charity

by Lesley Pearse

unusual book

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Drama, Love, British Literature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Lesley Pearse is one of the UK's best-loved novelists with fans across the globe and sales of over 2 million copies of her books to date. A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines that keep the reader hooked from beginning to end, Pearse introduces you to characters that it is impossible not to care about or forget. There is no formula to her books or easily defined genre. Whether crime as in 'Till We Meet Again', historical adventure like 'Never Look Back', or the passionately emotive 'Trust Me', based on the true-life scandal of British child migrants sent to Australia in the post war period, she engages the reader completely.
Truth is often stranger than fiction and Lesley's life has been as packed with drama as her books. She was three when her mother died under tragic circumstances. Her father was away at sea and it was only when a neighbour saw Lesley and her brother playing outside without coats on that suspicion was aroused - their mother had been dead for some time. With her father in the Royal Marines, Lesley and her older brother spent three years in grim orphanages before her father remarried - a veritable dragon of an ex army nurse - and Lesley and her older brother were brought home again, to be joined by two other children who were later adopted by her father and stepmother, and a continuing stream of foster children. The impact of constant change and uncertainty in Lesley's early years is reflected in one of the recurring themes in her books: what happens to those who are emotionally damaged as children. It was an extraordinary childhood and in all her books, Lesley has skilfully married the pain and unhappiness of her early experiences with a unique gift for storytelling.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about Lesley Pearse. I know her books are massively popular and she can tell a good story but there is something quite amateurish about her work. Charity tells the story of a girl whose parents die and she is separated from her brothers and sisters and goes to work at a boys school. Unwanted pregnancy, poverty and a rags to riches story ensues and it’s all very good but at the same time there is a sort of hollowness about the whole thing. I found it hard to empathise with Charity, despite all she goes through, she remains a bit of wimp and at times I wanted to slap her.

Ms Pearse’s grammar also needs checking and I had to read some sentences several times to make sense of it. There is almost a feel that it hasn’t been edited. It’s also factually incorrect. At one point if says The Who were all the rage in January 1963 – on checking I discovered they hit the big time in 1965! The same thing happened with her book Georgia too, I spotted loads of errors.

I would read another of her books, I don’t think I’d pay full price for it, but maybe in a charity shop. Good, but left a lot to be desired.

[A Red Headed Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, i love Lesley Pearse more and more with every book of hers i finish. Again this book did not disappoint, it is full of love, friendship and lots of heartache. When you come to the end of book and you think you are safe from anymore emotional heartbreaks, she shocks you with more!

[Linda Barnhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book but a little too much graphic sex for my liking.

[Tracy Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great novel, that takes you through Charity and her family lives, makes you really feel for her and to keep reading to find out what happens next

[Caroline Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. A roller coaster of a book from Charity's humble beginnings to starting her own business and her heartache at loves lost. She becomes quite a business woman but in the back of her mind is how she'd love a house for herself her brothers and sister. The pace quickened in the lat hundred pages and it was a relief to see Charity with a happy ending.
Have acquired several other books by Lesley Pearce, can't wait to read them!

[Pamela Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again Lesley Pearse has written a superb story that I enjoyed immensely Not a predictable end, the reader has to wonder as the story progresses. The characters come alive on the pages and although the story is always about a young deprived girl (woman) the yarn is different each time.

[Krissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book from the library not knowing if I would like it or not, but to my surprise, I did. I would definitely read more books from this author.

[Blodeuedd Finland]

well this was depressing

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not have picked this book off a shelf in a month of Sundays because I do judge books by their covers and this one yells boring in my opinion. However, after a friend lent it to me, I gave it a read and I loved it. I must be on a roll because as with The Child, I wanted to read it at every given opportunity. The characters are so well described and go through appropriate changes caused by their experiences. They are believable and easily imagined and live in a world that although graphically brutal at times, I wanted to visit several times a day. I will definitely be reading more Lesley Pearce books.

[Cherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Loved this from Lesley Pearse. This story has absolutely everything thrown into it - romance, crime and family drama. The characters are well thought out and you can't help feeling for all of them individually. The romance side of things is very erotic compared to other Lesley Pearse books and some of it was a bit distasteful but perhaps that was because I had the audiobook version of this book. This book only lost a star from me because I found some of the scenes too graphic and were hard bits to read/listen to but overall another cracking read from Lesley Pearse.

[Claire Druery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Lesley Pearce books but this one was a little flat for me. I enjoyed 2/3rds of the book but it got a bit far fetched and repetitive toward the end, I also didn't warm it the main character as much as I would have liked. I definitely wouldn't reread this one but it wouldn't put me off reading others written by the same author.

[Laura mcrobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This story is definitely a tear jerker with so many twists and turns ups and downs you definitely need tissues at the ready. I just couldn't put this book down. Well worth a read. I can relate to this story in real life in many ways but it still surprised me all the way through

[Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great novel by this author, with a great plot which intertwines all the characters, showing the poor anr wealthy sides of the 1950s/60s and how sadness/hardship can be overcome through love and self-respect.

[Susan Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading this book I kept thinking can things get worse, but they kept doing so. Charity is a resilient and resourceful character who has an awful life from the start. However, she keeps going and makes a wonderful life for herself. Easy read, rags to riches story

[debra murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This book was brilliant seemed a bit slow at first but the more I read got really into it and could not put it down.
Will definitely be reading more books by Lesley Pearse.

[Dorothy mccullough · Rating 3 out of 5]

It shows how lives can change no matter what you have been through less descriptions of intimacy would have

Have been better just showing what is happening in this world today and how innocent girls and young men have had their lives ruined.

[Sheila Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has a bit of everything. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. Several twists, turns and surprises. The nearer I got to the end the less I wanted the book to end. Another great read from Lesley Pearce.

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book,found the book to long good storyline.good author.

[Helga Nel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, friendship, family ties, heartache, sorrow, lies and murder. Is there anything more that you can ask for in a book. This is another absolute page turner from the pen of Lesley Pearse.

[Linley Crofskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 60's in London. Charity had a hard childhood but mad a good life for herself. This book had everything, it was one of those that was so hard to put down

[Adeline Kam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very captivating story that makes a reader wants to read on into the night.........the story is very long but I enjoyed reading every pages of it.

[Mrs J L Pilbeam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Loved this book from the start to the end. Couldn't put it down, from heartache to sadness to a true love story.

[Hawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5

[Angel Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were many great parts that were emotional and transforming. However I did not have any trouble putting the book down..

[Jayne Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly written.. I enjoyed it but couldn't give it 5 stars cos a couple of things didn't happen that I thought would.. 😂 Can't wait to read the next one..

[Samantha Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good story, inspiring.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly raw and honest story. It kept building on itself as the plot and the style of the storytelling matured along with Charity in a way that continuously surprised me.

[Sally Hogston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charity

Another excellent book by Lesley Pearse. So many twists and turns and at times a tear jerker
S brilliant ending too