Official Review: A Mingled Yarn by Louise Williams
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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Mingled Yarn" by Louise Williams.]
On a particularly hot day in June of 1952, a new baby's cry rings out, while a young mother takes her last breath. Two best friends make a promise, and one of them will spend the rest of her life wrestling with her conscience.
When her mother dies during childbirth, newborn Liza is adopted by her aunt Fiona and her uncle Jack. Together with their two children, Finn and Kate, they become a happy family of five. As Liza grows, she learns the truth about the death of her biological mother and demands to meet her father. Nobody knows who he is, but she has an inkling that a close family friend of Fiona's may know more than she is letting on.
Meanwhile, Finn's hostility towards Liza is growing every day, and she hasn't the faintest idea why. Why can't he love her as she loves him? Between struggling to find answers regarding her biological father and trying to win over Finn, Liza wonders if she will ever get closure.
A Mingled Yarn by Louise Williams is an exceptionally well-written book about identity, secrets, and finding one's place within a family unit. The writing boasts a uniqueness that I don't usually come across. Written from the third-person perspective, it alternates between several of the characters. Most of the book revolves around Fiona and Liza but briefly follows secondary characters, Finn and Clare. I believe that by doing this, the author enables readers to immerse themselves in this dysfunctional family completely.
My favorite aspect of A Mingled Yarn was the author's ability to create a relatable family; this was accomplished by weaving weightier topics into the plot. Each character had a unique obstacle to overcome. Liza had to grapple with feelings of anger and resentment upon learning that she was adopted. Clare carried a burden so heavy that it caused her to stutter. Fiona was given terrible news about her health, and Finn suffered from deep-seated feelings of inferiority when it came to his siblings. Each of these characters played an integral role in helping one another heal, and it was fascinating the way the author pulled it all together.
Another memorable thing that I took away from the book was the importance of nurturing one's relationships with family and friends. Life is fleeting, and there are no second chances; we must embrace each day and forget about fighting over trivial things. The writing inspired me to mend strained relationships of my own.
A few days after reading the book, I wracked my brain, trying to find something that I disliked about it, but I was left empty-handed. I was thoroughly besotted with the story; the characters were well-developed, and the plot unfolded at a steady pace. I didn't notice any spelling or grammatical errors, which was another bonus for me. With that being said, I happily chose to give this book a rating of four out of four stars.
Due to the mature themes covered in the book, I would not recommend it to young readers, as I doubt they would be able to relate to the plight of the characters. I would recommend A Mingled Yarn to readers who appreciate character-driven stories that focus on the inner workings of a familial unit. There are a few heartbreaking revelations and shocking tragedies, so I would most certainly recommend having tissues nearby.
******
A Mingled Yarn
View: on Bookshelves
On a particularly hot day in June of 1952, a new baby's cry rings out, while a young mother takes her last breath. Two best friends make a promise, and one of them will spend the rest of her life wrestling with her conscience.
When her mother dies during childbirth, newborn Liza is adopted by her aunt Fiona and her uncle Jack. Together with their two children, Finn and Kate, they become a happy family of five. As Liza grows, she learns the truth about the death of her biological mother and demands to meet her father. Nobody knows who he is, but she has an inkling that a close family friend of Fiona's may know more than she is letting on.
Meanwhile, Finn's hostility towards Liza is growing every day, and she hasn't the faintest idea why. Why can't he love her as she loves him? Between struggling to find answers regarding her biological father and trying to win over Finn, Liza wonders if she will ever get closure.
A Mingled Yarn by Louise Williams is an exceptionally well-written book about identity, secrets, and finding one's place within a family unit. The writing boasts a uniqueness that I don't usually come across. Written from the third-person perspective, it alternates between several of the characters. Most of the book revolves around Fiona and Liza but briefly follows secondary characters, Finn and Clare. I believe that by doing this, the author enables readers to immerse themselves in this dysfunctional family completely.
My favorite aspect of A Mingled Yarn was the author's ability to create a relatable family; this was accomplished by weaving weightier topics into the plot. Each character had a unique obstacle to overcome. Liza had to grapple with feelings of anger and resentment upon learning that she was adopted. Clare carried a burden so heavy that it caused her to stutter. Fiona was given terrible news about her health, and Finn suffered from deep-seated feelings of inferiority when it came to his siblings. Each of these characters played an integral role in helping one another heal, and it was fascinating the way the author pulled it all together.
Another memorable thing that I took away from the book was the importance of nurturing one's relationships with family and friends. Life is fleeting, and there are no second chances; we must embrace each day and forget about fighting over trivial things. The writing inspired me to mend strained relationships of my own.
A few days after reading the book, I wracked my brain, trying to find something that I disliked about it, but I was left empty-handed. I was thoroughly besotted with the story; the characters were well-developed, and the plot unfolded at a steady pace. I didn't notice any spelling or grammatical errors, which was another bonus for me. With that being said, I happily chose to give this book a rating of four out of four stars.
Due to the mature themes covered in the book, I would not recommend it to young readers, as I doubt they would be able to relate to the plight of the characters. I would recommend A Mingled Yarn to readers who appreciate character-driven stories that focus on the inner workings of a familial unit. There are a few heartbreaking revelations and shocking tragedies, so I would most certainly recommend having tissues nearby.
******
A Mingled Yarn
View: on Bookshelves
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