I love Lisa Jewell's books so I was so excited when I heard that she had a new one coming out this year. I finally got round to reading it this weekend and it was fantastic. The premise of the book is quite simple really; Melody Browne's house burnt down when she was just nine years old, taking all of her possessions but also all of her memories before the age of nine. We meet Melody Browne when she is in her early thirties; she's a single mum living in Covent Garden, just about to celebrate her son's 18th birthday. We learn that she left home at 15 as her parents were not too impressed with her pregnancy and she has not seen them since then. In just the first few chapters, Melody has a chance encounter with a very lovely man on the bus and is persuaded to go on her first date in years. Ben takes her to see the famous hypnotist, Julius Sardo who asks Melody to take part in his act, during which she falls and hits her head. When she comes round she feels different in some way and can remember small details from her childhood. This continues and she has to start piecing all these pieces together in order to find out who she was. We follow Melody Browne on her exciting journey; just as she gets answers to one question, more pop up in it's place.
I don't want to go into too much detail as it would be far too easy to give the plot away and I know that my lovely sister for one is still reading it! I will just say that Lisa Jewell has yet again written such a brilliant story. I instantly warmed to the character of Melody in the first few pages and wanted more than anything for her to find the answers that she needed to be happy. The book has a really good pace, I didn't want to put it down and I enjoyed every twist and turn that Lisa Jewell created.
13 comments:
Wow...I love the plot of this book. I've never heard of Lisa Jewell, so I am going to have to check out her books.
Violet- she has written 6 other books and I have loved every single one of them!!
Great review, Dot, another one on my list, thank you. A mystery and a house mmmm.....sounds familiar, but, not in the du Maurier way. Off to the bookshop today, I'm excited and will let you know what I come back with. Thanks again.
Kim- Thank you! Hope the book shop trip is successful, I got Beyond Black yesterday, thanks for the recommendation, I'll let you know when I've read it! Let me know what you get!
The bookshop trip was very (read: 'too') successful! Planning a post about it tomorrow.
I do hope you enjoy Beyond Black, I did. It is scary and dark in parts which had me enthralled.
I have an edition of the book which has an interview and commentary by Hilary Mantel at the back of it. After I read the story I found her comments enriched the whole reading experience. Let me know if you do not have that in your copy and I will forward it to you.
Excited to hear what you think of it.
Kim- I am looking forward to the book shop post! My copy has that in too, thanks for highlighting it though, perhaps I will have a read of that before starting the book!
Lisa Jewell is one of my guilty pleasure reads! I think A Friend of the Family is just wonderful! Am playing catch up with blogs so my comment will be appearing everywhere. I havent read this Lisa Jewell book yet but I might have to run out and get it!
Simon- I love Lisa Jewell, her books never fail to cheer me up!
I just recently read Vince and Joy and liked it, I will have to read this one next.
Great review! I got my eye on this book :)
Enjoy your weekend!
Jess- Vince and Joy is one of my favourites, glad you enjoyed it!
Ladybug- thank you! Lisa Jewell really is a good author, her books always cheer me up!
Sounds excellent. I've loved all of Lisa Jewell's books too and (unlike many of her contemporaries) she does seem to begetting even better over time.
fleurfisher- I agree, she gets better every time, her books always cheer me up!
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