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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I could have read an entire book of the 1911 section, specially Ursula..she was the most fascinating character of all. Wish we had had more time in her world
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
š multi (mostly) linear timeline
š 3rd person
š¢ -š slow-paced
The cover of this book is so stunning. That turquoise colour is just everything.
Set over a period of just over 100 years and based on one house in Edinburgh and the women who lived there, 25 Library Terrace is a beautiful tale that will capture your heart.
I love stories with strong feminist undertones, and this book really scratched that itch. I've never heard of the women's census protest before, but I'm so glad it happened. What a fantastic way to stand up to the patriarchy!
I don't think there was a character in this that I didn't absolutely adore. They were all so well written and I wish I knew them in real life. I can't imagine a more perfect place to live than Library Terrace! There was so much life and history in the pages, and a reminder of how fascinating the census can be.
This book has filled my heart, restored my soul and reminded me that I want to research the history of who lived in my house. I know it was built for the factory workers at the famous Huntley and Palmer biscuit factory around the turn of the last century. But that's all I know. I wonder how many people lived here at any one time. It feels cramped with 3 these days.
I've also never had parkin before, but I think I'll be adding the ingredients to my next shopping list. All in the name of research of course!
š 3rd person
š¢ -š slow-paced
The cover of this book is so stunning. That turquoise colour is just everything.
Set over a period of just over 100 years and based on one house in Edinburgh and the women who lived there, 25 Library Terrace is a beautiful tale that will capture your heart.
I love stories with strong feminist undertones, and this book really scratched that itch. I've never heard of the women's census protest before, but I'm so glad it happened. What a fantastic way to stand up to the patriarchy!
I don't think there was a character in this that I didn't absolutely adore. They were all so well written and I wish I knew them in real life. I can't imagine a more perfect place to live than Library Terrace! There was so much life and history in the pages, and a reminder of how fascinating the census can be.
This book has filled my heart, restored my soul and reminded me that I want to research the history of who lived in my house. I know it was built for the factory workers at the famous Huntley and Palmer biscuit factory around the turn of the last century. But that's all I know. I wonder how many people lived here at any one time. It feels cramped with 3 these days.
I've also never had parkin before, but I think I'll be adding the ingredients to my next shopping list. All in the name of research of course!
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved the way the web of lives intertwine and bring people back to the house without knowing thats where they needed to be
This is a historical fiction story and follows the lifetime of a house, 25 library Terrace in Edinburgh. The journey starts in the early 1900s when the house was originally built and bought by John Black and his family. In 1911 the house receives a new resident, Ursula Smith, seem to be Ursula Black, when she married widower John Black. The story follows the family generation after generation right up until 2022. Natalie has bought to life the history of this house and it brings to mind the saying ā if only these walls could talkā because they certainly saw history in the making, both good and bad. Weāve got the suffragette movement and the census boycott by women of the day, we have World War I and World War II and the aftermath, the storyline progresses to the present day and the Covid pandemic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is the ultimate tale of girl power and solidarity, starting with Ursula who is a strong woman who knows her own mind, supporting the suffragette movement whilst balancing family life, and raising another womanās children, her stepdaughter to overcome the difficulties of her early life, and to become equally as strong. This was the start of a long line of strong independent women with a deep sense of loyalty and family, who intern continued to provide a safe haven for women in need.
I really enjoyed Natalieās writing style and her ability to bring to life the intersecting stories through this one house. I will definitely be looking out for more books by Natalie in the future. This was a great four-star read for me and I would definitely recommend.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is the ultimate tale of girl power and solidarity, starting with Ursula who is a strong woman who knows her own mind, supporting the suffragette movement whilst balancing family life, and raising another womanās children, her stepdaughter to overcome the difficulties of her early life, and to become equally as strong. This was the start of a long line of strong independent women with a deep sense of loyalty and family, who intern continued to provide a safe haven for women in need.
I really enjoyed Natalieās writing style and her ability to bring to life the intersecting stories through this one house. I will definitely be looking out for more books by Natalie in the future. This was a great four-star read for me and I would definitely recommend.
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The history of 25 Library Terrace is actually quite fascinating and I liked how we could see the change in time periods but the ethos of the house stayed the same. The rules made sense and the 25% rent helped people to get back onto their feet.
I quite liked Ursula and the changes she brought to the household and the legacy that she ultimately built. Annie carrying this on shows the impact her stepmother had on her which I think is nice. She had such a terrible time with her own mother and this could have resulted her in being cold and closed off but fortunately she had Ursula and Isobel to show her another way.
I quite liked Isobel and her and Annie together were a great team. It was sad that Olivia hadn't been told about her father but it seems to everything came out in the end and the legacy of the Black family continues.
I quite liked Ursula and the changes she brought to the household and the legacy that she ultimately built. Annie carrying this on shows the impact her stepmother had on her which I think is nice. She had such a terrible time with her own mother and this could have resulted her in being cold and closed off but fortunately she had Ursula and Isobel to show her another way.
I quite liked Isobel and her and Annie together were a great team. It was sad that Olivia hadn't been told about her father but it seems to everything came out in the end and the legacy of the Black family continues.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I absolutely loved reading this book!
First of all: What an opening chapter, I was smiling the whole way through and never quite read something like it, immediately hooked!
First of all: What an opening chapter, I was smiling the whole way through and never quite read something like it, immediately hooked!
The rest of the story unravels at a much slower pace but I loved the engaging writing style. Itās super easy to read, really immersive and I cared for the characters. Itās a light and easy read but itās also really informative, interesting and deals with some heavier themes too. Itās just struck the perfect balance.
Honestly, there is so much to this book that made it wonderful and itās really cleverly put together and has so many little wow-moments in it. It just comes together perfectly at the end.
Some of the themes that struck a chord with me were around how your family isnāt always blood-related and can be chosen, that kindness is such an important thing in any time, how stories interlink and what comes before has always an impact on people and society.
I loved the fact it is set in Edinburgh too. One of my favourite cities. I highly recommend this book, itās such a lovely read!
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
š¬ My Thoughts
What a fascinating read! I loved the concept of following a house through its lifetime. The longest Iāve ever lived in one house is ten years, so this idea really captured my imagination.
Starting in 1911āthe year the house was builtāthereās so much history ready to unfold, not just within its walls but in the wider world too. From the suffragette movement to an unexpected form of measurement (not the kind you might think!), I wonāt spoil how far the story stretchesāthat surprise was one of the real joys for me.
Natalie Fergie has a beautiful way of crafting a storyālink by linkāuntil it comes together like the clasp of a necklace gently fastening shut.
I loved all the main charactersāeach so different and with such compelling backstories. The inclusion of the houseās floorplans was a brilliant touch, especially helpful for someone like me who lives with aphantasia and canāt picture things in my mindās eye.
I highly recommend this one if you enjoy stories of womenās modern history and how the past echoes through to the present.
Huge thanks to @lovebookstours, @emblabooks, @bonnierbooks_uk and @NatalieSFergie for having me on the tour and gifting a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
What a fascinating read! I loved the concept of following a house through its lifetime. The longest Iāve ever lived in one house is ten years, so this idea really captured my imagination.
Starting in 1911āthe year the house was builtāthereās so much history ready to unfold, not just within its walls but in the wider world too. From the suffragette movement to an unexpected form of measurement (not the kind you might think!), I wonāt spoil how far the story stretchesāthat surprise was one of the real joys for me.
Natalie Fergie has a beautiful way of crafting a storyālink by linkāuntil it comes together like the clasp of a necklace gently fastening shut.
I loved all the main charactersāeach so different and with such compelling backstories. The inclusion of the houseās floorplans was a brilliant touch, especially helpful for someone like me who lives with aphantasia and canāt picture things in my mindās eye.
I highly recommend this one if you enjoy stories of womenās modern history and how the past echoes through to the present.
Huge thanks to @lovebookstours, @emblabooks, @bonnierbooks_uk and @NatalieSFergie for having me on the tour and gifting a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes