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458th out of 722 books
—
644 voters
The Dwelling Place
When fifteen-year-old Cissie Brodie loses her parents to cholera, she is forced out of the family cottage and left to raise her nine siblings alone. Although desperately poor, the strong-willed Cissie determines to build a new home for the Brodies. It is only a rough stone shelter, but to Cissie and her family it is enough to keep them from the workhouse.
They have friends,...more
They have friends,...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
March 1st 1994
by Corgi
(first published January 1972)
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Read this book in the 70's when I was a teenager, recently re-read it and now I remember why it has always been in the back of my mind as a great story. Catherine Cookson brings to life Cissie and the Brodie family, struggling to survive against all odds as only an author who has experienced hardships and come from the bottom up can. I always feel that Catherine Cookson "knows what makes people tick". The dialect of the common people in that part of England during that era is fun to read. Some o...more
This was a sweeping tale of Cissie and all of the hardships, tragedies, and roadblocks she faced because she wanted to keep her brothers & sisters together with her after her parents died. The setting is rural England in the first half of the 19th Century, the time that Dickens' work takes place. From living in a glorified cave, to making deep sacrifices she tries to prevail. The incidences of child labor including 7-yr.-olds in mines up to 14 hours a day and 5-yr-old boys as chimney sweeps...more
Catherine Cookson has recently become one of my favorite authors. Cookson creates powerfully touching novels of love and overcoming the odds, two things that I greatly enjoy reading about. The Dwelling place is such a novel. It tells the story of a courageous young girl who takes on the challenge of raising her many brothers and sisters. It's touching and very interesting plot wise. I recommend it to those who LOVE historical fiction and perhaps those who like not having the difficulty of someth...more
Cholera had taken her parents and left Cissie Brodie with the upbringing of a family of nine. She was barely fifteen herself when they were evicted from their cottage and forced out on to the fells. But even though they'd hardly a shilling between them, Cissie set to building a home for the Brodies with a will that would have shamed an adult. It was only a rough stone shelter, thatched as best they could, but to Cissie and her family it was enough to keep them fron the workhouse.
A really good re...more
A really good re...more
This is set in the north of England at a time when even young children had to work and do the most soul-destroying jobs. Catherine Cookson always tells a good yarn and this book is no exception. You get to know her characters and understand the lives they lead. The main character, Cassie, has to look after the well being of all her many siblings (9) when her parents died. Her courage and determination for them all to survive and live together avoiding the poor house is outstanding. Some local ex...more
Cissie Brodie feels the weight of the world on her shoulders when her mother and father die from cholera, leaving her to care for her nine younger siblings. With no income and her brothers too young to work, they are forced to vacate the house they grew up in and find shelter elsewhere, otherwise they would be separated and sent to the poor house.
Cissie, mature beyond her years, finds a cave and using some quick thinking, builds a wall made of stone to keep the chilling winds out and furnishes i...more
Cissie, mature beyond her years, finds a cave and using some quick thinking, builds a wall made of stone to keep the chilling winds out and furnishes i...more
Everything was thrown at the main character that you could imagine. But she prevailed every time. I wont give away the ending but some would argue her choice of men at the end was odd but I think it made sense and was a good ending for both characters. Most would prefer to see punishment but the characters grew and changed and there was a genuine need to fix things.
This is one of my favorite Catherine Cookson books, I have read them all. There are 5 books that are stand outs from the rest and this is definitely in the top 5. I love this era of book and Catherine always writes about characters with hardships and struggles. That generally prevail in the end. Typical romance novel, but written in a compelling way.
the book is different than the film that was made..............
recomended to read book first before you watch the film. The book goes into more detail explains more and there are bits in that are not even in the film. Personally the film doesnt do the book credit and its better to read the book than watching it
recomended to read book first before you watch the film. The book goes into more detail explains more and there are bits in that are not even in the film. Personally the film doesnt do the book credit and its better to read the book than watching it
I read this book when my kids were young - very young - probably in the late 60s early 70s! Read it after my dear neighbor gave it to me with a "must read" recommendation. This was one of my all-time favorite novels - I think I'll re-read it and get all nostalgic. Highly recommend.
I think I read this book for the first time when I was a middle teenager & I still have the worn out paperback copy with the torn cover. I have read it many times since & have read all of Catherine Cookson's books but none stayed with me as this one did...
This is one of my all time favourite reads.
I read it when I was a teenager.
I need to re-read it and experience the magic.
Cissie Brodie's character was endearing and
as a teenager, I think a bit of her responsibility
and endurance rubbed off on me.
I read it when I was a teenager.
I need to re-read it and experience the magic.
Cissie Brodie's character was endearing and
as a teenager, I think a bit of her responsibility
and endurance rubbed off on me.
When fifteen-year-old Cissie Brodie loses her parents to cholera, she is forced out of the family cottage and left to raise her nine siblings alone. Although desperately poor, the strong-willed Cissie determines to build a new home for the Brodies. It is only a rough stone shelter, but to Cissie and her family it is enough to keep them from the workhouse.
They have friends, but charity cannot always spare them the harsh reality of their struggle and the bitterness of those who wish them harm. But...more
They have friends, but charity cannot always spare them the harsh reality of their struggle and the bitterness of those who wish them harm. But...more
May 17, 2013
Cynthia Crawford
added it
I did not read this book. I am reading The Dwelling Place by Elizabeth Musser and for some reason it will not let me delete this one by Catherine Cookson, but I don't know anything about this particular book.
I liked this book! Cissie is a young girl who couldn't imagine splitting up her and her siblings after her parents die. They way she cares for them and the turn of events for her life was endearing.
As in most of Cookson's books she writes with strong female characters overcoming some pretty horrible circumstances. I also love the English accents given her characters.
This was the first of the many Catherine Cookson books that I read. I was in a phase of loving her books and reading many of them. Although I can't remember which were my all-time favorites I know I enjoyed each one. They are stories with many tangled events that finally turn out right. The characters are valiant, honest and hard-working. The stories were always memorable long after the books were finished.
Takes place in 18th Century England, girl left to care for brothers and sisters, a little depressing
An entertaining read. Evokes the atmosphere and feeling of the north of England as perhaps it once was!
I thought that this book was good. It has a really good massage and is not hard to read.
I've loved every Catherine Cookson book I've read - and I've ready many!
Another good read. I enjoy her books. Again I wathed the movie afterwards.
good book, but some things were hard for me to believe even for the time in which it takes place.
Unfortunately I watched the movie that was based on this book right before reading the book. I kept seeing the movie in my mind as I read and I already knew to expect (or so I thought)and so I wasn't able to really get into the story. It didn't leave much to the imagination. The movie was very close to the book, except for the last few chapters. I'm glad that the ending of the book went in a different direction. I found that part most interesting of all because I didn't know what to expect at th...more
A thrilling book a true happy ever after story
I LOVE THESE BOOKS BY CATHERINE COOKSON
as always a very good book
Love all her books
Love this author!
I first read this as a teenager and it is a story that has stayed with me. Catherine Cookson will never be known for great literature but the characters in this book are vividly portrayed and she shows a genuine understanding of the challenges of poverty.
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Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, whom she believed to be her older sister. She began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master. Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for...more
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Feb 14, 2012 11:35pm