Welcome to Litsy!

18 year old Manod lives on a small Welsh island whose population is steadily decreasing as people leave for easier lives on the mainland. She is smart and dreams of more than a life where her only future is marriage. When strangers arrive to study the island Manod is both drawn to them and dismayed at how wrong they are about her home. A quiet novel with a unique and complicated heroine, this was easy to finish quickly but left much to consider.

Debut novel about a small Welsh island community right before World War II. This was one of the books I had predicted would make the booker last year (I was wrong). Quiet novel about island life that is beautifully written. Fairly similar to The Colony. Story follows 18-yo Manood who is conflicted between traditions of her community and desire for modernization on the mainland.

Reminiscent of a few books I‘ve enjoyed: The Colony by Audrey Magee and Clear by Carys Davies. It‘s a slim novel, set in 1938 off the coast of Wales on a tiny island with 20 inhabitants. We see the island from Manod‘s perspective, an 18 year old girl living with her father and younger sister, when two English researchers arrive. Seeing her existence through their eyes changes everything. Isolated community, heavy on the nature and scenery.

Just loved this! One of those books that I had completely the wrong idea about, and was only persuaded by another reader to give it a go.

'Your English is perfect,' Joan said, watching me thoughtfully. 'Edward was worried we wouldn't find someone.'
'I learnt at school. From Sister Mary and from reading Woman's Own.'
She laughed loudly, again. I laughed too. No one found me funny on the island.
'I see. Well, it's perfect. You could pass for an Englishwoman.'
Joan looked out at the sea.

'Greatest country in the world.'

[Sensing an authorial raised eyebrow here]

Beautiful writing and a bleak island life. Whilst a little predictable in the romance element, still held its worth. I liked the portrayal of young life and the natural and harsh world. Also a good time of the year to read it.

There are a surprising number of books with this title. This one is quiet with a pace both leisurely and conveying urgency, echoing the collision of the way time is reckoned on the mainland with the way it runs on the island. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and was glad to have the audiobook to help me with the Welsh pronunciations. In the end, it left me wanting, which is apt but unsatisfying.

Wonderful. Sparse sensitive writing. Historical fiction at its best makes the characters real and come alive. The protagonist learns about the trickery of strangers. I can see the straightforward ease of rural life, not for the work, but for the familiarity of the people

A quiet lyrical novel set on an island off the coast of Wales right before WWII. Beautiful writing. 3.5 🌟