Before I Met You - Lisa Jewell
Published: 19/07/12
Publisher: Century
Pages: 458
WOW! Is all I can say.
I was slightly dubious about reading this book. As always, being stuck in my narrow minded ways, I was not looking forward to reading a book set in the past. For some reason I have an irrational fear of stepping out of my reading comfort zone and find it hard to do so. However, I love challenges like this one, because it gives me the chance to throw caution to the wind and get really stuck into a book I wouldn’t normally give any attention to.
I ADORED this book. I must say that it took me a small while to get into but after the first fifty pages I was completely immersed in the novel and couldn’t put it down.
We are transported to the mid 1990′s where we meet Betty, or Elizabeth. When she was small she and her family moved in with her elderly step-grandmother, Arlette, to look after her due to poor health. Ten years later, Betty is still there, looking after Arlette wondering whether she will be stuck on the isle of Guernsey for the rest of her days.
However, Betty needn’t worry as Arlette sadly dies leaving a rather mysterious will. She has left a large proportion of her money to a girl named Clara Pickle, but neither Betty or her step-father know anyone by the name of Clara. Legally, Betty has a year to find Clara before the money becomes hers but Betty isn’t worried about the money, she wants to find out who Clara is and find out about Arlettes past. She goes on a journey to Soho in London where she rents a small studio and begins her hunt for the elusive Clara. Whilst she’s in London she grows up and learns a lot about herself and her grandmothers past.
In the early 1920′s Arlette is sent to London to live with her mothers friend. She is a beautiful young woman, falling in love with the sights and sounds of a roaring London. However, Soho is a dangerous place to be growing up, what with men around every corner, some more wonderful than others.
Alternating between the 1920′s and Arlettes story and the 1990′s and Betty’s quest, we fall in love with two women, not connected by blood but connected by history who have a beautiful and at times, heartbreaking story to share.
I wish I could go into detail about the host of wonderful characters but I daren’t spoil it for any of you who are yet to read it!
As I mentioned previously, I did find it a little slow to get started but as soon as you are involved in these two women’s lives, the pace picks up and you cannot wait to find our what happens next. Lisa has a magnificent way with words that means they just flow off the page and seamlessly link to one another; it didn’t feel like any effort to read this book at all.
Both of the main characters were as intriguing and wonderful as each other and I certainly wouldn’t be able to choose my favourite! They were both powerful, independent, beautiful women who, even though growing up in different eras, were more similar than they could have ever known.
I have never read a book by Lisa before but I can guarantee this will not be the last!
A tale of love, heartbreak and mystery spanning two wonderful decades all played out against the back drop of our wonderful capital, London.
Publisher: Century
Pages: 458
WOW! Is all I can say.
I was slightly dubious about reading this book. As always, being stuck in my narrow minded ways, I was not looking forward to reading a book set in the past. For some reason I have an irrational fear of stepping out of my reading comfort zone and find it hard to do so. However, I love challenges like this one, because it gives me the chance to throw caution to the wind and get really stuck into a book I wouldn’t normally give any attention to.
I ADORED this book. I must say that it took me a small while to get into but after the first fifty pages I was completely immersed in the novel and couldn’t put it down.
We are transported to the mid 1990′s where we meet Betty, or Elizabeth. When she was small she and her family moved in with her elderly step-grandmother, Arlette, to look after her due to poor health. Ten years later, Betty is still there, looking after Arlette wondering whether she will be stuck on the isle of Guernsey for the rest of her days.
However, Betty needn’t worry as Arlette sadly dies leaving a rather mysterious will. She has left a large proportion of her money to a girl named Clara Pickle, but neither Betty or her step-father know anyone by the name of Clara. Legally, Betty has a year to find Clara before the money becomes hers but Betty isn’t worried about the money, she wants to find out who Clara is and find out about Arlettes past. She goes on a journey to Soho in London where she rents a small studio and begins her hunt for the elusive Clara. Whilst she’s in London she grows up and learns a lot about herself and her grandmothers past.
In the early 1920′s Arlette is sent to London to live with her mothers friend. She is a beautiful young woman, falling in love with the sights and sounds of a roaring London. However, Soho is a dangerous place to be growing up, what with men around every corner, some more wonderful than others.
Alternating between the 1920′s and Arlettes story and the 1990′s and Betty’s quest, we fall in love with two women, not connected by blood but connected by history who have a beautiful and at times, heartbreaking story to share.
I wish I could go into detail about the host of wonderful characters but I daren’t spoil it for any of you who are yet to read it!
As I mentioned previously, I did find it a little slow to get started but as soon as you are involved in these two women’s lives, the pace picks up and you cannot wait to find our what happens next. Lisa has a magnificent way with words that means they just flow off the page and seamlessly link to one another; it didn’t feel like any effort to read this book at all.
Both of the main characters were as intriguing and wonderful as each other and I certainly wouldn’t be able to choose my favourite! They were both powerful, independent, beautiful women who, even though growing up in different eras, were more similar than they could have ever known.
I have never read a book by Lisa before but I can guarantee this will not be the last!
A tale of love, heartbreak and mystery spanning two wonderful decades all played out against the back drop of our wonderful capital, London.
Laura