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sharonb's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
I absolutely loved this book. My only regret was that I didn't do any annotating and highlighting, which I usually do. I will definitely read it again and hopefully not in the too distant future and have my pens out.
Written in 1865, it is a semi autobiographic novel. Originally written in Welsh, this version was translated into English by Stephen morris. The minister of Bethel is dead, and among his papers is found a manuscript with his autobiography. It was written, not for publication, but as a reflection for the minister.
Rhys Lewis is a young boy born and brought up in a North Wales town in the 19th century in a religious, calvanist methodist home. There is just him, his mother and his older brother. She is 'worse than a widow'. Husband/father is feckless and absent. Rhys tells his story from his early childhood through to his final days. They are economically poor but rich in their community relations, moral and religious lives.
I loved the writing. The characters were well drawn, and I loved several of them, especially Bob (rhys'brother), Thomas and Barbara Bartley, and Wil Bryan. I loved that I recognised the places mentioned as I am from the same town as the author and in which this story is set. There is a lot of religious talk and bible quoting, which I thought would bother me, but it didn't. I also have a copy of the sequel to this in which some of the characters appear, so that is high on my TBR.
If you like Victorian novels of family sagas and coming of age stories, you enjoy finding lesser known authors with excellent characters you should like this. If religious, bible quoting bothers you, you may not.
Highly recommended.
Written in 1865, it is a semi autobiographic novel. Originally written in Welsh, this version was translated into English by Stephen morris. The minister of Bethel is dead, and among his papers is found a manuscript with his autobiography. It was written, not for publication, but as a reflection for the minister.
Rhys Lewis is a young boy born and brought up in a North Wales town in the 19th century in a religious, calvanist methodist home. There is just him, his mother and his older brother. She is 'worse than a widow'. Husband/father is feckless and absent. Rhys tells his story from his early childhood through to his final days. They are economically poor but rich in their community relations, moral and religious lives.
I loved the writing. The characters were well drawn, and I loved several of them, especially Bob (rhys'brother), Thomas and Barbara Bartley, and Wil Bryan. I loved that I recognised the places mentioned as I am from the same town as the author and in which this story is set. There is a lot of religious talk and bible quoting, which I thought would bother me, but it didn't. I also have a copy of the sequel to this in which some of the characters appear, so that is high on my TBR.
If you like Victorian novels of family sagas and coming of age stories, you enjoy finding lesser known authors with excellent characters you should like this. If religious, bible quoting bothers you, you may not.
Highly recommended.
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