Despite the fact it had been in my calendar for months, it hadn't really occurred to me that what I had picked up on a whim at library, by which I mean I'd wanted to read it for a while, occasionally forgot about it and this time it happened to be there, could be regarded as a bad omen. Starting to read a book where the first thing that happens is a bride leaves her fiancee just before they're about to get married the day before one your friend's weddings is perhaps not the done thing. Fortunately, there were no parallels between truth and fiction and the wedding went off smoothly and, so far as I can tell, a very good time was had by all.
Which is more than can be said for Pell, deserter and protagonist in Meg Rosoff's The Bride's Farewell. I've been a fan of Rosoff since reading How I Live Now a few years ago and I think she understands the teenage mindset. She challenges her readers and doesn't provide easy answers and there's no shortage of misery to be had in this outing. One thing I've noticed as a recurring theme in her work is the number of mute or very quiet characters. I'm not sure if there's an explanation, but Pell's brother is in that mould.
The writing is compelling and there is a streak of romance throughout, but though there is a happy ending of sorts, there's plenty of tragedy in between and despite being a strong heroine, Pell is faced with the consequences of some of her actions and has to do her best in adverse circumstances. Although fairly slight, it did a great job in capturing the feel of the countryside, the wildness of it and the struggle for survival in the Victorian setting. Rosoff's first foray into historical fiction, it draws obvious (to my mind at least) comparisons with Celia Rees, another young adult author who I admire and who creates strong female characters. Fortunately neither of them have been silly enough to say 'Girl Power' (Miss Steiner, I'm looking at you), but I think this can only be a good thing, for readers of both sexes and all ages.
Book number: 84
Title: The Bride's Farewell
Author: Meg Rosoff
Category: Chris' choice
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