1915. As a child it never mattered to Blake that he had no mother, that no one knew who his father was. He was secure in his grandparents' love, happy on their farm in the Yorkshire dales.
But when his grandparents die suddenly, Blake's world collapses. Taken in by a neighbouring farmer as hired help, Blake's life becomes focused on the land - and also a secret love for Annie, his employer's daughter. And Annie may love Blake too, but she knows she doesn't want to spend her life on the farm.
So Blake leaves for the coal mines and busy shipyards of Sunderland, determined to make his name. He swears one day he will come back for Annie - but can he be sure she will wait for him?
Review
"People should marry again. If you go too long standing around on the sidelines it dehumanizes you. You start being smug and thinking you know more than other people and despising them."
Elizabeth Gill reminds of Katie Flynn. They both possess a similar style that reminds me of Catherine Cookson's talent in creating truthful characters with intricate historical accuracy. Gill is detailed without boring. Although there was a lack of balance between dialogue and description, her writing was engaging enough for this inbalance to affect the overall beauty of the book. She also has the ability paint the scenery in a such vivid manner that I was instantly transported into that little village.
When Blake is forced to live with Annie and her parents after the death of his grandparents, his life becomes monotonous and repetitive, the only thing that keeps him alive is his love of farming and Annie (the farmer's daughter). This is the first time Blake face loneliness and prejudice and Gill handles this issue in sensitive but truthful manner. His Grandparents have sheltered him from the harsh realities of his being illegitimate. And as the book progresses his confusion and hurt become evident and in some situations he refused to accept his true lineage.
Far From My Father's House is a good introduction to Gill's books. It's packed with family drama from illegitimate children to premature deaths. There are however more coincidental deaths than an episode of True Blood. The two main deaths in the book happen too quickly and too conveniently to ring true.
Unlike Katie Flynn however this book was very rushed in some parts and needed more explaining and editing. Also she leaves some parts incomplete for example she doesn't address Blake's illegitimacy as well as I would have liked. There are no confrontations with his father regarding why he raped his mother or why he never accepted him as son. Gill introduces the concepts but doesn't develop them.
I wasn't particularly overjoyed by Gill's characterisation. Although she manages to humanize Blake, she also paints him as fallen undeserving hero. As the book progressed I found myself unable to understand his character but I did feel sympathy towards him. I was confused as to whether he really loves Tessa (his boss's daughter) or Annie. This confusion was never explained. After Annie marries another man, Blake is broken but when he marries Tessa I never believed he loved her. This made me uncomfortable as Tessa was my favorite character because unlike other characters in the book she is truthful and her dislike of Annie mirrored my own dislike. Annie was manipulative, her motives never clear. She moves her affections from Blake to another in such a small amount of space that I began her doubt her genuineness. Blake was also a self pitying mess and the rest of the characters needed more development. Tessa was by far the only character I understood and cared about.
In the end this book did remind me of a Katie Flynn read however it does have it's flaws. Some elements works, others didn't.
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