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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I knew the name Lord Lucan but not the story. This is an, at times odd, novel from the nanny's perspective. Vibrant yet sad.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
This reminded me a little bit of the L Shaped Room and the Bell Jar. Mandy was very lovable <spoiler I was hoping it was Rosemary that would get killed. I really like that this takes a murder case remembered for its aristocracy and looks at it from the Nanny’s POV. In that way it also reminded me of Alias Grace!!
I loved the bits between Mandy and Neville! Also thought Katharine was a really interesting character and loved the whole focus on mothers and daughters through the book!
As always I love stories about young women moving to big cities and how the use that independence! Which is why it reminded me of the L Shaped Room.
I thought it was interesting to add Rosemary’s POV to this since it undermines the realism of a true(ish) story -especially at the end when her visions are confirmed / seeing the shoes and knowing as Mandy dies, the final bit at the raffle and possibly seeing / hearing what happened to the Earl
Lots of really beautiful language and felt very cleverly written! Really liked the little bit when Rosemary realises she sees herself from a “birds eye point of view” on top of her whole hearing birds thing.
Quite sad that all the main characters are sexually abused though? Like with Rosemary seeing the vicar and realising why the bird voices began? felt too quick and a bit too easy since this had already happened a lot
I loved the bits between Mandy and Neville! Also thought Katharine was a really interesting character and loved the whole focus on mothers and daughters through the book!
As always I love stories about young women moving to big cities and how the use that independence! Which is why it reminded me of the L Shaped Room.
I thought it was interesting to add Rosemary’s POV to this since it undermines the realism of a true(ish) story -
Lots of really beautiful language and felt very cleverly written! Really liked the little bit when Rosemary realises she sees herself from a “birds eye point of view” on top of her whole hearing birds thing.
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very slow build but worth it in the end.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Giving voice to the victim of a horrendous crime is the central purpose of Jill Dawson’s excellent novel The Language of Birds.
The story is based on the events of the real-life Lord Lucan murder mystery in which British peer (and professional gambler) Richard John Bingham disappeared on 8 November 1974, never to be seen again. He was suspected of murdering the nanny of his children and severely injuring his estranged wife in their Belgravia home.
Dawson’s fictionalised account reveals what happens from the murdered nanny’s perspective. It’s an effective — and compelling — literary device, putting a human face on a woman long forgotten by a culture obsessed with what actually happened to Lord Lucan, who was declared officially dead in 2016.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
The story is based on the events of the real-life Lord Lucan murder mystery in which British peer (and professional gambler) Richard John Bingham disappeared on 8 November 1974, never to be seen again. He was suspected of murdering the nanny of his children and severely injuring his estranged wife in their Belgravia home.
Dawson’s fictionalised account reveals what happens from the murdered nanny’s perspective. It’s an effective — and compelling — literary device, putting a human face on a woman long forgotten by a culture obsessed with what actually happened to Lord Lucan, who was declared officially dead in 2016.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence
Absolutely loved The Language of Birds!
This book is so warm, strong and feminine. I found it on the shelves of the library I work at and was attracted by the 60s/70s imagery on the front cover. The main character Mandy is so likeable and I was hooked by the style of writing; simple yet full of depth. Lots of intricate, unusual metaphors and descriptions that made me feel intrigued about the author. I'm always interested in writing that makes me wonder and admire the authors mind. I had no idea until halfway through, but the story is actually a fictionalised account of events based on the real-life characters and events of the aristocratic Lucan family and their nanny. I won't say much more as it was, for me, a massive spoiler realising this and I would rather have read on oblivious. But yes, Lord and Lady Morven are the fictionalised Lord and Lady Lucan and Mandy is the real-life Sandra Rivett who was the family nanny caught up in the nasty custody-battle.
The writing and characters kind of reminded me of an Edna O'Brien novel. I think that must be the lucid femininity throughout the story; the strength and endurance of women, fertility, and the beauty of female friendship. It really is a beautiful book and I highly recommend.
This book is so warm, strong and feminine. I found it on the shelves of the library I work at and was attracted by the 60s/70s imagery on the front cover. The main character Mandy is so likeable and I was hooked by the style of writing; simple yet full of depth. Lots of intricate, unusual metaphors and descriptions that made me feel intrigued about the author. I'm always interested in writing that makes me wonder and admire the authors mind. I had no idea until halfway through, but the story is actually a fictionalised account of events based on the real-life characters and events of the aristocratic Lucan family and their nanny. I won't say much more as it was, for me, a massive spoiler realising this and I would rather have read on oblivious. But yes, Lord and Lady Morven are the fictionalised Lord and Lady Lucan and Mandy is the real-life Sandra Rivett who was the family nanny caught up in the nasty custody-battle.
The writing and characters kind of reminded me of an Edna O'Brien novel. I think that must be the lucid femininity throughout the story; the strength and endurance of women, fertility, and the beauty of female friendship. It really is a beautiful book and I highly recommend.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes