Uncertainty, loss, and new hopes

I have been reading, but working in public health and spending my days reading a lot of literature about COVID, I have reverted back to gentle, re-reads in the evening, where I know the outcomes. However, I have read three books which were totally new to me.

The first one was The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg. If you have read my previous blog posts, you will know I am a huge fan of Fannie Flagg's writing, and this was no exception. It was absolutely wonderful and beautiful, focussing on a small town in Missouri, created by Lordor Nordstrom and his Swedish mail-order bride. Together they create a small town for family and friends, and the book explains each story and how the town grows, including the development of the town cemetery, and what happens to the town residents when they die. It is such a great story and a pleasure to read.

The second book I am writing about is in sharp contrast to the first one. Endorsed by Amnesty International, the Windrush Child was an emotional rollercoaster. It is about a young boy who has the ideal life with his Mum and Grandmother, when he has to move to England to be with his Father, who has been creating a new life for them. When he gets there, he has to adjust to seeing his Dad after all this time, the new climate, the different food, culture, people, etc. It is such an interesting story, and I was gripped throughout. I learnt so much about Jamaica, and the experience of Jamaicans moving to England. It must have been such a shock to this little boy, Leonard. He must have felt really torn, choosing between his Grandmother and his Mum and Dad. The book takes you through his experiences as a child and later as an adult. He has a family, and one day, when his daughter is all grown up, they decide to return to Jamaica for a visit together, and that is where the story comes to a shocking conclusion. The ending is so powerful and thought-provoking. It took me a while to process the outcome of this book. It was brilliantly written, by Benjamin Zephaniah, who made me feel everything that Leonard went through. It really is well worth reading.

The last book I am writing about was a surprise. I picked it up in a charity shop for a pound. I bought it because I liked the front cover, which was illustrated by Sylvia Dyson. Melissa Ann was written by Ethel Parton. There are no details of dates, but it sounds as though it was written in the 1800s. It is a delightful story about a young girl called Melissa Ann. It reminds me very much of Anne of Green Gables, by LM Montgomery. You learn about Melissa's, known as Mitty, family and friends. In a similar manner to the Windrush Child, she has to move from her childhood home, with her grandparents to another home. There is much uncertainty in her life, and she deals with it all, with courage, and she seems like a really sweet character. The book is filled with lovely characters and storylines. It was a wonderful surprise, and makes me want to learn more about Ethel Parton.