The Good Sister in Aussie Readers

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Nov 12, 2017 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, gift-from-author, own-read, historical-fiction, reviewing-by-request, aussie-authors, read-on-kindle, 2017-release

It was 2015 and Bel Davison returned to Glasgow from Sydney, which had been her home for over forty years, to be by her elderly aunt’s side. Her namesake, Isobel MacDonald was ninety-seven years old and in poor health. There was no one left, apart from Bel, and she needed her niece with her to finalise her life; to set her affairs in order.

Beseeched by her aunt to read her memoirs, as Isobel was still unable to speak of the past, Bel found herself buried in memories. Her childhood came back to h It was 2015 and Bel Davison returned to Glasgow from Sydney, which had been her home for over forty years, to be by her elderly aunt’s side. Her namesake, Isobel MacDonald was ninety-seven years old and in poor health. There was no one left, apart from Bel, and she needed her niece with her to finalise her life; to set her affairs in order.

Beseeched by her aunt to read her memoirs, as Isobel was still unable to speak of the past, Bel found herself buried in memories. Her childhood came back to her with suddenness, the impact of what had been buried for so long still able to hurt. But mostly Bel felt guilt. She knew she had been cruel – as teens were – to her aunt, who, even though she’d been an old curmudgeon, loved her as if she was her own child. When Bel learned of Isobel’s lost love from the war years, and the span of heartache she had endured, she was shocked. She’d had no idea.

Matthew Reid was Isobel’s solicitor and when Bel met him, she could see the relationship between him and her aunt was a close one. As she spent time with Matt, going through her aunt’s wishes and discovering the planning that had been involved, she found herself warming to the Scotsman who’d had troubles in his own past. But Bel had trouble coping with the imminent loss of her aunt – she loved her feisty manner; her devotion and love. What would she do without her?

The Good Sister by Aussie author Maggie Christensen is the author’s first historical fiction novel and it’s brilliant! More please!! Maggie always writes about older women – this one is no different. But the nature of the two timeframes – 1938 onwards in Scotland, and 2015, also in Scotland, but with mention of Sydney, the heat and other significant Australian icons – made my enjoyment of The Good Sister complete. For fans of historical fiction; and of Australian authors – I have no hesitation in recommending The Good Sister extremely highly.

With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review.
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Nov 17, 2017 Janine rated it really liked it

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The Good Sister is a women's fiction novel combined with historical fiction. It can be read as a standalone, but does kind of follow on from Maggie's other book Broken Threads.

It tells the story of two Isobels, one living in Scotland, and the other Isobel (Bel) who lives in Sydney. Bel is the niece of Isobel and has been called back to Scotland because her aunt is unwell and as Bel is her only living relative, she needs to put her affairs in order.

The story is told in two timelines, the past an ...more

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Dec 24, 2017 Kira marked it as to-read

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