Archie's Daughter

by Jane Seaford

Archie’s Daughter is a mainstream fiction novel about families and mental illness. It is the uncertain story of Sally, her marriage to Johnny, and her father, Archie, who hid the truth of her mother’s death from her. Eventually she decides to find out what really happened to her mother, aided by Johnny and her two brothers. This is Sally’s story, searching to understand her apparently absent mother, her father’s lies, how to survive and pursue relationships when life seems engineered and pre-set to undermine and destroy. Archie’s Daughter is a well-considered work of depth, to be enjoyed and empathised with its complexity and beauty.

ebook

First published August 3, 2012

Reviews

[Rocky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I began reading 'Archie's Daughter' I couldn't put it down, or rather couldn't close my laptop. The protagonist, Sally, is a young woman haunted by the secrets of her past. Set in England in the 60s and 70s, the novel takes us on Sally's personal journey, all the while gently unfurling the mystery of what happened to her mother.

This is a novel about mental illness, families, love, loss, grief and identity. Are we destined to become like our parents? Does childhood shape who we will become? Is mental illness purely hereditary or in part triggered by trauma in early life? 'Archie's Daughter' gave me cause to ponder all these questions and more. This novel held my attention because I could identify and empathize with the main character. The relationships between the characters are a highlight of this book: dynamic and believable, they show the author to be an astute observer of human nature. Highly recommended.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant new women's literature by debut author, Jane Seaford. Intriguing, moving and empathetic, a truly masterful first work and hopefully the first of many. Well worth the read.

Review quote:
“I’ve just finished reading Archie’s daughter. Great climax and ending, tears involved! The characters and story were very real.”
– Gail Ingram, President of SIWA

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

After partly hearing this authors short story 'lame excuse' read on the radio I was keen to listen to it again. My Internet search yielded this book instead. It is a great read, sensitively told without being too sentimental. And a very very realistic portrayal of familial mental illness and the inter generational and fraternal repercussions. At times there is repetition, but perhaps that is a literary device mimicking memory, which afteall is a big theme. I only buy a couple of books a year, so I am thrilled that this literary leap of faith was so rewarding. Not one for the 'life is tough, suck it up' brigade.