A Sister's Struggle by Mary Gibson
About the book
A young girl struggles to keep body and soul together in 1930s London, while her proud but
spendthrift widowed father refuses to accept charity.
London, 1935. Ruby is always hungry, but she will go without if it means her young brothers can eat. 1930s Bermondsey might be called the larder of London, with its pie, pickle and jam factories, but for the poor working classes, starvation is often only a heartbeat away. When Ruby’s neighbour suggests she ought to go to the Methodist Mission for free food, Ruby knows her father will be furious, but that she has no other option.
It is a decision that will change the course of her life forever, split her family and in the end
lead her to face a terrible choice between duty and a great love.
My review
What an emotional rollercoaster of a journey I have just been on with this beautifully written book. I feel so honoured to have witnessed this raw and heartfelt story and I'm hoping this review will give the book the justice it deserves. I won't divulge any details regarding the storyline as I don't want to give away any hints or spoilers but I will say that it's a journey you must take.
The numerous characters that fill the book are created with such vivid descriptions, breathing life into the story and developing a world of harsh realities that depict life in London. I felt as though I was picked up and placed in the 1930s as a sympathetic bystander to the difficult situations that befell the folk of Bermondsey and I'm still reeling from the journey this story took me on. Each character had a key part to play in the book with a voice to be heard. Ruby our leading lady is a wonderful character that captured my attention and held it throughout the book. Her sheer strength, grit, piety and determination ensured that she shone brightly and I was right behind her every step of the way and hoping for that much sort after happy ending. Charles was a character I could have happily spoken a few choice words too and one I found myself gasping in sheer horror and frustration at, which says so much about Mary Gibson's ability to create believable characters. Ida was a glorious creation of female friendship and solidarity and her storyline reduced me to tears. But all in all my biggest shout out has to go to little Davey, what a sweetheart, my heart broke for him several times throughout the story and I one hundred percent fell in love with the little man.
I could go on about how much I loved this epic story but what I will say is that I urge each and every one of you to grab your nearest copy of The Sister's Struggle and start reading immediately. This book is an emotional and heartfelt journey of the struggles that faced not just Bermondsey but the world during a time of change and uncertainty and it is told with pure honesty and heart. This is the first time I have encountered Mary's writing but having just searched the vortex that is my Kindle I have made a glorious discovery that I own two other books by this wonderful author waiting to be discovered which I couldn't be happier about.
Buy links
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2qUQe6o
iBooks: https://apple.co/2Bh69BV
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zgDfAs
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2DLUH3t
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About the author
Mary Gibson was born and brought up in Bermondsey, south east London. After a thirty year
career in publishing, she took the opportunity of early retirement to write a book of her own.
Her début novel, Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts, was inspired by the lives and times of her
grandparents in World War One Bermondsey. It went on to become a top ten Kindle best
seller and was selected for World Book Night 2015.
Follow Rosie
Twitter handle: @MaryGibsonBooks
Facebook: @MaryGibsonBooks
Website: marygibsonauthor.co.uk
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