TENEMENT GIRL

by Anne Douglas

As the Depression bites, a young woman dreams of ‘Getting Away’, but will find drama and heartache on her own doorstep.

1935, Edinburgh. Beautiful Lindsay ‘Lindy’ Gillian is determined to look on the bright side in spite of the she has a job working for her stepmother at Murchie’s Provisions, and her family reside in one of the nicer flats in a nearby tenement block.

But when Roderick Connor strolls into the shop one day, Lindy has to make a choice that will turn her world upside down, while a new arrival, surprise opportunities and war clouds from Spain on the horizon all have unexpected repercussions . . .

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

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Reviews

[Lois Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a good light read. It flows well.

[margeritacosgrove]

Great story

Thoughtful enjoyed this book great story. Will read more of her books and tell my family and friends about this author

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to Tenement Girl as an audiobook. I loved listening to a story read in a soothing Scottish accent, but found the storyline a little slow. Lindy Gillian lives in a tenement block in Edinburgh in the 1930s, with her family and her dour, controlling step-mother Myra. She works in a shop and spends her spare time with childhood friend and companion Neil. Life seems quite steady until a series of changes rock her world: the Depression, war in Spain, the arrival of new tenant, the upper-class, sophisticated Rosemary, and the day Roderick Connor walks into her shop, with his social conscience and different ideas. I enjoyed the description of tenement life and the family dynamics, and Lindy herself, but found some of the characters, Neil and Roderick in particular, not overly captivating.