I received a copy of this book as part of my subscription to Louise Walter Books. Louise is currently offering a 4 book subscription (which includes a copy of In the sweep of the bay) for £36 (UK del) or you can purchase it as a paperback or EBook. Check out the website louisewaltersbooks.co.uk. It is out on November 23rd.
SYNOPSIS
This warm-hearted tale explores marriage, love, and longing, set against the majestic backdrop of Morecambe Bay, the Lakeland Fells, and the faded splendour of the Midland Hotel.
Ted Marshall meets Rene in the dance halls of Morecambe and they marry during the frail optimism of the 1950s. They adopt the roles expected of man and wife at the time: he the breadwinner at the family ceramics firm, and she the loyal housewife. But as the years go by, they find themselves wishing for more…
After Ted survives a heart attack, both see it as a new beginning… but can a faded love like theirs ever be rekindled?
MY THOUGHTS
I absolutely loved this novella. Utterly charming, captivating and heart warming and all that in just over 100 pages.
Set in Morecambe it’s a tale of various characters but focusing on a couple called Ted and Rene who meet and marry in the 1950’s. They have a very traditional marriage, as a lot did in those days, and we learn of theirs feelings, hopes and dreams and disappointments from snippets of their day to day lives through the years. Interwoven into their story we meet other characters who add even more ‘sunshine’ to this novella.
I found each and every one totally charming and each voice was vivid and clear due to the authors effortless way of writing and clear understanding of her characters.
Ted is captured wonderfully and it was both sad and heart warming reading of the actions and thoughts of him and Rene. In such a small number of words I got a true feel for all the characters and their briefly told stories leapt off the pages as much as if I had read chapters and chapters worth.
Another great read from this small independent publisher and a truly delightful book which I would highly recommend.
About The Author
Cath Barton lives in Abergavenny, Wales. She won the New Welsh Writing AmeriCymru Prize in 2017, for her Novella The Plankton Collector, which was published in September 2018 by New Welsh Review under their Rarebyte imprint.
Her second novella In the Sweep of the Bay will be published in November 2020 by LWB.
Cath tweets @CathBarton1
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