Tag Archive | Rachels Random Resources

New Arrivals On West India Dock Road by Renita D’Silva

Feb16

Community Cohesion

New Arrivals On West India Dock Road by Renita D’Silva is a powerful, heartfelt historical novel that I read in just one sitting. I am hoping there will be many more books to follow.

The tale is set just before the outbreak of World War II. We begin the novel in India in 1937, following a young girl who is employed as a nanny to two small boys, whose parents are English. Unrest in India sees the family boarding a ship to England as they make hollow promises to the nanny. Once on the shores of England, she is left to fend for herself.

The vibrancy of India contrasts with the greyness of England. “Everything is coated in a grey mist, a far cry from the ubiquitous orange dust of India.”

England is an inhospitable place for those whose skin colour is not white, and whose accent is not English.

As the streets of London are traversed, we move towards the docklands. Here, the streets are not paved with gold but the hearts are filled with love.

It is a very cosmopolitan area, populated by those whom society has marginalized – the Irish, African, India, Chinese and more. Here, the lost and lonely find a place to call home.

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The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner

Feb11

Across The Years

The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner is a fabulous dual timeline novel that I really enjoyed.

The action is set in Paris during World War II and in New York City in 2012. We hear the war years through the voice of a young girl and in the first person. In 2012 the action is seen through a great niece clearing out her great aunt’s apartment. It is in the third person. The chapters alternate. We hear the great aunt’s experiences through a notebook.

The novel is about loss. “The grief… feels as if it could drown her.” With loss comes guilt. Both lead characters are consumed. They need to learn to forgive themselves. “What if I don’t deserve to be forgiven?” Everyone deserves forgiveness. “We’re always toughest on ourselves… It’s easier to be nice to other people.” We need to extend grace to ourselves as well as others.

Some friendships bring out the best in each other. “My friendship… made me believe anything was possible.” Some people just spread joy wherever they go. “If you want to change the world… just make it a little more beautiful.”

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The Old Girls’ Chateau Escape by Kate Galley

Feb4

Life Is For Living

The Old Girls’ Chateau Escape by Kate Galley is a light-hearted contemporary novel that I enjoyed. It is part of the Old Girls series but can be read as a stand-alone.

With lead characters in their seventies and eighties, we see that life is for living whatever your age. Life is an adventure to be grabbed with both hands.

As we move across the water from the shores of England to France, we experience not only a change of weather, but a change of atmosphere too. The region around Aix is warm and sunny in comparison with the grey skies of Britain.

The atmosphere is fun and light-hearted as we join characters with a decades old secret and also a modern-day crime to be solved. Juxta-posing these two scenarios certainly keeps the reader entertained.

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The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott

Jan17

Secrets, Families, Ambitions

The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott is a beautiful dual timeline novel that I loved.

The action is set in 1941 and 2008. The periods are united by a family house and woodland as we follow a young woman in 2008 and her aunt in 1941.

Both main characters are similar in personality and circumstances. Both have been pressured by their families, having their personal lives squashed.

In 1941 Nita was expected to marry the man her parents chose for her – but Nita had a strong personality and would not be hemmed in by tradition and circumstances.

In 2008 Beth has always done what her parents wanted and has worked in the family firm. It was never her dream and now she decides to branch out on her own, having been re-united with her aunt on her death bed.

The ambitions of both young women was to be journalists. Now seems the ideal time to pursue these dreams.

Secrets are buried deep in the past. A death bed cryptic clue sends Beth delving into her aunt’s wartime activities – it is amazing what she uncovers.

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