goes viral.
There's only one person who can help Maddy track down this woman – the one that got away, Joe. Their quest takes them to France, and into the heart of the French Resistance.
When the only way to move forwards is to look back, will this family finally be able to?
425 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2021
116 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
September 10, 2021
Arthur Pettinger’s ninety six, he has Alzheimer’s and his memory isn’t want it used to be. His granddaughter Hazel's taking care of him at his home, she’s not patient, or understanding and she demands a break. She contacts her sister Maddy, she has an eleven year old daughter Esther, and they agree to take care of Arthur. He’s a sweet man, he calls all his caretakers “duck” and because he can’t remember anyone’s name. The one name he does remember is Maryse, a French woman, he hasn’t seen her for seventy years and he loved her. Maddy doesn’t mind taking care of her grandfather and she doesn’t understand how time consuming it will be and exhausting.
Arthur wakes up a lot at night, he tries to dress himself to get ready to go to work, he leaves taps running, puts his slippers on the wrong feet and he’s forgotten his wife Joan has passed away. Esther’s a typical eleven year old, she loves making cooking videos and uploading them to YouTube. She decides to make a video, to try to find Maryse for her great-grandfather and she doesn’t ask her mum for permission. Suddenly Maddy’s phones ringing nonstop, everyone wants to have the rights to Arthur’s story and she needs advice. The only person she knows who can help get rid of the media, and find Maryse is Joe Finch, he's a private investigator, and unfortunately her ex-partner.
Joe and Maddy travel to France, to try to find any descendants of Maryse Dupont and Maddy has no idea what her grandfather did during the war. They discover that Arthur was a Secret Operations Executive, the allies were preparing for D-Day, and they needed the local resistance and agents to cause mayhem and distract the German army. The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is a story about how brave Arthur was during the war, his dedication to his country, his fellow agents, and he and Maryse put the lives of two vulnerable children before themselves. A poignant and heartfelt book by Suzanne Fortin and I can’t wait to read her new book, All That We Have Lost and five stars from me. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
Arthur wakes up a lot at night, he tries to dress himself to get ready to go to work, he leaves taps running, puts his slippers on the wrong feet and he’s forgotten his wife Joan has passed away. Esther’s a typical eleven year old, she loves making cooking videos and uploading them to YouTube. She decides to make a video, to try to find Maryse for her great-grandfather and she doesn’t ask her mum for permission. Suddenly Maddy’s phones ringing nonstop, everyone wants to have the rights to Arthur’s story and she needs advice. The only person she knows who can help get rid of the media, and find Maryse is Joe Finch, he's a private investigator, and unfortunately her ex-partner.
Joe and Maddy travel to France, to try to find any descendants of Maryse Dupont and Maddy has no idea what her grandfather did during the war. They discover that Arthur was a Secret Operations Executive, the allies were preparing for D-Day, and they needed the local resistance and agents to cause mayhem and distract the German army. The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is a story about how brave Arthur was during the war, his dedication to his country, his fellow agents, and he and Maryse put the lives of two vulnerable children before themselves. A poignant and heartfelt book by Suzanne Fortin and I can’t wait to read her new book, All That We Have Lost and five stars from me. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
March 20, 2022
“It must be a bit like a tangle of wool. One memory string is pulled, but it brings with it a knot of other memories and it’s such a mess, there’s no hope of untangling it all.”
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is a novel by British author, Suzanne Fortin. The audio version is narrated by Anne McCaffery. Eleven-year-old Esther Pettinger-Shaw is excited to be moving to the village of Hemingford Grey with her mother, Maddy. She’s a little worried about starting at a secondary school where she knows no-one, but she’s ever so pleased to be living in The Old Rectory and its lovely gardens, with her great-grandfather. When Hazel leaves behind her French bulldog, Fifi, Esther’s happiness is complete.
Esther knows that Gramps has Alzheimer’s, but she loves the stories he tells her about when he was young. Certain photographs from the scrapbook of his life, though, make him sad: with every mention of Maryse, the pretty young woman he met in Brittany during the war, he repeats how sorry he is, and that she was the love of his life. This is clearly not Great-Grandma Joan. Esther makes a spur-of-the-moment vlog appealing to her YouTube followers to help find Maryse.
Maddy feels a little guilty that she didn’t realise just how much Gramps had deteriorated, so she’s happy to look after him now. Her half-sister, Hazel, devoid of empathy, has left a handbook of things to watch out for, and while the nocturnal wanderings don’t allow her enough sleep, and finding ways to distract Gramps when he fixates on a lost person or item can be challenging, his general good cheer makes it all worthwhile.
She’s utterly baffled when the first calls come in regarding the YouTube video she wasn’t aware Esther had posted. And she’s certainly not happy when Joe Finch, her ex-boyfriend from three years earlier, offers to help. But if that’s what is needed to stop Gramps from getting all tearful, she might have to agree to it. Travelling to France with Joe to track down a long-lost love is definitely not on the agenda. Is it?
At ninety-six, Arthur Pettinger is frequently exasperated by his uncooperative memory. So often, the memories are right there, but he just can’t grasp the one he wants. He’s not sorry to see that Moaning Minnie (Heather? Hazel,? Helen?) leave, and glad when Maddy, the nice granddaughter arrives with the girl (what’s her name again?). The girl doesn’t seem to have any friends, but is happy to listen to him ramble on about his youth. And the memories of Maryse? Those are crystal clear.
“He wished he could capture one of those memories properly. It was so frustrating. He couldn’t explain it to anyone; he wasn’t even sure he understood his own reactions or thoughts. Everything raced past him far too quickly to hold on to. It was like trying to catch the wind in your hands as it whistled through the tiniest of gaps between your fingers”
The story is told from three perspectives: Maddy in the present day, Arthur in the 1940s and in the present day. Fortin’s description of caring for a person with dementia, and her depiction of what the person with dementia experiences, are truly insightful, giving the whole present-day part an authentic feel.
“It was so cruel, so painful this long goodbye, watching her grandfather slowly disappear in front of her, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop the disease from ravaging his mind, stealing his memories, his ability to communicate diminished. ‘It’s like a grieving for him while he’s still alive. I feel like I’m losing him and yet being tortured as he’s still here.’”
Fortin easily evokes her setting and the era, and her characters have depth and appeal. This is a wonderful love story: funny, sad and ultimately heart-warming.
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is a novel by British author, Suzanne Fortin. The audio version is narrated by Anne McCaffery. Eleven-year-old Esther Pettinger-Shaw is excited to be moving to the village of Hemingford Grey with her mother, Maddy. She’s a little worried about starting at a secondary school where she knows no-one, but she’s ever so pleased to be living in The Old Rectory and its lovely gardens, with her great-grandfather. When Hazel leaves behind her French bulldog, Fifi, Esther’s happiness is complete.
Esther knows that Gramps has Alzheimer’s, but she loves the stories he tells her about when he was young. Certain photographs from the scrapbook of his life, though, make him sad: with every mention of Maryse, the pretty young woman he met in Brittany during the war, he repeats how sorry he is, and that she was the love of his life. This is clearly not Great-Grandma Joan. Esther makes a spur-of-the-moment vlog appealing to her YouTube followers to help find Maryse.
Maddy feels a little guilty that she didn’t realise just how much Gramps had deteriorated, so she’s happy to look after him now. Her half-sister, Hazel, devoid of empathy, has left a handbook of things to watch out for, and while the nocturnal wanderings don’t allow her enough sleep, and finding ways to distract Gramps when he fixates on a lost person or item can be challenging, his general good cheer makes it all worthwhile.
She’s utterly baffled when the first calls come in regarding the YouTube video she wasn’t aware Esther had posted. And she’s certainly not happy when Joe Finch, her ex-boyfriend from three years earlier, offers to help. But if that’s what is needed to stop Gramps from getting all tearful, she might have to agree to it. Travelling to France with Joe to track down a long-lost love is definitely not on the agenda. Is it?
At ninety-six, Arthur Pettinger is frequently exasperated by his uncooperative memory. So often, the memories are right there, but he just can’t grasp the one he wants. He’s not sorry to see that Moaning Minnie (Heather? Hazel,? Helen?) leave, and glad when Maddy, the nice granddaughter arrives with the girl (what’s her name again?). The girl doesn’t seem to have any friends, but is happy to listen to him ramble on about his youth. And the memories of Maryse? Those are crystal clear.
“He wished he could capture one of those memories properly. It was so frustrating. He couldn’t explain it to anyone; he wasn’t even sure he understood his own reactions or thoughts. Everything raced past him far too quickly to hold on to. It was like trying to catch the wind in your hands as it whistled through the tiniest of gaps between your fingers”
The story is told from three perspectives: Maddy in the present day, Arthur in the 1940s and in the present day. Fortin’s description of caring for a person with dementia, and her depiction of what the person with dementia experiences, are truly insightful, giving the whole present-day part an authentic feel.
“It was so cruel, so painful this long goodbye, watching her grandfather slowly disappear in front of her, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop the disease from ravaging his mind, stealing his memories, his ability to communicate diminished. ‘It’s like a grieving for him while he’s still alive. I feel like I’m losing him and yet being tortured as he’s still here.’”
Fortin easily evokes her setting and the era, and her characters have depth and appeal. This is a wonderful love story: funny, sad and ultimately heart-warming.
March 8, 2021
Not even Alzheimer's could make Arthur forget his true love.
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is a beautiful story of ever-lasting love, heroism, and living the best life one possibly can, even when one's mind is assaulted by Alzheimer's.
Arthur's memories were a blur, but he still felt a never-ending love for Maryse and a deep fear for the children's future.
He knew he had to go back, but his old man's mind kept playing tricks on him. Past and present mingled in his consciousness, and sometimes fog covered it all.
When his great-granddaughter Esther came to live with him, they instantly bonded, and perusing old pictures with her took his thoughts more and more to the past and the woman he loved.
The story is bittersweet but very inspiring. It was hard to witness Arthur's struggles with his mind and body, but the love and patience of his family were a balm to the soul.
The side characters were adorable—the kind of people one wants around in their time of need.
Romance permeates the whole narrative, and although I shed a few tears, there was a satisfying happy ending.
What I loved most about this story is how serious subjects were explored in a light and optimistic manner. Despite all the sadness, my heart was full of love and peace when I turned the last page.
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger was my first book by this author but will not be my last.
Great read!
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is a beautiful story of ever-lasting love, heroism, and living the best life one possibly can, even when one's mind is assaulted by Alzheimer's.
Arthur's memories were a blur, but he still felt a never-ending love for Maryse and a deep fear for the children's future.
He knew he had to go back, but his old man's mind kept playing tricks on him. Past and present mingled in his consciousness, and sometimes fog covered it all.
When his great-granddaughter Esther came to live with him, they instantly bonded, and perusing old pictures with her took his thoughts more and more to the past and the woman he loved.
The story is bittersweet but very inspiring. It was hard to witness Arthur's struggles with his mind and body, but the love and patience of his family were a balm to the soul.
The side characters were adorable—the kind of people one wants around in their time of need.
Romance permeates the whole narrative, and although I shed a few tears, there was a satisfying happy ending.
What I loved most about this story is how serious subjects were explored in a light and optimistic manner. Despite all the sadness, my heart was full of love and peace when I turned the last page.
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger was my first book by this author but will not be my last.
Great read!
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
February 10, 2021
“It must be a bit like a tangle of wool. One memory string is pulled, but it brings with it a knot of other memories and it’s such a mess, there’s no hope of untangling it all.”
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is a novel by British author, Suzanne Fortin. Eleven-year-old Esther Pettinger-Shaw is excited to be moving to the village of Hemingford Grey with her mother, Maddy. She’s a little worried about starting at a secondary school where she knows no-one, but she’s ever so pleased to be living in The Old Rectory and its lovely gardens, with her great-grandfather. When Hazel leaves behind her French bulldog, Fifi, Esther’s happiness is complete.
Esther knows that Gramps has Alzheimer’s, but she loves the stories he tells her about when he was young. Certain photographs from the scrapbook of his life, though, make him sad: with every mention of Maryse, the pretty young woman he met in Brittany during the war, he repeats how sorry he is, and that she was the love of his life. This is clearly not Great-Grandma Joan. Esther makes a spur-of-the-moment vlog appealing to her YouTube followers to help find Maryse.
Maddy feels a little guilty that she didn’t realise just how much Gramps had deteriorated, so she’s happy to look after him now. Her half-sister, Hazel, devoid of empathy, has left a handbook of things to watch out for, and while the nocturnal wanderings don’t allow her enough sleep, and finding ways to distract Gramps when he fixates on a lost person or item can be challenging, his general good cheer makes it all worthwhile.
She’s utterly baffled when the first calls come in regarding the YouTube video she wasn’t aware Esther had posted. And she’s certainly not happy when Joe Finch, her ex-boyfriend from three years earlier, offers to help. But if that’s what is needed to stop Gramps from getting all tearful, she might have to agree to it. Travelling to France with Joe to track down a long-lost love is definitely not on the agenda. Is it?
At ninety-six, Arthur Pettinger is frequently exasperated by his uncooperative memory. So often, the memories are right there, but he just can’t grasp the one he wants. He’s not sorry to see that Moaning Minnie (Heather? Hazel,? Helen?) leave, and glad when Maddy, the nice granddaughter arrives with the girl (what’s her name again?). The girl doesn’t seem to have any friends, but is happy to listen to him ramble on about his youth. And the memories of Maryse? Those are crystal clear.
“He wished he could capture one of those memories properly. It was so frustrating. He couldn’t explain it to anyone; he wasn’t even sure he understood his own reactions or thoughts. Everything raced past him far too quickly to hold on to. It was like trying to catch the wind in your hands as it whistled through the tiniest of gaps between your fingers”
The story is told from three perspectives: Maddy in the present day, Arthur in the 1940s and in the present day. Fortin’s description of caring for a person with dementia, and her depiction of what the person with dementia experiences, are truly insightful, giving the whole present-day part an authentic feel.
“It was so cruel, so painful this long goodbye, watching her grandfather slowly disappear in front of her, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop the disease from ravaging his mind, stealing his memories, his ability to communicate diminished. ‘It’s like a grieving for him while he’s still alive. I feel like I’m losing him and yet being tortured as he’s still here.’”
Fortin easily evokes her setting and the era, and her characters have depth and appeal. This is a wonderful love story: funny, sad and ultimately heart-warming.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Aria and Aries
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is a novel by British author, Suzanne Fortin. Eleven-year-old Esther Pettinger-Shaw is excited to be moving to the village of Hemingford Grey with her mother, Maddy. She’s a little worried about starting at a secondary school where she knows no-one, but she’s ever so pleased to be living in The Old Rectory and its lovely gardens, with her great-grandfather. When Hazel leaves behind her French bulldog, Fifi, Esther’s happiness is complete.
Esther knows that Gramps has Alzheimer’s, but she loves the stories he tells her about when he was young. Certain photographs from the scrapbook of his life, though, make him sad: with every mention of Maryse, the pretty young woman he met in Brittany during the war, he repeats how sorry he is, and that she was the love of his life. This is clearly not Great-Grandma Joan. Esther makes a spur-of-the-moment vlog appealing to her YouTube followers to help find Maryse.
Maddy feels a little guilty that she didn’t realise just how much Gramps had deteriorated, so she’s happy to look after him now. Her half-sister, Hazel, devoid of empathy, has left a handbook of things to watch out for, and while the nocturnal wanderings don’t allow her enough sleep, and finding ways to distract Gramps when he fixates on a lost person or item can be challenging, his general good cheer makes it all worthwhile.
She’s utterly baffled when the first calls come in regarding the YouTube video she wasn’t aware Esther had posted. And she’s certainly not happy when Joe Finch, her ex-boyfriend from three years earlier, offers to help. But if that’s what is needed to stop Gramps from getting all tearful, she might have to agree to it. Travelling to France with Joe to track down a long-lost love is definitely not on the agenda. Is it?
At ninety-six, Arthur Pettinger is frequently exasperated by his uncooperative memory. So often, the memories are right there, but he just can’t grasp the one he wants. He’s not sorry to see that Moaning Minnie (Heather? Hazel,? Helen?) leave, and glad when Maddy, the nice granddaughter arrives with the girl (what’s her name again?). The girl doesn’t seem to have any friends, but is happy to listen to him ramble on about his youth. And the memories of Maryse? Those are crystal clear.
“He wished he could capture one of those memories properly. It was so frustrating. He couldn’t explain it to anyone; he wasn’t even sure he understood his own reactions or thoughts. Everything raced past him far too quickly to hold on to. It was like trying to catch the wind in your hands as it whistled through the tiniest of gaps between your fingers”
The story is told from three perspectives: Maddy in the present day, Arthur in the 1940s and in the present day. Fortin’s description of caring for a person with dementia, and her depiction of what the person with dementia experiences, are truly insightful, giving the whole present-day part an authentic feel.
“It was so cruel, so painful this long goodbye, watching her grandfather slowly disappear in front of her, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop the disease from ravaging his mind, stealing his memories, his ability to communicate diminished. ‘It’s like a grieving for him while he’s still alive. I feel like I’m losing him and yet being tortured as he’s still here.’”
Fortin easily evokes her setting and the era, and her characters have depth and appeal. This is a wonderful love story: funny, sad and ultimately heart-warming.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Aria and Aries
January 12, 2021
Suzanne Fortin, in The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger to be published March 4, 2021, writes to show that sometimes the past won't stay hidden, it demands to be uncovered.
Synopsis:
Arthur Pettinger's memory isn't what it used to be. He can't always remember the names of his grandchildren, where he lives or which way round his slippers go. He does remember Maryse though, a woman he hasn't seen for decades, but whose face he will never forget.
When Arthur's granddaughter, Maddy moves in along with her daughter Esther, it's her first step towards pulling her life back together. But when Esther makes a video with Arthur, the hunt for the mysterious Maryse goes viral.
There's only one person who can help Maddy track down this woman – the one that got away, Joe. Their quest takes them to France, and into the heart of the French Resistance.
When the only way to move forwards is to look back, will this family finally be able to?
My thoughts:
This is a beautiful account that stops you dead in your tracks and forces you to question how you’d deal with a loved one battling Alzheimer’s. For the first 25% of the novel, the author gives you a rarely seen insight into how Alzheimer’s affects a patient. We get to understand how Arthur feels when he knows he should know a name and how he chooses to deal with not being able to retrieve the information quickly enough. This is the opening paragraph of the novel:
“He knew his name was Arthur Pettinger and he was ninety-six years old. He also knew he was in his bedroom because on the door was a picture of himself with his name written underneath. Tomorrow, he might not know any of this. Yesterday, he was twenty years old and loading bales of hay onto the back of his father’s tractor.”
We also get to see the differences in care the two granddaughters provide and how they each deal with Arthur. It made me appreciate how Maddy and Esther love Arthur through his struggles. Once readers understand Arthur’s disease, the author picks up the pace and the novel takes off. I loved the thrill of chasing down Maryse and watching the romance blossom between Maddy and Joe. Fortin crafted such beautiful characters that readers can’t help but love them, thus adding to the reading experience. Becoming invested in the characters propels readers forward eagerly waiting resolution. Fortin has stitched together a heartwarming family history, highlighting the French resistance as a backdrop for a beautiful love story.
Thank you to Suzanne Fortin, Aria & Aries, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Arthur Pettinger's memory isn't what it used to be. He can't always remember the names of his grandchildren, where he lives or which way round his slippers go. He does remember Maryse though, a woman he hasn't seen for decades, but whose face he will never forget.
When Arthur's granddaughter, Maddy moves in along with her daughter Esther, it's her first step towards pulling her life back together. But when Esther makes a video with Arthur, the hunt for the mysterious Maryse goes viral.
There's only one person who can help Maddy track down this woman – the one that got away, Joe. Their quest takes them to France, and into the heart of the French Resistance.
When the only way to move forwards is to look back, will this family finally be able to?
My thoughts:
This is a beautiful account that stops you dead in your tracks and forces you to question how you’d deal with a loved one battling Alzheimer’s. For the first 25% of the novel, the author gives you a rarely seen insight into how Alzheimer’s affects a patient. We get to understand how Arthur feels when he knows he should know a name and how he chooses to deal with not being able to retrieve the information quickly enough. This is the opening paragraph of the novel:
“He knew his name was Arthur Pettinger and he was ninety-six years old. He also knew he was in his bedroom because on the door was a picture of himself with his name written underneath. Tomorrow, he might not know any of this. Yesterday, he was twenty years old and loading bales of hay onto the back of his father’s tractor.”
We also get to see the differences in care the two granddaughters provide and how they each deal with Arthur. It made me appreciate how Maddy and Esther love Arthur through his struggles. Once readers understand Arthur’s disease, the author picks up the pace and the novel takes off. I loved the thrill of chasing down Maryse and watching the romance blossom between Maddy and Joe. Fortin crafted such beautiful characters that readers can’t help but love them, thus adding to the reading experience. Becoming invested in the characters propels readers forward eagerly waiting resolution. Fortin has stitched together a heartwarming family history, highlighting the French resistance as a backdrop for a beautiful love story.
Thank you to Suzanne Fortin, Aria & Aries, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2021
This beautiful read is of a man in his nineties now struggling with Alzeimers. His memory is like a disappearing cloud, he can see it but all too soon when he feels he has a handle on his past life all too quickly it disappears again.
At the beginning of this read Arthur is being looked after by his eldest granddaughter who has decided that she has had enough and that life awaits her elsewhere. Without any consideration or discussion she emails her half sister Maddy, to tell her that she's leaving, gramps is getting too much for her and it's now her turn to look after the grandfather. Maddy with some unease takes this opportunity to make some changes in her life and that of her eleven year old daughter Esther.
Arthur loves the idea of having a child in the household, Esther makes him happy and Maddy is patient with him. He senses a sadness with Maddy but she is such a change from the old grumpy bum that had been looking after him, always scolding him for something he either did or didn't do.
The story goes back in time to 1939, sixteen year old Arthur and his parents listening to the radio, Richard Chamberlain has announced England is at war with Germany. Arthur wants to follow in his brother's footsteps and join up but his mother, who is French is distressed already with one son leaving. However, with his fluent French, Italian and a little German Arthur soon finds himself placed with a new friend, Freddie Travers, who has similar foreign language skills and is attached to SOE, D-Day top secret plans behind enemy lines in France with the assistance of the Resistance. This is the part of Arthur's life that has now become his greatest heartache and frustration with his elusive memory.
Esther, unknown to her mother, writes to Joe Finch, private investigator and old flame of her mother, concerning Arthur's plight of wanting to know what happened to Maryse, the young French girl he fell in love with when in France on his last mission. He also wants to know what happened to the two small Jewish children that were with him on the plane back to England. His love for Maryse has never changed and while he has photos of her as a young woman, the two children remain lost to his memory.
The story moves into France with both Joe and Maddy on a mission for Arthur which proves difficult. The French families don't want to revisit their wartime experiences, however a few do come forward that help to piece together Arthur's time in France. Eventually with good luck and a trip to England Arthur is reunited with those of his past.
At the beginning of this read Arthur is being looked after by his eldest granddaughter who has decided that she has had enough and that life awaits her elsewhere. Without any consideration or discussion she emails her half sister Maddy, to tell her that she's leaving, gramps is getting too much for her and it's now her turn to look after the grandfather. Maddy with some unease takes this opportunity to make some changes in her life and that of her eleven year old daughter Esther.
Arthur loves the idea of having a child in the household, Esther makes him happy and Maddy is patient with him. He senses a sadness with Maddy but she is such a change from the old grumpy bum that had been looking after him, always scolding him for something he either did or didn't do.
The story goes back in time to 1939, sixteen year old Arthur and his parents listening to the radio, Richard Chamberlain has announced England is at war with Germany. Arthur wants to follow in his brother's footsteps and join up but his mother, who is French is distressed already with one son leaving. However, with his fluent French, Italian and a little German Arthur soon finds himself placed with a new friend, Freddie Travers, who has similar foreign language skills and is attached to SOE, D-Day top secret plans behind enemy lines in France with the assistance of the Resistance. This is the part of Arthur's life that has now become his greatest heartache and frustration with his elusive memory.
Esther, unknown to her mother, writes to Joe Finch, private investigator and old flame of her mother, concerning Arthur's plight of wanting to know what happened to Maryse, the young French girl he fell in love with when in France on his last mission. He also wants to know what happened to the two small Jewish children that were with him on the plane back to England. His love for Maryse has never changed and while he has photos of her as a young woman, the two children remain lost to his memory.
The story moves into France with both Joe and Maddy on a mission for Arthur which proves difficult. The French families don't want to revisit their wartime experiences, however a few do come forward that help to piece together Arthur's time in France. Eventually with good luck and a trip to England Arthur is reunited with those of his past.
June 6, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because I loved the cover so much...the story sounded like it could be a good one that might make me feel something...and boy was I right. I LOVED this book so much... You have Arthur as one of the main characters...he lives with one of his granddaughters so he won't have to go to a home since his memory is mostly gone...suddenly she decides she is done with him and his OTHER granddaughter comes to stay with him, along with her daughter. This is the good granddaughter and he gets along so well with her daughter...she loves to look through his old photo albums and sometimes he can get a memory or two to come back by doing that. Esther becomes so interested in his old life that she uses her vlog to try to get people in the World to help find his old love...all he wants is some kind of closure and she wants to be able to give it to him. Suddenly Maddie's phone is blowing up with reporters and people trying to get in on the action and that includes an ex boyfriend Esther had written to...From this point, we have great plots...one happening right now and Maddie and Joe try to find Maryse and one that happened during the war between Maryse and Arthur...I stayed connected to this book from the very beginning to the very end...Like I said, I loved this one :)
March 4, 2021
'The most beautiful love story - it will break your heart and put it back together again'
'A deeply moving story of love in all its forms - I adored it'
'Moved me to my core - a story I will never forget'
'Be prepared for tears - this story will pull at your heart'
I adored this book from the very first page. Arthur is the epitome of that loveable father/grandfather figure we've either had in our lives or would want to have. His struggle with his memory brought a tear to my eye and the author wrote this brilliantly. I loved the relationship Arthur had with his granddaughter and how these different generations gelled together. The two timelines worked perfectly together and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. A deeply moving story of love in all its forms – I adored it. Highly recommended!
'A deeply moving story of love in all its forms - I adored it'
'Moved me to my core - a story I will never forget'
'Be prepared for tears - this story will pull at your heart'
I adored this book from the very first page. Arthur is the epitome of that loveable father/grandfather figure we've either had in our lives or would want to have. His struggle with his memory brought a tear to my eye and the author wrote this brilliantly. I loved the relationship Arthur had with his granddaughter and how these different generations gelled together. The two timelines worked perfectly together and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. A deeply moving story of love in all its forms – I adored it. Highly recommended!
March 15, 2021
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger is one of those books that offers something for just about every reader: there are elements of domestic drama, such as the family tensions caused by caring responsibilities; scenes of wartime adventure and romance; and a search for a long lost love.
I loved the touching and very natural relationship that develops between Maddy’s daughter, Esther, and her great-grandfather, even if Arthur does occasionally struggle to recall Esther’s name (although he never seems to forget that his favourite biscuits are digestives). It’s a neat echo of the close relationship Maddy remembers having with Arthur herself when she was younger. As it turns out, affection for Arthur is not the only thing Esther has inherited. She also has the same inquisitive nature and independent instincts as her mother.
The book eloquently conveys the challenges of caring for someone with dementia, although Maddy’s sympathetic response and greater understanding of Arthur’s need for routine proves much more successful than that of her half-sister, Hazel, who previously cared for him. (Arthur privately christened Hazel ‘Moaning Minnie’). Although Maddy recognises the role photographs and music can play in provoking what memories are left, she knows it’s only a matter of time before Alzheimer’s claims Arthur completely. I’m sure many readers can empathize with Maddy when she thinks, “It was so cruel, so painful this long goodbye, watching her grandfather slowly disappear in front of her…”.
The author finds imaginative ways to allow the reader inside the mind of Arthur and witness his own frustration at his declining memory. “It was all muddled up in his mind like a heap of spaghetti and he didn’t know where the strands of thought started. They were a jumbled mess of words and images, fragments of memory and snatches of thought – all knotted up together.”
The details of Maddy’s search for Maryse, assisted by investigator and ex-boyfriend, Joe, and the difficult moral dilemmas thrown up along the way, will be familiar to fans of TV programmes such as Heir Hunters or Long Lost Family. Trust me, as the book nears its conclusion, you’ll find yourself in complete agreement with Arthur as he thinks, “He wished he knew how his story ended and what happened to those he loved”.
For me, the ending, although bittersweet, was the perfect conclusion to the story. After all, there’s more than one way to be reunited.
I loved the touching and very natural relationship that develops between Maddy’s daughter, Esther, and her great-grandfather, even if Arthur does occasionally struggle to recall Esther’s name (although he never seems to forget that his favourite biscuits are digestives). It’s a neat echo of the close relationship Maddy remembers having with Arthur herself when she was younger. As it turns out, affection for Arthur is not the only thing Esther has inherited. She also has the same inquisitive nature and independent instincts as her mother.
The book eloquently conveys the challenges of caring for someone with dementia, although Maddy’s sympathetic response and greater understanding of Arthur’s need for routine proves much more successful than that of her half-sister, Hazel, who previously cared for him. (Arthur privately christened Hazel ‘Moaning Minnie’). Although Maddy recognises the role photographs and music can play in provoking what memories are left, she knows it’s only a matter of time before Alzheimer’s claims Arthur completely. I’m sure many readers can empathize with Maddy when she thinks, “It was so cruel, so painful this long goodbye, watching her grandfather slowly disappear in front of her…”.
The author finds imaginative ways to allow the reader inside the mind of Arthur and witness his own frustration at his declining memory. “It was all muddled up in his mind like a heap of spaghetti and he didn’t know where the strands of thought started. They were a jumbled mess of words and images, fragments of memory and snatches of thought – all knotted up together.”
The details of Maddy’s search for Maryse, assisted by investigator and ex-boyfriend, Joe, and the difficult moral dilemmas thrown up along the way, will be familiar to fans of TV programmes such as Heir Hunters or Long Lost Family. Trust me, as the book nears its conclusion, you’ll find yourself in complete agreement with Arthur as he thinks, “He wished he knew how his story ended and what happened to those he loved”.
For me, the ending, although bittersweet, was the perfect conclusion to the story. After all, there’s more than one way to be reunited.
January 27, 2025
5 ⭐
Aw man I adored this book.
Heartbreaking and heartfelt.
Likeable characters.
A truly beautiful love story.
Mix of past and present with wartime setting, which is always a hit with me.
I cried at the end so couldn't rate any less than 5 ⭐
Would recommend 💕
Aw man I adored this book.
Heartbreaking and heartfelt.
Likeable characters.
A truly beautiful love story.
Mix of past and present with wartime setting, which is always a hit with me.
I cried at the end so couldn't rate any less than 5 ⭐
Would recommend 💕
March 29, 2021
The opening chapter of this book immediately drew me in and squeezed my heart, I found it so heart-wrenching and emotional I was compelled to keep turning the pages. Arthur suffers from acute memory loss but some of his memories keep rising to the surface. He gets frustrated with himself at not being able to remember and certain memories trigger intense emotions and it he has no idea why he is feeling them. The author brilliantly captures Arthur’s confusion and frustration at not being able to remember and his struggles with Alzheimer’s are beautifully and sensitively portrayed.
At one point Arthur pulls out a handkerchief to dab his eyes during an emotional moment, there is an ‘M’ embroidered in the corner, his heart skips a beat, he doesn’t know why. He looks at his old age-spotted hands and doesn’t recognise them, they belong to an old man.
It is after the sudden departure of Hazel, Arthur’s previous carer and Maddy’s half-sister, that Maddy and her daughter, Esther, come to live with him. I adored the relationship Arthur had with both Maddy and Esther. From the onset, they showed great compassion and empathy towards him and had a lovely caring and nurturing attitude and most importantly treated him with infinite patience and the utmost respect. Quite clearly he is loved and cherished by both his granddaughter and great granddaughter alike. This contrasted significantly to the care received by Hazel at the beginning, who was undoubtedly beginning to lose her patience with Arthur.
Esther’s interest is peaked one day by an old scrap book, she finds lying on the bookshelf, and it is whilst flicking through this with Arthur old memories begin to surface. During Arthur’s more coherent moments he consistently mentions Maryse and often lapses into fluent French. Maddie and Esther begin to make sense of his ramblings. They uncover a long forgotten love affair Arthur had with a French resistance woman during the Second World War, the love of his life, and decide to try to track Maryse down in order to get closure for Arthur.
The dual timeline seamlessly moves between present day and the 1940s and I really enjoyed both storylines equally. When Maddy’s ex-boyfriend is simultaneously drawn into the story, we essentially get two love stories going on both past and present. The characters are a joy to read about, have depth and are beautifully crafted by the author.
Both heart-warming and heart-wrenching this book will definitely play with your emotions. This is a wonderful love story with some chapters that moved me beyond words. The setting and era is evocative and beautifully described and I became so invested in the story and characters that I did not want it to end. The ending completely undid me and it is incredibly moving and emotional. A captivating and brilliantly written story which I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys Women’s Historical Fiction.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of the book and for inviting me on the blog tour.
At one point Arthur pulls out a handkerchief to dab his eyes during an emotional moment, there is an ‘M’ embroidered in the corner, his heart skips a beat, he doesn’t know why. He looks at his old age-spotted hands and doesn’t recognise them, they belong to an old man.
It is after the sudden departure of Hazel, Arthur’s previous carer and Maddy’s half-sister, that Maddy and her daughter, Esther, come to live with him. I adored the relationship Arthur had with both Maddy and Esther. From the onset, they showed great compassion and empathy towards him and had a lovely caring and nurturing attitude and most importantly treated him with infinite patience and the utmost respect. Quite clearly he is loved and cherished by both his granddaughter and great granddaughter alike. This contrasted significantly to the care received by Hazel at the beginning, who was undoubtedly beginning to lose her patience with Arthur.
Esther’s interest is peaked one day by an old scrap book, she finds lying on the bookshelf, and it is whilst flicking through this with Arthur old memories begin to surface. During Arthur’s more coherent moments he consistently mentions Maryse and often lapses into fluent French. Maddie and Esther begin to make sense of his ramblings. They uncover a long forgotten love affair Arthur had with a French resistance woman during the Second World War, the love of his life, and decide to try to track Maryse down in order to get closure for Arthur.
The dual timeline seamlessly moves between present day and the 1940s and I really enjoyed both storylines equally. When Maddy’s ex-boyfriend is simultaneously drawn into the story, we essentially get two love stories going on both past and present. The characters are a joy to read about, have depth and are beautifully crafted by the author.
Both heart-warming and heart-wrenching this book will definitely play with your emotions. This is a wonderful love story with some chapters that moved me beyond words. The setting and era is evocative and beautifully described and I became so invested in the story and characters that I did not want it to end. The ending completely undid me and it is incredibly moving and emotional. A captivating and brilliantly written story which I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys Women’s Historical Fiction.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of the book and for inviting me on the blog tour.
February 18, 2021
This is a wonderful timeslip novel that really tugs at your heart strings, dealing with true love, as well as the confusion of Alzheimer’s and the impact this illness has on both the sufferer and those around them. Arthur Pettinger is ninety-something and fading away, and his memory comes and goes. There are secrets in his past which surface, insistent and recurring, and he needs closure – if only he could remember the whole story! When his grand-daughter Maddy comes to live with him and look after him, she and her eleven-year old daughter Esther begin to try and make sense of Arthur’s ramblings. This leads them to uncover the poignant tale of Arthur’s love affair with a French resistance woman during World War II, and they are racing against time to find out exactly what happened. Their discoveries lead Maddy to reevaluate her own life – she’s been struggling with issues of trust, love and second chances. But her grandfather’s story teaches her that when life gives us a gift we have to grab it with both hands and never look back with regrets, whatever happens because we only live once. This story has great depths of emotion, highs and lows, and I found it utterly gripping!
January 2, 2025
This is such a wonderful book that I found totally satisfying and enjoyable.
The story moves between Arthur Pettinger's life during WWII and his later life where his memory and cognitive health is fading.
There are several sub-plots that the author weaves together to create a wonderful set of love stories and mystery.
I found that I could connect with the ageing Arthur following my family experiences caring for elderly relatives who also had amazing stories of their past. I was gradually to learn of secrets and more of their lives that I know impacted upon them as they aged.
The characters are exceptionally well portrayed and the setting and environmental depictions makes for satisfying reading.
The storyline of Arthur’s wartime experiences and his relationship and subsequent ageing builds a powerful momentum for this book that is authentic and highly engaging.
The mystery embedded in the story kept my attention throughout and was a highlight of the book.
The book is uplifting to read, well written and enjoyable.
Worth reading for those who like historical fiction that embodies wonderful love stories.
The story moves between Arthur Pettinger's life during WWII and his later life where his memory and cognitive health is fading.
There are several sub-plots that the author weaves together to create a wonderful set of love stories and mystery.
I found that I could connect with the ageing Arthur following my family experiences caring for elderly relatives who also had amazing stories of their past. I was gradually to learn of secrets and more of their lives that I know impacted upon them as they aged.
The characters are exceptionally well portrayed and the setting and environmental depictions makes for satisfying reading.
The storyline of Arthur’s wartime experiences and his relationship and subsequent ageing builds a powerful momentum for this book that is authentic and highly engaging.
The mystery embedded in the story kept my attention throughout and was a highlight of the book.
The book is uplifting to read, well written and enjoyable.
Worth reading for those who like historical fiction that embodies wonderful love stories.
January 21, 2024
I added this to my list in 2021 and haven't read it until now because I knew it would be a heartbreaker. Turns out I was correct. Some things in life you can never actually prepare yourself for properly despite having an inkling of what they're about. This is one of those things. My grandmother had dementia and passed away in 2004, we were very close. Our main character Arthur who is in his nineties also has this dreaded disease.
This is a time slip novel and we visit the 1940's during Arthur's time in the war and also modern times with Arthur now being in his nineties.
Arthur's granddaughter has taken care of him for six months and the stress of it is too much for her and she is no longer willing to be his caretaker. She calls his other granddaughter who is divorced and has an 11-year-old daughter. The daughter plays a prominent role in the story but more in a bit about this. His new caretaker is compassionate and caring towards the old man. Still times are rough with his confusion, forgetting what things are called and forgetting how to do basic things. Evenings are the worse as "sundowners" appears, he is confused, wanders the house and is agitated. Arthur has a scrapbook of his wartime memories including lots of photographs. The young girl and her great grandfather bond over the scrapbook and she sees pictures of a beautiful woman who turns out to be his war time love. Unfortunately, he was sent home away from his love. He may have forgotten many things but not her. This child tries with the help of others to find this woman from many years ago for her grandfather to make him happy. Along the way we get another surprise. Told in alternating viewpoints, we easily see the anguish Arthur experiences as he has to leave his love in France and return to England and the lifelong effect it has had on him.
My heart was broken reading this but by the time I done reading it, it was healed again. Beautiful, and highly recommended.
Publication date 04 Mar 2021.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
This is a time slip novel and we visit the 1940's during Arthur's time in the war and also modern times with Arthur now being in his nineties.
Arthur's granddaughter has taken care of him for six months and the stress of it is too much for her and she is no longer willing to be his caretaker. She calls his other granddaughter who is divorced and has an 11-year-old daughter. The daughter plays a prominent role in the story but more in a bit about this. His new caretaker is compassionate and caring towards the old man. Still times are rough with his confusion, forgetting what things are called and forgetting how to do basic things. Evenings are the worse as "sundowners" appears, he is confused, wanders the house and is agitated. Arthur has a scrapbook of his wartime memories including lots of photographs. The young girl and her great grandfather bond over the scrapbook and she sees pictures of a beautiful woman who turns out to be his war time love. Unfortunately, he was sent home away from his love. He may have forgotten many things but not her. This child tries with the help of others to find this woman from many years ago for her grandfather to make him happy. Along the way we get another surprise. Told in alternating viewpoints, we easily see the anguish Arthur experiences as he has to leave his love in France and return to England and the lifelong effect it has had on him.
My heart was broken reading this but by the time I done reading it, it was healed again. Beautiful, and highly recommended.
Publication date 04 Mar 2021.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
March 12, 2021
Oh my goodness this is such a special book, it is an absolutely stunning read.
Arthur Pettinger is getting flashbacks of memories, fragments of times past and is struggling to remember. He has Alzheimer's so his grandaughter and great-grandaughter struggle to understand the significance when he gets upset or apologises to a mystery person.
This is such a wonderfully written story that is about the past and the present. For Arthur, he recalls memories but cannot explain the meanings of them. For Maddie and Esther, they want to help him piece together a mystery they don't know much about. This leads to such a heartwarming story that is full of emotion and discovery.
This story is told in a timeslip format for Arthur's story, the past is his time in France and how he met a young woman Maryse during the second world war. These events come in fragments from his experiences. The present, for Arthur, is told in a mix of confusion of short term memory loss. I have to say that the way the author dealt with the disease and its effects has been very well done. It shows confusion and frustration from the perspective of the sufferer. Also from the angle of family members that again includes frustration but also concern.
The story is also one about love, truth and misunderstandings, or maybe missed opportunities depending on how you look at it. It is a mix of contemporary fiction with historical fiction and it is a stunningly beautiful read.
This book got to me very quickly, I knew within the first couple of chapters that this book was going to be special and it just got better and better. Emotional it most definitely is but it is also about discovery and truth. I was in tears several times in this book as I read and by the end, I was gutted to have finished this wonderful story.
If you like a mix of past and present with a wartime setting then you really do need to get this one. It is one that I would absolutely and most definitely recommend.
Arthur Pettinger is getting flashbacks of memories, fragments of times past and is struggling to remember. He has Alzheimer's so his grandaughter and great-grandaughter struggle to understand the significance when he gets upset or apologises to a mystery person.
This is such a wonderfully written story that is about the past and the present. For Arthur, he recalls memories but cannot explain the meanings of them. For Maddie and Esther, they want to help him piece together a mystery they don't know much about. This leads to such a heartwarming story that is full of emotion and discovery.
This story is told in a timeslip format for Arthur's story, the past is his time in France and how he met a young woman Maryse during the second world war. These events come in fragments from his experiences. The present, for Arthur, is told in a mix of confusion of short term memory loss. I have to say that the way the author dealt with the disease and its effects has been very well done. It shows confusion and frustration from the perspective of the sufferer. Also from the angle of family members that again includes frustration but also concern.
The story is also one about love, truth and misunderstandings, or maybe missed opportunities depending on how you look at it. It is a mix of contemporary fiction with historical fiction and it is a stunningly beautiful read.
This book got to me very quickly, I knew within the first couple of chapters that this book was going to be special and it just got better and better. Emotional it most definitely is but it is also about discovery and truth. I was in tears several times in this book as I read and by the end, I was gutted to have finished this wonderful story.
If you like a mix of past and present with a wartime setting then you really do need to get this one. It is one that I would absolutely and most definitely recommend.
April 15, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book, and from my own (albeit limited) experiences interacting with people with dementia, I think that very large plot point was handled with sensitivity and grace. I genuinely enjoyed the characters and absolutely loved the relationship between Arthur and his great granddaughter Esther - it was the highlight of the novel for me.
The past story line was interesting and carried the novel well, but in a weirdly perfect way, it was also kind of underwhelming. I know it sounds like that wouldn't be a good thing, but it really was. It's probably one of the most realistic ways that the story could have gone and I appreciated the book all the more for that.
I definitely recommend this book to fans of WWII Historical Fiction! I loved the writing and was totally engaged throughout the entire novel - I finished it in less than 24 hours!
Content Warnings:
I really enjoyed this book, and from my own (albeit limited) experiences interacting with people with dementia, I think that very large plot point was handled with sensitivity and grace. I genuinely enjoyed the characters and absolutely loved the relationship between Arthur and his great granddaughter Esther - it was the highlight of the novel for me.
The past story line was interesting and carried the novel well, but in a weirdly perfect way, it was also kind of underwhelming. I know it sounds like that wouldn't be a good thing, but it really was. It's probably one of the most realistic ways that the story could have gone and I appreciated the book all the more for that.
I definitely recommend this book to fans of WWII Historical Fiction! I loved the writing and was totally engaged throughout the entire novel - I finished it in less than 24 hours!
Content Warnings:
July 26, 2021
Simply one of my favourite books of the year so far. Beautiful.
August 13, 2021
Highly recommend this book
A beautiful story that intertwines past and present. The descriptions of dementia were heartbreaking, yet soft and written with care.
It was so easy to fall in love with each character, it read as if it were personal experience for the author.
A beautiful story that intertwines past and present. The descriptions of dementia were heartbreaking, yet soft and written with care.
It was so easy to fall in love with each character, it read as if it were personal experience for the author.
February 19, 2022
Very emotional 🥺
April 23, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and Aria publishing for providing me with ARC.
This novel is so good and heartwarming specially Arthur, he's lovely, carer and reminded me of my grandfather
This is the first novel to me by Suzanne Fortin but i loved it so much.
This novel is so good and heartwarming specially Arthur, he's lovely, carer and reminded me of my grandfather
This is the first novel to me by Suzanne Fortin but i loved it so much.
Read
August 16, 2022DNF. I'm sure it's a lovely book and maybe it's just where my brain is right now but I haven't picked this up in more than a week. I'm really not bothered about any of the characters. I might revisit sometime in the future.
October 3, 2024
I liked it but I didn’t love it… The actual plot was good and intriguing but the execution? Not so much. The writing was sooooo basic and felt so flat to me.
April 12, 2021
Such a beautifully written book. I loved the intriguing cover and title and the story did not disappoint.
It’s a World War 2 tale, with some detail of SOE operations in occupied France, but the main strength of this book for me is how it shows how war fragments lives. Young lives changed, never to be the same again. It’s also the story of an enduring love, drip fed through Arthur’s blurry memories, “like a tangle of wool”, of a charming gentleman in his nineties, now suffering from dementia. The author has dedicated the book to her own father in the most poignant lines: “To my dear Dad and our long goodbye.xx” and so we know from the outset that the way this memory loss will be depicted might be close and personal. It is such a cruel disease and I applaud the way Suzanne Fortin gets inside the head of Arthur.
There are two main love stories interweaving: one historical and one contemporary and the two worlds do not jar at any stage in this dual timeline. In the present, we have Arthur’s granddaughter, the lovely Maddy, who takes over from exasperated Helen to care for Arthur in his own home. Esther is her daughter and the young girl manages to reach Arthur at difficult times and calm and distract him. I thought this was so charming and wasn’t surprised to read in the Acknowledgments that the author’s own young daughter had a special relationship with her own grandfather. Maddy, with the help of an ex-boyfriend, Joe, is desperate to help make “the window to his past… clear.”
Whether she does or not, you will have to find out. But the story of the past will have you wiping away your tears. The ending is one of the most beautiful I have read. This is a very special book. Thank you for writing it, Suzanne. And now I want to read more of your stories.
It’s a World War 2 tale, with some detail of SOE operations in occupied France, but the main strength of this book for me is how it shows how war fragments lives. Young lives changed, never to be the same again. It’s also the story of an enduring love, drip fed through Arthur’s blurry memories, “like a tangle of wool”, of a charming gentleman in his nineties, now suffering from dementia. The author has dedicated the book to her own father in the most poignant lines: “To my dear Dad and our long goodbye.xx” and so we know from the outset that the way this memory loss will be depicted might be close and personal. It is such a cruel disease and I applaud the way Suzanne Fortin gets inside the head of Arthur.
There are two main love stories interweaving: one historical and one contemporary and the two worlds do not jar at any stage in this dual timeline. In the present, we have Arthur’s granddaughter, the lovely Maddy, who takes over from exasperated Helen to care for Arthur in his own home. Esther is her daughter and the young girl manages to reach Arthur at difficult times and calm and distract him. I thought this was so charming and wasn’t surprised to read in the Acknowledgments that the author’s own young daughter had a special relationship with her own grandfather. Maddy, with the help of an ex-boyfriend, Joe, is desperate to help make “the window to his past… clear.”
Whether she does or not, you will have to find out. But the story of the past will have you wiping away your tears. The ending is one of the most beautiful I have read. This is a very special book. Thank you for writing it, Suzanne. And now I want to read more of your stories.
January 11, 2025
Arthur, Maddys Großvater „Gramps“ verliert so langsam sein Gedächtnis. Die klaren Momente werden immer seltener, er verliert sich immer öfter in seiner Vergangenheit, als er als Soldat in Frankreich stationiert war. Als Maddy mit ihrer Tochter Esther zu ihm zieht, um sich um ihn zu kümmern, spricht er häufig von Maryse. Maddy hat diesen Namen zuvor noch nie gehört. Gemeinsam mit einem alten Freund und ihrer Tochter begibt sich Maddy auf Spurensuche.
Was für ein großartiges Buch. Eine emotionale Achterbahnfahrt.
Die Geschichte spielt abwechselnd in der Vergangenheit und in der Gegenwart. Die Gefühle in den jeweiligen Zeitebenen kann die Autorin durch einen lebendigen Schreibstil gut transportieren. In der Vergangenheit sind das die Schrecken des Krieges, aber auch die erwachenden Gefühle zwischen Arthur und Maryse. In der Gegenwart ist es die Hilflosigkeit von Arthur, der merkt, das sein Gedächtnis nachlässt, aber auch die Hilflosigkeit der Angehörigen. Beides konnte ich gut nachempfinden, weil ich es selbst erlebt habe.
Die Suche nach Arthurs Geschichte ist spannend zu verfolgen. Nach und nach setzen sich die Puzzlestücke zusammen. Esther, Maddys Tochter hat mir dabei sehr gut gefallen. Sie hat die ein oder andere Idee um an Informationen zu kommen, über die ich etwas schmunzeln musste. Manches nicht ganz ungefährlich, aber effektiv. Auch ihr Umgang mit Arthur ist herzallerliebst. Sie nimmt es als völlig selbstverständlich hin, dass er vieles immer wieder vergisst und kümmert sich rührend und sehr geduldig um ihn.
Mir hat dieses Buch ausgesprochen gut gefallen. Ein Schatz, der viel zu lange in auf meinem SuB gelegen hat, und in jedem Fall ein guter Start ins Lesejahr 2025 war.
Was für ein großartiges Buch. Eine emotionale Achterbahnfahrt.
Die Geschichte spielt abwechselnd in der Vergangenheit und in der Gegenwart. Die Gefühle in den jeweiligen Zeitebenen kann die Autorin durch einen lebendigen Schreibstil gut transportieren. In der Vergangenheit sind das die Schrecken des Krieges, aber auch die erwachenden Gefühle zwischen Arthur und Maryse. In der Gegenwart ist es die Hilflosigkeit von Arthur, der merkt, das sein Gedächtnis nachlässt, aber auch die Hilflosigkeit der Angehörigen. Beides konnte ich gut nachempfinden, weil ich es selbst erlebt habe.
Die Suche nach Arthurs Geschichte ist spannend zu verfolgen. Nach und nach setzen sich die Puzzlestücke zusammen. Esther, Maddys Tochter hat mir dabei sehr gut gefallen. Sie hat die ein oder andere Idee um an Informationen zu kommen, über die ich etwas schmunzeln musste. Manches nicht ganz ungefährlich, aber effektiv. Auch ihr Umgang mit Arthur ist herzallerliebst. Sie nimmt es als völlig selbstverständlich hin, dass er vieles immer wieder vergisst und kümmert sich rührend und sehr geduldig um ihn.
Mir hat dieses Buch ausgesprochen gut gefallen. Ein Schatz, der viel zu lange in auf meinem SuB gelegen hat, und in jedem Fall ein guter Start ins Lesejahr 2025 war.
March 30, 2021
Arthur is ninety-six and his memory is failing him. Able to recall less and less his grand-daughter Maddy and great-granddaughter Esther who care for him are at a loss to understand who he is talking to randomly, such is the nature of Alzheimer’s.
Maddy and Esther resolve to help him after they hear him apologising to someone late at night and desperate to find out who he is talking to before the dementia takes him completely Maddy’s ex-boyfriend Joe helps them to find his long-lost love.
His story is told in the format of a dual timeline. His past experiences in France during WW2 and meeting a long-lost love Maryse and the present day, and his struggles with his jumbled mind and memories.
This book is absolutely stunning and I am still thinking about it days after finishing it. The way the author writes sensitively about Arthur’s fear and confusion is sublime and I read through a fog of tears I was so moved. I was reminded of my own grandfather’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. The way his granddaughter cares for him and the beautiful bond he shares with his great-granddaughter is lovely. There is a person behind this cruel disease and I loved finding out about Arthur.
The descriptions of wartime France are wonderful and I felt like I was actually there. The relationship between Arthur and Maryse is beautiful and heartbreaking. This story of human connections, family and love is simply stunning - the best book I’ve read this year and I’ll be recommending it to everyone!
Maddy and Esther resolve to help him after they hear him apologising to someone late at night and desperate to find out who he is talking to before the dementia takes him completely Maddy’s ex-boyfriend Joe helps them to find his long-lost love.
His story is told in the format of a dual timeline. His past experiences in France during WW2 and meeting a long-lost love Maryse and the present day, and his struggles with his jumbled mind and memories.
This book is absolutely stunning and I am still thinking about it days after finishing it. The way the author writes sensitively about Arthur’s fear and confusion is sublime and I read through a fog of tears I was so moved. I was reminded of my own grandfather’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. The way his granddaughter cares for him and the beautiful bond he shares with his great-granddaughter is lovely. There is a person behind this cruel disease and I loved finding out about Arthur.
The descriptions of wartime France are wonderful and I felt like I was actually there. The relationship between Arthur and Maryse is beautiful and heartbreaking. This story of human connections, family and love is simply stunning - the best book I’ve read this year and I’ll be recommending it to everyone!
December 30, 2021
A love story in multiple forms, that has absolutely floored me. The various ways love was depicted throughout this book was beautiful, heartwarming and ranged from the simple love of a Mother and child, of forbidden love, lost love and complicated true love.
The story is provided via three perspectives: Maddy in the present day, Arthur in the 1940s and Arthur in the present day struggling with dementia and not fully understanding the world he finds himself in.
Having experienced living with and caring for someone with dementia, Fortins accounts were poignant and accurate; the depiction of what the person with dementia experiences, are especially insightful and tug on the heartstrings. Arthurs memories and secrets are brought into the modern era when a video of him goes viral.
As Arthurs granddaughter and great-grandaughter search for answers about Arthurs past, we find ourselves in war time France, with a story of love, danger and lost chances.
I was hooked from the start, the emotion created took me on a journey that broke my heart and then put it together again.
Great characters, wonderful story and brilliantly written.
The story is provided via three perspectives: Maddy in the present day, Arthur in the 1940s and Arthur in the present day struggling with dementia and not fully understanding the world he finds himself in.
Having experienced living with and caring for someone with dementia, Fortins accounts were poignant and accurate; the depiction of what the person with dementia experiences, are especially insightful and tug on the heartstrings. Arthurs memories and secrets are brought into the modern era when a video of him goes viral.
As Arthurs granddaughter and great-grandaughter search for answers about Arthurs past, we find ourselves in war time France, with a story of love, danger and lost chances.
I was hooked from the start, the emotion created took me on a journey that broke my heart and then put it together again.
Great characters, wonderful story and brilliantly written.
May 3, 2021
An emotional, heartfelt read.
I was drawn to this book by the gorgeous front cover. The title intrigued me, and I knew I would be in for an emotional read. I wasn’t wrong. From the very start, I was drawn into Arthur Pettinger’s life, a man in his nineties struggling with his memory as dementia is increasingly taking hold.
I loved the character of Arthur, an adorable grandfather figure who has led an incredible life, including his SOE role in the war. His family – granddaughter, Maddy, and great-granddaughter, Esther – were lovely, supportive characters. Their warmth towards Arthur, compassion and understanding was touching.
The dual timeline that runs through the book, revealing snippets of Arthur’s life and love in occupied France, had me turning the pages to see how the story would unfold, as did the present-day search for Maryse (his past love).
Arthur’s story is one of emotional highs and lows, love and loss. The ending is beautifully written, albeit that it had me sobbing. I loved the book as much as I did Arthur, but I would advise having tissues at the ready.
I was drawn to this book by the gorgeous front cover. The title intrigued me, and I knew I would be in for an emotional read. I wasn’t wrong. From the very start, I was drawn into Arthur Pettinger’s life, a man in his nineties struggling with his memory as dementia is increasingly taking hold.
I loved the character of Arthur, an adorable grandfather figure who has led an incredible life, including his SOE role in the war. His family – granddaughter, Maddy, and great-granddaughter, Esther – were lovely, supportive characters. Their warmth towards Arthur, compassion and understanding was touching.
The dual timeline that runs through the book, revealing snippets of Arthur’s life and love in occupied France, had me turning the pages to see how the story would unfold, as did the present-day search for Maryse (his past love).
Arthur’s story is one of emotional highs and lows, love and loss. The ending is beautifully written, albeit that it had me sobbing. I loved the book as much as I did Arthur, but I would advise having tissues at the ready.
March 4, 2021
“This reads as a tale the author has been longing to tell and she tells it with a tonne of wisdom, warmth and tenderness. Two romances and a mystery spanning four generations show how a family can connect through love. Poor Arthur is drawing the tattered fragments of memory together in the face of worsening dementia but a new friendship with his great-grand-daughter sparks in her a determination to uncover the mysteries of the past before it is too late.
This dual time-line novel explores with authority and compassion the provision of care for someone with dementia – and the Second World War sections of the novel are compellingly told.
Five stars from this reader and I look forward to seeing what Suzanne Fortin produces next in this genre.”
This dual time-line novel explores with authority and compassion the provision of care for someone with dementia – and the Second World War sections of the novel are compellingly told.
Five stars from this reader and I look forward to seeing what Suzanne Fortin produces next in this genre.”
May 24, 2021
I absolutely loved this story. It's not something I typically would read, but Sue doesn't ever disappoint eith the way she crafts her books. If you like historical fiction, with suspense and love thrown in. Buy this book! You won't regret it.
May 8, 2021
A wonderful look back into the past with a bit of a love story.
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