Whisper To The Living

by Ruth Hamilton

Annie Byrne was born during one of the worst winters Lancashire ever remembered. When the doctor finally got through the nine-foot drifts of snow, mother and daughter were in a pretty bad way, but both the new-born Annie and her exhausted mother - a spinner in the cotton mill - were fighters, tough and determined not to let the world knock them down.

They needed to be tough, for when Annie's father was killed in the war, Nancy married again. And Eddie Higson - once he'd courted and won Nancy Byrne - turned into a nightmare of a man, terrorizing the young girl with one secret evil after another.

She had two friends who helped her through these bad years. Martin Cullen, rough, uneducated, loyal, who knew he wasn't good enough for her, and David Pritchard, the doctor who had supported her through the worst times and who had bad problems of his own.

Together they watched her grow into a beautiful young woman, desperately fighting the legacy of her childhood.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 1989

About the author

Ruth Hamilton was one of North West England's most popular writers. She was the bestselling author of twenty-five novels, including Spinning Jenny, The Bells of Scotland Road, Mulligan's Yard, Mersey View and That Liverpool Girl. She was born in Bolton, which is the setting for many of her novels, and spent most of her life in Lancashire.

(source: http://www.panmacmillan.com/author/ru...)

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Byrne was born during one of the worst winters in Lancashire ever remembered.
when the Doctor finally got through the nine-foot drifts of snow, mother and daughter were in a pretty bad way. Annie's father was killed in the war and her mother, Nancy , married again. But Nancy's new husband, Eddie Higson turned into a nightmare of a man, terrorizing the c
young girl.

This is the story of a young girl who has to try and survive her step-father's brutality. We follow her journey through to adulthood. We are back once again in Bolton and the coton mills. Annie has a stubborn streak running through her. The book has a steady pace with characters who are likeable and unlikable. You will find yourself rooting for Annie. I did feel the book dragged on longer than necessary, but it was still a good read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #RuthHamilton for my ARC of #AWhisperToTheLiving in exchange for an honest review.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This social history novel is set in Bolton, a Lancashire town, with cotton mills a big source of employment. When Annie's dad was killed in the war, her mother remarried and the 1950s turned out to be bleak years, for her new stepfather had evil designs on the little girl.

I would love to say the book has more cheerful aspects, but every good point the characters achieve is hard won; and then they revisit a previous home and see how poverty stricken their former neighbours still are. Annie had a temper and was a tough girl, was determined to survive and learn. Maybe some readers will be helped by reading of her struggle.

This is an unbiased review.

[Sherry Chiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems wrong to say one enjoyed a book that deals with abuse, which "A Whisper to the Living" does. I did find myself engrossed by the characters, their relationships, and especially the setting, which was evoked brilliantly. Ruth Hamilton was a natural-born storyteller, if this book is any indication. I could have lived without the brief third section of the story, which felt more like wish fulfillment than anything else to me. And in the second section, which switches from wonderful first-person narration to third, the protagonist, Annie, comes across as a Mary Sue—too good to be true. But this was a fast-moving, never-boring, utterly absorbing read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Transworld, for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ms Patricia E Sim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Human Iife and relationships in the raw.

A very well written and powerful examination of friends and family relationships. A truthful and riveting portrayal of life and the twists and turns as people's lives often become very different from what was expected or imagined. Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans.

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very touching story in the manner of Catherine Cookson. Young girl loses father in the war and gets a truly evil stepfather. You follow her from childhood to womanhood and cheer her all the way. A very good story and a good author.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty with humour

This novel captures the flavour of that era, the cotton mills and the women whose lives were mapped out by men. It was then that Annie grew up after losing her father in the war. Annie had to face evil but her stubborn spirit kept her going.

[Pat McNay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whisper to the living

Another gripping,page turning saga that I have enjoyed every word of. I got to know and love most of the characters and like Annie n Nancy hate the villain. I'm now looking forward to my next saga from a great author.

[Phyllis Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Lots of interest watching the girl grow up and interaction with her mother and other people and teachers around her.

[Debbie Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written story that kept me gripped to the point I didn't want to put it down till I had read it :) Story about how a young girl survives the evils of her step-father to come out the other side the winner and survivor.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Ruth Hamilton I ever read and I loved it. This is a firm favourite of mine to this day. The story of a young girl surviving the brutality of her stepfather and coming out the other side. A heart warming story without sentimentality or mawkishness.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is one of the best books I have read so far, really excellent and heartwarming

[Megan Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Ruth Hamilton book I read. Absolutely loved it.