Hobbies and Crafts

I was completely mesmerised from the first few pages, despite having reservations about reading what I thought would be a "women's novel."

i wonder how much rural Ireland has moved on in its attitudes, despite being in teh enlightened 21st century?

A friend of mine's great aunt was "put away" in the UK at about the same time, and went mad as a result, so very sad.

I found it difficult to get involved in the story initially. The way that the chapters alternate between different characters made it particularly difficult to distinguish between Emily and Sarah to begin with; but the distinction became clearer as the story developed. I thought that the author successfully conveyed the atmosphere of a 1930's village, and the way in which people can swiftly change their attitude towards a newcomer. The growing dark side of the story made it a more interesting read as the book went on.

I thought some of the characters could have been more developed; I felt that Aggie in particular probably had a very interesting backstory. There was also the mystery of who Sarah's mother was ...

I received an email telling me I would receive this book but it hasn't arrived... :-(

The herbalist

The story is told completely from the view pint of four very different women. The first is Emily from a dysfunctional family, obsessed by the newcomer to the town, Don Fernandes the herbalist. Then there is Carmel, shopkeeper and wife to a younger man, who miscarries her baby. Sarah is an orphan with a secret, brought up in the country by her Aunt Mai, the local midwife who comes to the town to help in Carmel's shop. Finally there is free and feisty Aggie, the local whore who, it is hinted, has a troubled past. Their story is woven together, with the men of the town as incidentals or catalysts. There are so many secrets here, including what happened to Aggie in the past, what is the herbalist's background and who are the people in his photo, who raped Sarah and could Mai be her mother? Some answers are revealed as the story unfolds but some are merely hinted at. The reader has to deduce the answers but is left to wonder whether, like the gossiping women, they have added two and two to make five!

Thank you all for your reviews. Glad you enjoyed the book!