Published by Penguin Books Limited on March 29, 2018
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Net Galley, Library
Amazon UK
Goodreads
Mona is a dollmaker. She crafts beautiful, handmade wooden dolls in her workshop in a sleepy seaside town. Every doll is special. Every doll has a name. And every doll has a hidden meaning, from a past Mona has never accepted.
Each new doll takes Mona back to a different time entirely - back to Birmingham, in 1972.
Back to the thrill of being a young Irish girl in a big city, with a new job and a room of her own in a busy boarding house. Back to her first night out in town, where she meets William, a gentle Irish boy with an easy smile and an open face.
Back to their whirlwind marriage, and unexpected pregnancy.
And finally, to the tragedy that tore them apart.
So I went in with no idea what this book was about and part of me still wonders. However, I got to the end and I got it. I loved the twist in the tale, which I saw coming but at the same time the unveiling was heartbreaking and tears filled my eyes. This story was beautiful.
A story of love and loss and man I loved Mona. I was there when she was growing up, I was there when she met William and I was there when she was on her own. I experienced her journey and I couldn’t put this book down, well push the stop button on the audiobook. I will admit, it took me a couple of chapters to get into, I think my head wasn’t in it at first as the book was a slow and calm book. Once I learned to relax and embrace it, I just didn’t want to leave Mona’s side.
A couple of years ago, Kit was at my work turning on the Christmas lights and kicking off our book festival and it was amazing to listen to her speak, just gutted it took me so long to read her book! She has written a beautiful story and her writing is all-encompassing. She invites us in to sit down and have a cuppa while we sit back listening to Mona regale her life. Maybe have a tissue or two.
There is just no way I can do this book justice. I still think about Mona and her life and I want to cry and smile all over again. What this woman does with her life is just magical, the healing she offers other people got me choked up. To say any more would spoil it!
I will be buying this book for my family and I will be checking out the other books by Kit. She is a wonderful storyteller and I can’t wait to get lost in another story by her.
Until next time xxx
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Joanne says
Oh I loved this one too! She’s a terrific writer.
Zoé says
I am going to look at reading more by her, she blew me away with this x