Pure as the lily

by catherine-cookson

Mary Walton was the apple of her da's eye. For long now he had been out of work, and Mary was his only comfort during those dark years of the Depression, when unemployment and a nagging, ambitious wife gnawed away at his self-respect. Once he was a man who had held his head high with Geordie pride; now his only hope was that Mary would escape from the grinding poverty of the Tyneside slums that had held him a prisoner for so many years.But then something happened to Mary that shattered all his dreams of her future--an event that was to split a family and influence its members for generations to follow...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, British Literature, Historical Romance, Family, Historical

315 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Tara Chevrestt]

This started out as a five star book, focusing on a teenage girl named Mary in 1930s England. Mary has an incredibly controlling, domineering mother, a frightened wimp of a brother, and a father that doesn't seem to know what to do with himself. The drama and scandal enfolds with Mary getting pregnant by a man old enough to be her dad. This has serious repurcussions as her dad in a fit of anger attacks Mary's lover and future husband. A bout in jail leaves him even worse off and causes Mary's mother to become even more bitter than she already is.

Part two takes place in the 40s and focuses on Jimmy, the brother. I didn't like him. It dropped to a four star book here. His character is weak and sniveling. Very late in the story, he finally sticks up to his cruel wife and controlling mother, but ends up becoming dependent upon Mary when his mother commits a most appalling crime. At this point, Mary's husband and step son are dead and she is a lone woman supporting a daughter, a cousin, her dad, and now a brother and a baby. Seems like Mary is never to lead a happy life.

Part three is where it hits the three star mark with no possibility of rebound. Cookson's style just loses something when the time is the 1970s. Her 1970s settings seem to always focus on young women and the debate of losing or retaining their virginity. Tho about Mary's granddaughter, it lost me here.

Had the book stayed on the track it was taking in part one, I would have been thrilled. I was on the edge of my seat in part one. The rest of the book paled in comparision.

[Carmen]

Like all her novels it offers splendid value.

[Shirley Revill]

I don't think I have ever been disappointed with a book that was written by Catherine Cookson.
Read this book a few times over the years and I always enjoy the story. Recommended.

[Sandra]

This delightful book covers a number of generations starting with Alice and Alec and their two children, Mary and Jimmy with Mary being "the apple of her father's eye" and Jimmy being his mother's.
The book is written three books within one. The first book deals mainly with the first Walton generation, the second book going on into Mary and Jimmy's adult life and their children and Book three dealing with the lives of two of the children produced from Mary and Jimmy (Ben and Patricia) and their relationships. The story deals with the war, depression, marriage, separation, family "feuds", dreams, sadness and happiness.

Catharine Cookson, as always, has done an excellent job of bringing all the characters together, describing them like they really are, and helping us to see and know their lives and become a part of their story.

[Steve Shilstone]

Nobody has written better historical romantic fiction. In this one, some bad gals and some bad guys and some good guys and good gals pay, but the main good gal and some good others endure many trials and tribulations before eventually getting to happily ever after.

[George Cole]

Read it only because it was read by my grandmother. It was kind of interesting to see the way people acted in England in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1970s, but, otherwise, it was poorly written and not too terribly interesting.

[Shirley Dawson]

Another fabulous read from the prolific Queen of stories, Catherine Cookson. She never failed to bring a uniqueness in her novels, everyone a winner. One minor fault with this is that she named the characters with two Bens and two Annies, it got a bit confusing at times.

[Brenda]

True Catherine Cookson. One heck of a story.

[Dorrene Robert]

Very entertaining and easy to read. Interesting from the start. I read in a couple of days.

[Paula Galvan]

In this book about survival in rural England from 1933 to 1973, Mary Walton falls in love with Ben, her mother Alice's employer. Ben is an older man raising his young son alone. However, Alice's jealousy leads to a confrontation between Mary's father, Alex, and Ben. This clash results in a fight that leaves Ben disfigured and sends Alex to prison.

The family drama in this story is intense and complicated. Mary repeatedly clashes with her cruel mother, who continues to disrupt the lives of her and her brother, Jeff. As Mary struggles through the hardships of the depression, the war, and the emotional toll of her brother's tragic fate, she perseveres.

The author, who faced significant challenges in her own life before becoming a writer, does not shy away from depicting reality as she sees it. The narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking.

[Linda Leedham]

I’ve always loved Catherine Cookson books, but have not read one for a few years I’ve got all her collection in hard back but not this one.
The story about Mary and her family as a girl,
Her family as a married woman . Her loves and hopes for the future and all her heart break yet she still comes through smiling . I was in the story with her wanting things to go well for her and sharing the disappointments, not every thing going as I wanted it to happen. But happy at the end a good read.

[dee demaere]

Wonderful Tearjerker

I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in this story.
Hard to put down once you get past the first chapter or so.
Catherine Cookson is such a great story teller! I have read many of her books and this is one of her best.
There is drama, romance, some mirth, and yes- heartbreak all within this lovely novel.
Hated for it to end.

[Peggy Holm]

The story follows Mary Walton and her family during three decades and through major events - 1933, 1943, and 1973. I first read this book when it first came out in 1973, when I was a teenager. I loved it then, and still love it years later. It still made me cry and yell out, both in anger and encouragement, to the people as it did then.

[Molly Tysle]

It's a very good book and I really enjoyed it.

[Johanna Juntunen]

Aivan ihana kirja!! Taattua Cooksonia!!

[Amanda Mankelow]

Very enjoyable but I wasn't keen on it being in three (very distinct) parts.

[Punit Sahani]

Completed the novel in 2 days, have read a trilogy by Catherine and this one too had its own brilliance. All emotions served on one platter.

[Debra]

I like most of Catherine Cookson. Did not enjoy the subject in this book. I put it down.

[David]

9.5/10

[Morgan Ramsay]

I love all Catherine Cookson books however this one had me hooked by the first chapter, read it in two days and it was so amazing!

[Lynn Smith]

A favourite of mine set during the 1930s and spanning 40 years into the 1970s. A great generational saga.
Synopsis:
Mary Walton was the apple of her da's eye. For long now he had been out of work, and Mary was his only comfort during those dark years of the Depression, when unemployment and a nagging, ambitious wife gnawed away at his self-respect. Once he was a man who had held his head high with Geordie pride; now his only hope was that Mary would escape from the grinding poverty of the Tyneside slums that had held him a prisoner for so many years.

But then something happened to Mary that shattered all his dreams of her future--an event that was to split a family and influence its members for generations to follow...

[N]

From two stars to three stars.When i first read the book,i wasn’t used to Catherine’s writing style.I got bored,then quit for a period of time.Because it was tedious,boring and i was still stuck in book one.And then,after that,i tried to finish the book and realized perhaps i was wrong,this book wasn’t so bad after all.
When i read book two,i found that Jimmy is strangely weak.I don’t know,but what have Betty could possibly done to be dumped by Jimmy?And i found it sad because Lally died.
In book three,i found this one even more bizarre than book one and two.

[Lili]

I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.

[Fred Ann]

A wonderful family read. the strength of family and love is all ia well as ends well. Mary had dedicated her life to those she loved, not seeking for herself. When Mary is finally on her own unencumbered with the responsibility of family; an old love returns seeking her out..... and a happily ever after theme triumphs

[Elizabeth Gibbs]

This book felt real to me, like it didn't conform to the current set of standards used in writing, but that may be because it was published in 1973. I found myself loving the characters, being excited as they found joy and happiness, and aching with them as they went through terrible sorrow.

Note: The use of God's name in vain is the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars from me.

[Gena Lott]

Cookson's books are so well researched and I love her characterizations and description. She often writes about down-and-outers, but shows how they can change their approach to life. She is also a very spiritual writer, even though the words may not reflect religion specifically.

[angelrits]

This is my first Catherine Cookson book.
The storyline is heartbreaking and kind of realistic. I like wartime stories and this is what has particularly appealed to me in the book. However, not that much has been said about the war itself...

[Gätlin]

"Ta oli leebe ja lihtne, aga tark. Mõned inimesed ei taipa lihtsusest ja sõbralikkusest ja leebusest midagi, nad peavad seda pehmuseks ja rumaluseks, nad arvavad, et sul peavad kurvid logisema, kui sa neid vastu ei ründa. " (lk 252)

[Gaynor]

Cant go wrong with a bit of Catherine Cookson!

[Joan Hill]

really enjoyed this book