Sunday 20 March 2011

South Riding by Winifred Holtby

South Riding takes you on a trip back in time to the early 1930s in the South East part of Yorkshire. It is a very captivating account of the ongoing lives of the townsfolk and there is so much going on.

You have an abundance of characters which at first if I am honest it took me a while to keep up with and get a feel for. Young Midge whose father is trying to keep their heads above water whilst providing for her, her mothers care and standards she has known all her life and his prominant position in the town. Midge is a very young 14 year old although for that time maybe her character is true to form, add in the family 'history/ailments' and you understand a bit more about her.

Sarah Burton, a determined and modern woman who knows what she wants and let no man (or woman) stop her. Returning to her old home town to apply for the head mistress post she knows what she wants and may get more than she bargained for.

The local Preacher trying to do what he can for his town and keep his secrets just that, along with maintaining his relationship such as it is with his wife who keeps house and contributes to the town entertainment.

There are so many characters and they all play an important part in making this such a great story. I love a story that has a beginning, middle and end (a lot of novels like to leave you hanging at the end), this book ticked all the boxes and I really enjoyed it considering this isn't normally my type of book. A 4 out of 5 for me.

3 comments:

  1. Glad to hear you enjoyed this, Lainy. I didn't think I'd like it when I first picked it up but it's a fabulous story and the characters really come to life.

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  2. Great review. :) Nice to know I'm not the only one who struggled with the millions of characters in this novel

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  3. *struggled only at first of course :)

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