The Grass Memorial

by Sarah Harrison

In the tradition of her epic masterpieces such as The Flowers of the Field , Sarah Harrison returns to the high quality storytelling that readers have come to love and cherish in The Grass Memorial , a sweeping novel that seamlessly weaves together three compelling stories that cover continents and spans generations.

The leaping chalk horse, carved into an English hillside in the Bronze Age, stands witness to centuries of human endeavor. For Stella, raw from the hurt of a long-standing love affair with a married man, it represents home-sanctuary from the adrenaline-fueled highs and corresponding lows of her career as a singer. Stella is tough, talented, spiky, and funny; adored by every man in every audience but a loser in love.

Writer Spencer McColl is a veteran of World War II, an American ex-fighter pilot with bittersweet memories of his glory days in the village of Church Norton, and of one girl in particular. Now in his seventies, he's making a last sentimental journey from Wyoming to the England of his mother's childhood, and the white horse, to pay tribute to his past.

The Latimer family estate of Bells, in the shadow of the white horse, represents the best of the Victorian values, but is touched by tragedy. When younger son Harry Latimer sets off to the Crimea as a captain in the Hussars, he does so with a heart burdened by his undeclared love for his sister-in-law, Rachel. The terrible reality of the battlefield, where mismanagement and disease prove as deadly as the enemy, provides a bitter contrast to Harry's memories of the tranquility of his rural home.

Stella, Spencer, Harry-each marches to the tune of a different drum, but all three march with stout hearts and heads held high, to meet life face on. The Grass Memorial is an absorbing exploration of the two great preoccupations of the human love and war.

608 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overly wordy which I felt, in many ways detracted from the story. Not a bad read, just a long read!!

[Happpy Flower · Rating 3 out of 5]

After initially reading a couple of chapters I put this book aside because it was too confusing with the rapidly changing POVs and timelines, although two of the three main characters were interesting (I could not warm to Stella for a very long time). But I picked it up again later and found it more interesting (except for Stella).

It’s about two wars, the Crimean War and WWII, and as such is disturbing, for it is often graphic. In contrast, it is also tender in describing the love stories. The author seems to love animals also, and there are numerous side stories about them which are touching.

But I could not really figure out the direct links between the past and future characters. Are they meant to be reincarnated or just parallel? I felt this was left unclear. I don’t want to have to reread the book to fill in those details. So I’ll remain in the dark.

To sum up, it was a satisfying read. In the Crimean War you know what’s coming, so you know it will be rough, in WWII, well the protagonist is looking back, so you know he survived, and as for Stella (her again) she’s never in any danger, other than from her self (and we never find out why). And what’s this about Stella ‘s Mom at the end? (Spoiler alert) Who is this other man in her life? Is this supposed to be a reference to the situation of Janet, Spencer’s wartime girlfriend? Also, I have a problem believing Spencer and Rosemary would actually have a fling in the end, and jeopardize the relationships they have. Not to mention all the unexplained loose ends with Stella and Robert (who but a Stella would even want him?).

[Jerrilyn L. Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t read it

[Janey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes hard going

[Petra Vermeylen · Rating 1 out of 5]

niet uitgelezen.