I absolutely adored this book in my early teens. The malevolent presence of the wooden doll, Dido, never left me & the memory of her could still send shivers up my spine. Still, re-reading childhood favourites can sometimes be a let-down, as it's impossible to recapture that sense of reading through a child's eyes.
I needn't have worried. The sheer quality of the writing sets this book apart and makes it a classic. Admittedly, some of the language is a bit dated, but it reflects the period perfectly. Once, Dido's malign influence seemed to me to be the main focus of the story. Just like the Welsh landscape, the supernatural elements are tightly woven into the story, but the real story is about families. Across three generations, there are lies, manipulation and uneasy relationships - all dealt with here with incredible subtlety and a lack of sentimentality.
Still an incredibly rewarding read for young and old alike.
Genre: Children's Fiction
I needn't have worried. The sheer quality of the writing sets this book apart and makes it a classic. Admittedly, some of the language is a bit dated, but it reflects the period perfectly. Once, Dido's malign influence seemed to me to be the main focus of the story. Just like the Welsh landscape, the supernatural elements are tightly woven into the story, but the real story is about families. Across three generations, there are lies, manipulation and uneasy relationships - all dealt with here with incredible subtlety and a lack of sentimentality.
Still an incredibly rewarding read for young and old alike.
Genre: Children's Fiction
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Used availability for Ruth M Arthur's A Candle in Her Room