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toffee_coffee's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted www.ashleyroberts5693.wordpress.com
I received The Finding of Martha Lost as a part of a giveaway that Caroline Smailes hosted throughout May – you may remember me mentioning this in my review of Freaks. Not only was I really rather lucky to get the books, but she also signed all the copies which I was far too happy about! However, of course, this didn’t affect my opinions of the book so this is still an honest review.
Similarly to Freaks and The Drowning of Arthur Braxton, there is a sense of magic within the story – almost as if it were a fairy-tale. But, in contrast to this, the story also has a sense of realism which keeps it grounded; and of course, as seems certain with Caroline Smailes, there is a dark twist too. I don’t think that this part was extremely necessary in The Finding of Martha Lost, but it did keep the story gripping and allowed one to have empathy for the character.
Within the book there were also references to factual events to do with the Beatles and places in Liverpool; I found it interesting how Smailes decided to set her book in the 60’s to coincide with the Beatles’ popularity. The mixture of facts and fiction made the novel more interesting in a way, and I actually went and researched a couple of things after I finished reading the book.
Despite enjoying the book, there were, unfortunately, some downsides to the story that bothered me a little throughout. Firstly, the main character, Martha, was supposedly 16. However, if I hadn’t been told this in the book I would definitely have thought that she was a lot younger. The way that her speech and actions were written just seemed a bit off and didn’t quite fit with a 16-year-old.
As well as this, the story was rather predictable. I felt from about halfway through I knew what the outcome would be, and in the end I was right. The novel was certainly still enjoyable, but it felt as if it was a little a simple. However, this may just be because I went into the book with quite high hopes after loving The Drowning of Arthur Braxton.
I received The Finding of Martha Lost as a part of a giveaway that Caroline Smailes hosted throughout May – you may remember me mentioning this in my review of Freaks. Not only was I really rather lucky to get the books, but she also signed all the copies which I was far too happy about! However, of course, this didn’t affect my opinions of the book so this is still an honest review.
Similarly to Freaks and The Drowning of Arthur Braxton, there is a sense of magic within the story – almost as if it were a fairy-tale. But, in contrast to this, the story also has a sense of realism which keeps it grounded; and of course, as seems certain with Caroline Smailes, there is a dark twist too. I don’t think that this part was extremely necessary in The Finding of Martha Lost, but it did keep the story gripping and allowed one to have empathy for the character.
Within the book there were also references to factual events to do with the Beatles and places in Liverpool; I found it interesting how Smailes decided to set her book in the 60’s to coincide with the Beatles’ popularity. The mixture of facts and fiction made the novel more interesting in a way, and I actually went and researched a couple of things after I finished reading the book.
Despite enjoying the book, there were, unfortunately, some downsides to the story that bothered me a little throughout. Firstly, the main character, Martha, was supposedly 16. However, if I hadn’t been told this in the book I would definitely have thought that she was a lot younger. The way that her speech and actions were written just seemed a bit off and didn’t quite fit with a 16-year-old.
As well as this, the story was rather predictable. I felt from about halfway through I knew what the outcome would be, and in the end I was right. The novel was certainly still enjoyable, but it felt as if it was a little a simple. However, this may just be because I went into the book with quite high hopes after loving The Drowning of Arthur Braxton.
bianca89279's review against another edition
4.0
What a sweet novel.
I’m fascinated by our ability to suspend our disbelief for some stories but not for others. Even though I could see the puppet strings, I still enjoyed this novel very much. Even though there were things that I thought were a bit too cutesy, too convenient, and, at times, unlikely, I still got immersed into the story.
The majority of the plot takes place in 1976 Lime Street Train Station in Liverpool, United Kingdom. I must confess that I am extremely fond of railway stations and trains, especially of those big, old-fashioned, European Railway Stations. I must also confess that even though this is set in England, all along I imagined the place looking like the movie set of HUGO and other similar movies. (I just image googled the place, and it looks pretty close to what I was imagining – go figure! :-) )
Our unreliable narrator is sixteen year old, Martha Lost. She works at the Lost and Found Office in Lime Street Station. Well, her mother is the employee, but Martha does most of the work. According to Mother, she was found on a train from Paris and since nobody claimed her for 90 days, Mother claimed her as her own. Also, Mother raised her to believe that if she was to step outside, the Lime Street Station will perish. Poor Martha. She believes what she’s told. Despite her mother’s strictness, Martha makes lemonade out the lemons she was dealt: she loves to spin around; she loves putting on a French accent. Also, despite her Mother’s disapproval, she loves to read and reads everything and anything that lands in the Lost and Found Office, because “if a book’s been found, the least I can do is read it. Then it won’t feel lost any longer”.
Mother is a religious nutcase who believes everything is the work of Satan. She's manipulative, cold and abusive.
Luckily for Martha, her tormentor perishes. So Martha’s left to figure everything out. Martha longs to find out her real identity and her birth parents. She’s got help from her dear friend, Elisabeth, who minds the next door café, and who’s always been there for Martha. Other people come into Martha’s life. The lanky eighteen-year-old, George Harris, is also an orphan. There is also William, a homeless man whom both Elisabeth and Martha take under their protection. It turns out William is an orphan as well. The four become real close friends and help Martha on her journey of (self) discovery.
Adventures take place as Martha steps outside her comfort zone. The story wouldn’t be complete without a villain, this time, an Aussie wannabe writer who’s trying to find the lost ashes of Mal Evans – a friend/roadie of the Beatles.
I'll leave it to that, as I'm afraid I already gave away too much.
Caroline Wallace is a very clever writer. I loved the way the story was written, the tone of the narration, the book and musical references, and even the Liverpudlian slang/colloquialisms.
One could argue that the characters were a bit too black and white but just think of it as a fairy tale where the good wins. Let’s face it, we all need these stories now and again.
Endearing, whimsy, with a touch of magic, "The Finding of Martha Lost" is a feel-good coming of age novel, well worth your time.
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, Random House UK, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Cover: 5 stars
I’m fascinated by our ability to suspend our disbelief for some stories but not for others. Even though I could see the puppet strings, I still enjoyed this novel very much. Even though there were things that I thought were a bit too cutesy, too convenient, and, at times, unlikely, I still got immersed into the story.
The majority of the plot takes place in 1976 Lime Street Train Station in Liverpool, United Kingdom. I must confess that I am extremely fond of railway stations and trains, especially of those big, old-fashioned, European Railway Stations. I must also confess that even though this is set in England, all along I imagined the place looking like the movie set of HUGO and other similar movies. (I just image googled the place, and it looks pretty close to what I was imagining – go figure! :-) )
Our unreliable narrator is sixteen year old, Martha Lost. She works at the Lost and Found Office in Lime Street Station. Well, her mother is the employee, but Martha does most of the work. According to Mother, she was found on a train from Paris and since nobody claimed her for 90 days, Mother claimed her as her own. Also, Mother raised her to believe that if she was to step outside, the Lime Street Station will perish. Poor Martha. She believes what she’s told. Despite her mother’s strictness, Martha makes lemonade out the lemons she was dealt: she loves to spin around; she loves putting on a French accent. Also, despite her Mother’s disapproval, she loves to read and reads everything and anything that lands in the Lost and Found Office, because “if a book’s been found, the least I can do is read it. Then it won’t feel lost any longer”.
Mother is a religious nutcase who believes everything is the work of Satan. She's manipulative, cold and abusive.
Luckily for Martha, her tormentor perishes. So Martha’s left to figure everything out. Martha longs to find out her real identity and her birth parents. She’s got help from her dear friend, Elisabeth, who minds the next door café, and who’s always been there for Martha. Other people come into Martha’s life. The lanky eighteen-year-old, George Harris, is also an orphan. There is also William, a homeless man whom both Elisabeth and Martha take under their protection. It turns out William is an orphan as well. The four become real close friends and help Martha on her journey of (self) discovery.
Adventures take place as Martha steps outside her comfort zone. The story wouldn’t be complete without a villain, this time, an Aussie wannabe writer who’s trying to find the lost ashes of Mal Evans – a friend/roadie of the Beatles.
I'll leave it to that, as I'm afraid I already gave away too much.
Caroline Wallace is a very clever writer. I loved the way the story was written, the tone of the narration, the book and musical references, and even the Liverpudlian slang/colloquialisms.
One could argue that the characters were a bit too black and white but just think of it as a fairy tale where the good wins. Let’s face it, we all need these stories now and again.
Endearing, whimsy, with a touch of magic, "The Finding of Martha Lost" is a feel-good coming of age novel, well worth your time.
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, Random House UK, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Cover: 5 stars
fictionalsarah's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Confinement and Rape
Minor: Pregnancy
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
5.0
I first became aware of this novel earlier in the year from another blogger review that coincided with seeing a flyer on a visit to a Liverpool bookshop about an event that was taking place with the author. I was a week early for the event, the book still hadn’t been published and I put it to the back of my mind after a bit of grumbling. But on my most recent visit to the same bookshop I came away with a signed copy of the book.
What a buy! This novel is one of the best books I have ever read. I warmed to Martha, Elisabeth, William and George from the moment I met them. I loved the Liverpool humour and loyalty that appeared on nearly every page. It was a joy to read a novel where a character could put aside any revulsion they felt about appearance and offer the hand of friendship.
I had to remind myself that the novel was set in the 1970s and not modern day. William was still a young man and the war wasn’t that long ago. Attitudes were different, illegitimacy would have been more taboo than it is now and shame would have been more common. I loved the references to the Devil, all his children and their pets and how Mother used them as threat against Martha who did very well to survive the brainwashing and outbreaks of violence.
If you fancy a read that restores your faith in humanity in this often cruel world then you won’t go wrong with this. Beautiful and magical.
What a buy! This novel is one of the best books I have ever read. I warmed to Martha, Elisabeth, William and George from the moment I met them. I loved the Liverpool humour and loyalty that appeared on nearly every page. It was a joy to read a novel where a character could put aside any revulsion they felt about appearance and offer the hand of friendship.
I had to remind myself that the novel was set in the 1970s and not modern day. William was still a young man and the war wasn’t that long ago. Attitudes were different, illegitimacy would have been more taboo than it is now and shame would have been more common. I loved the references to the Devil, all his children and their pets and how Mother used them as threat against Martha who did very well to survive the brainwashing and outbreaks of violence.
If you fancy a read that restores your faith in humanity in this often cruel world then you won’t go wrong with this. Beautiful and magical.
fiendfull's review against another edition
4.0
The Finding of Martha Lost is an enchanting novel about a sixteen-year-old girl who was found in Liverpool Lime Street station as a baby and has been wondering who she is ever since. Martha runs the lost property office at the station, but when a series of mysteries start popping up—is there somebody lurking in the tunnels under the station? why is there a Roman soldier in the station every day? could a suitcase hold the fortunes of an Australian man?—and her position in the station becomes under threat, it is time for her to really become found.
Wallace creates a vivid picture of the station in the 1970s which is the backdrop for a moving and charming story about a girl who is both wise and innocent and who believes she is the liver bird of Lime Street station. Neither Martha or her friends in the station have had easy lives, and their found family dynamic forms the real heart of the novel, making it clear that Martha is not lost around them. Wallace touches on a number of problems whilst keeping the narrative an uplifting and enjoyable read, one perfect for anybody who is looking for a heartwarming book set in the later half of the 20th century and infused with the music and culture of Liverpool at the time.
Wallace creates a vivid picture of the station in the 1970s which is the backdrop for a moving and charming story about a girl who is both wise and innocent and who believes she is the liver bird of Lime Street station. Neither Martha or her friends in the station have had easy lives, and their found family dynamic forms the real heart of the novel, making it clear that Martha is not lost around them. Wallace touches on a number of problems whilst keeping the narrative an uplifting and enjoyable read, one perfect for anybody who is looking for a heartwarming book set in the later half of the 20th century and infused with the music and culture of Liverpool at the time.
marnieluna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ahouseman's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I picked this up as I really liked the idea, but was left disappointed by the execution. It seems the author started with 80 ideas for potential storylines, and decided to add them all, rather than picking a few and really building on these, leaving many elements unsatisfying, especially when you can see the potential. For example, I usually love Magical Realism when it’s integrated, but I don’t understand it’s addition here and it doesn’t add anything to the story. Also I agree with others that the Max storyline is really unnecessary- what is he adding? And why does no one, especially Elisabeth who is the person she’s closest to, intervene earlier?
Also, although in the beginning Martha’s naivety is charming and quirky, this rapidly descends into being irritating, as her actions don’t make any sense, even following her own internal logic. I worked out about 30% way in about who the mother was, but I’m hoping this is intentional and it didn’t detract much from the plot.
Overall, it seems like it can’t work out if it wants to be a whimsical story for younger YA readers, or a harder hitting mystery for older ones, leaving the tone to slip about all over the place.
Also I’d recommend anyone thinking about reading to heed the trigger warnings.