Exclusive Chapter Sampler: A Year of Marvellous Ways

by Sarah Winman

An exclusive free sample from Sarah Winman's new novel, A YEAR OF MARVELLOUS WAYS.

From the author of the bestselling WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT comes this spellbinding new novel.

Marvellous Ways is eighty-nine years old and has lived alone in a remote Cornish creek for nearly all her life. Lately she's taken to spending her days sitting by the river with a telescope. She's waiting for something - she's not sure what, but she'll know it when she sees it.

Drake is a young soldier left reeling by the Second World War. When his promise to fulfil a dying man's last wish sees him wash up in Marvellous' creek, broken in body and spirit, the old woman comes to his aid.

A Year of Marvellous Ways is a glorious, life-affirming story about the magic in everyday life and the pull of the sea, the healing powers of storytelling and sloe gin, love and death and how we carry on when grief comes snapping at our heels.

31 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2015

About the author

Sarah Winman (born 1964) is a British actress and author. In 2011 her debut novel When God Was a Rabbit became an international bestseller and won Winman several awards including New Writer of the Year in the Galaxy National Book Awards.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally speaking this novel offers me everything I could ever want out of a book. It is captivating, mystical and intriguing. The writing is poetic to the point of salivation, yet the story rolls on nevertheless without an entanglement in poetic seriousness. I will not read this book again: I will eat it.

[Fiona Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

AI loved this magical mystical book.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just did not want to leave the magical world Winman so imaginatively creates in this simply stunning little book. I loved Marvellous and the tender sweet relationship between her and Drake. The crazy Marvellous tenderly and carefully cares for Drake and under her spell he slowly heals from the horrors of war and lost love and he finds a gentle life in the Boathouse by the river. I am just left to imagine how Drake's life will unfold from here and where new love might come from - I just hope it is not too far away - no spoilers here)! This book is absolutely enchanting, captivating and beautiful. I love Sarah Winman's really individual writing and superb story weaving and will keep an eye out for whatever comes next.

[Gwynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read the kindle "chapter sampler", but the whole book, which I loved.

I really enjoy Sarah Winman's style of writing and her quirky characters, such a refreshing break from the run of the mill romance and thriller genres.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. A story of healing and of love.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interestingly written. Sometimes it made me shake my head and question what i was reading as in was it meant to be funny or serious. I have never read a book quite like this before. It puzzles me slightly and I'm not sure if that was in a good way or not. But nether the less I can see where other people were coming from when they said it was magical. At times I certainly felt that I had unwittingly had a 'special' brownie. But it was different and it was ok. Just leaving me with a felling of being slightly strange. But a very sweet ending.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

on the whole enjoyed this book but felt however something was missing from this novel as the novel looks at love, soul searching and how we cope with things based in cornwall just after WW2

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book & will definitely be reading it again, Sarah Winman has an amazing way of writing & you can't help but become involved with the characters.

[Catherine Walbran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellously captivating!

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poetically written magic-realism book with some beautiful metaphors. It was a bit difficult to get into and the book never really gripped me. Set in Cornwall in 1947, the main character, Marvellous Ways, is a caring and wise eighty-nine year old woman who has lived alone in remote creek for most of her life. Francis Drake is a soldier who has returned from the Second World War only to witness the death of his true love. He washes up in Marvellous’ creek and she nurses him back to health, both physically and mentally. She recounts her tales of life and love throughout the book. The book touches on existentialism and what it means to truly live. As Marvellous comes to the end of her life, she helps Drake continue with his. I would recommend this book to people who love good prose, are patient readers and are looking for a philosophical read more than an interesting story.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, thought provoking and mystical.

[Sara Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and easy to read

[Kathleen King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story but loved the vocabulary in this book. The character is interesting and the words the author chose were perfect.

[Irene]

Where is the rest of this book?

[Sass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this author. Beautiful writing and storytelling.

[Clare Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some chapters flowed and engaged me but there were others that lost me in over describing wordiness!

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is another entry into my books about WWII. This one has a magical realism flavor. There were moments when I had trouble following the story, which accounts for the downgrade to 3. But I really loved this book.

[Cath Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow my second magical realism novel featuring mermaids in a row... But this one was really beautifully done. Out of the box, but a delight to read, every word, which is who will like it most I suspect... People who love words :) Sarah Winman is a writer for sure.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

From reading a few reviews, I suspect I am at odds with a lot of readers in not liking this novel.
Instead of finding it magical I found it irritating and unbelievable.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beautifully written. A bit of an unusual story but I really enjoyed the narrative

[Jean Osuliivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not sure about this book, different

[Tilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystical story set in a dreamland of truths and mysteries.

[Grandma Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult read, only a chapter at a time. Pleased that I persisted to the end

[Wendy Jakob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book club read. I struggled a bit as it was a bit confusing at times and a bit mystical. Glad I persevered though.

[Susan Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read

[MB · Rating 1 out of 5]

Found this book very hard work and gave up after three chapters. It was beautifully written but unfortunately just not my type of book.

[Cathy Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book which was a pleasure to read during a holiday from teaching. Definitely recommend as an magical piece of escapism.