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A review by what_heather_loves
Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North by Rachel Joyce
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
"She knew something had happened that made the world different...she had driven to Embleton Bay to find David in Queenie's Garden and ease something inside her, like taking out a splinter, yet what she had found had only filled her with hundreds more spikes."
Ten years after Harold's Pilgrimage and his wife Maureen, still grieving the tragic death of their son, David who took his own life,is struggling. Maureen has always begrudged Queenie, who worked with Harold and loved him and also spent time with David. After David's death Queenie moved to Northumberland and created a unique and beautiful garden she allowed public access to, near Embleton Bay. From her hospice bed, Maureen write to Harold, which promoted his pilgrimage, which Maureen never understood. Now, one winter, Maureen is to go on her own journey to visit Queenie's garden and see her tribute to David and to Harold.
Having read the first two books in this trilogy, I was keen to read Maureen's side of the story and was not disappointed. Critical and rather negative, Maureen has had a tough time of it, struggling to get on with people and losing David made her isolate herself further, not understanding the world. She hopes visiting Queenie's garden will. Help her make sense of the world and it does, because through her pain she finds and see others', forgiveness. You may well shed a tear for Maureen, David, Queenie and Harold, reading this affectionate tale of loss, kindness, hope and forgiveness.
"It was about forgiveness, the whole story. Harold's pilgrimage and Queenie's letter, and now Maureen's winter journey too. The chimes and necklaces of stones moved in the wind and so did the seed heads. Yes, they said. Yes, Maureen!"
Ten years after Harold's Pilgrimage and his wife Maureen, still grieving the tragic death of their son, David who took his own life,is struggling. Maureen has always begrudged Queenie, who worked with Harold and loved him and also spent time with David. After David's death Queenie moved to Northumberland and created a unique and beautiful garden she allowed public access to, near Embleton Bay. From her hospice bed, Maureen write to Harold, which promoted his pilgrimage, which Maureen never understood. Now, one winter, Maureen is to go on her own journey to visit Queenie's garden and see her tribute to David and to Harold.
Having read the first two books in this trilogy, I was keen to read Maureen's side of the story and was not disappointed. Critical and rather negative, Maureen has had a tough time of it, struggling to get on with people and losing David made her isolate herself further, not understanding the world. She hopes visiting Queenie's garden will. Help her make sense of the world and it does, because through her pain she finds and see others', forgiveness. You may well shed a tear for Maureen, David, Queenie and Harold, reading this affectionate tale of loss, kindness, hope and forgiveness.
"It was about forgiveness, the whole story. Harold's pilgrimage and Queenie's letter, and now Maureen's winter journey too. The chimes and necklaces of stones moved in the wind and so did the seed heads. Yes, they said. Yes, Maureen!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief