Mary Gibson (4)

I was provided an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley but all opinions are most definitely my own.

The Bermondsey Bookshop was a real place, but as a book title, it's deceiving, as it's merely the setting for part of the book. (I did appreciate learning about the bookshop and its owner.)

The real story here is about Kate Goss, and she is a vividly painted, engaging character. She is tough, spunky, self-sufficient and resilient, clever, and endearing. Through her, we get a clear picture of the poverty-stricken working class in London in the 1920s, and how their lives contrast with those in the upper class who she meets working a second job at the Bermondsey Bookshop.

The writing has a lovely flow. The setting is descriptive, the dialogue really cements both the tone and place in time, and the plot is compelling with a few surprising twists. My favorite part, though, was the characters themselves - faceted and intriguing.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is one I can highly recommend.… (mais)

It took me a while to settle into the story, but it was worth it. The Bermondsey Bookshop was beautifully narrated by Anne Dover, bringing alive the cruel poverty of the time, and the rich local accent. Indeed, a couple of times I thought I could hear my own family speaking; the language was so familiar.

The story is about a young girl's struggle to survive after her mother's untimely death. Kate Goss is left with her Aunt Sylvie and loathsome cousins Janey and Stan by her father Archie Goss, who has set off to Canada to make his fortune. Kate is treated badly by everyone in that household but finds some comfort with her Aunt Sarah. Aunt Sarah is not able to look after her, so there is no option but to stay with Aunt Sylvie. She dreams of her father's return, where he will take Kate live with him and punish his sister, Sylvie, for her cruel treatment of Kate.

Aged fourteen Kate is sent to work at Boutle's, a tin makers, but the work is seasonal, and when Boutle's begin laying off staff, she finds herself a cleaning job at the Bermondsey Bookshop. Working here, takes her life in a different direction. She makes new friends, and becomes reacquainted with an old friend.

I really enjoyed this story, probably more so because of the wonderful narration. I love early 20th century sagas, and this is set at a time when my paternal grandparents would be struggling to bring up a large family in Sard's Rents, taking me back in time to walk a while in their shoes.

Told in the third person, we see the unfolding drama through Kate's eyes. The characters are well described and feel authentic. It was easy to like Kate and feel animosity towards her vile family. Kate is kind and compassionate, despite her own experiences, and I was hoping for the happy ending she was wishing for herself; that she would be reunited with her father and all would be well again.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a between wars saga with drama and romance, and would highly recommend the audiobook to get a real flavour of 1920s Bermondsey.… (mais)

How disappointing the a book with a bookshop name as the title has very little to do with the shop or with books! Although The Bermondsey Bookshop by Mary Gibson was not really about the bookshop, I did appreciate the introduction and enjoyed learning about the bookshop through some research. Kate learning to use her voice not only for herself but also to help others is the strength of the book even when the story takes a decidedly melodramatic turn.

Read my complete review at href="http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/01/the-bermondsey-bookshop.html" rel="nofollow" target="_top">http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/01/the-bermondsey-bookshop.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.… (mais)

The Bermondsey Bookshop by Mary Gibson is an intriguing historical novel. I found it to be well-written that moved along at a thoughtful pace and it has a strong female protagonist. Kate Goss had a loving mother until she had an accident coming down the steep garret stairs. Archie Goss, Kate’s father, deposited Kate with his sister, Sylvie and then departed. Sylvie did not like Kate’s Romany mother, Bessie which she takes out on Kate. Her cousins, Janey and Stan are just as mean and spiteful. Kate holds out the hope that her father will return one day and take her away. Kate is a spirited girl who works hard. She makes some unfortunate choices, but Kate also makes some memorable friends. We get to see Kate go from a teenager to an adult. I could feel Kate’s struggles and her sadness. Of course, Kate had some unforgettable moments as well. There were a variety of interesting characters in The Bermondsey Bookshop. There were some kindhearted souls and some truly terrible people. I especially liked the various people that frequented the Bermondsey Bookshop. It was interesting reading about the Bermondsey Bookshop (it was a real place). It was open for hours that suited the working class and offered a variety of classes (reading, elocution, French, drama) as well as lectures. After reading this book, I searched out more information on this unique bookshop. I thought Mary Gibson captured the accents of the people along with their attitudes especially when it came to education and money. Children were not allowed to enjoy their childhood for long. They were expected to go to work and turn over their wages. There is some mild foul language along with violence (parents or relatives hitting children, men beating their wives, men wanting certain “favors”) which was, unfortunately, typical of the time period. The Bermondsey Bookshop is a book that will have you reading long into the night to find out how Kate’s story ends. The Bermondsey Bookshop has a sharp tongued shrew, a conniving cousin, a fetid factory, a vanished father, and one feisty female.… (mais)