The Postcard

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Set in the beautiful Cornish village of Penduggan, the area and community are brought to life in this novel - warts and all! My main problem with this story was that I really didn’t like the main character for most of the story - she’s such a negative person! However, if you persevere like I did, you’ll discover just why she behaves as she does and my feelings towards her did change towards the end of the story. It is a story of estranged familial relations, facing up to past events and uncovering secrets. The story is based around Sennen, the only child of Bill and Adela. Both parents are talented artists (dad make pottery and mum paints). Their rather bohemium take on life tends to make Sennen stand out, that is until she meets and falls in love with a magician who is topping the bill at the theatre. Coming Home is based in Cornwall, England - a beautiful seaside area with loads of fisherman around. The author describes the place so well, that it made me want to go there, just to see it and be close to the characters. It reminds me of South Shields very much as well. The two time frames work very well without becoming confusing in any way. Information is fed to the reader steadily as we gradually build up a picture of the family dynamic over the years and we understand that there is a lot of resentment between the sisters. Tensions build to a head when Penny’s sister Suzie comes to stay in the village after the death of their mother, making waves not only between herself and Penny but also with other village residents. The two girls’ very different personalities are expertly written and I personally felt that I could understand why they each felt the way they did about each other. This is heart warming, slightly emotional, full of love and family ties, and really is a fabulous book that I adored reading. Easily one of my favourite Fern Britton books to date.

Penny seems to be settled as the vicars' wife and mother to the gorgeous Jenna, she is also still very much involved in her job as a television producer. She has all she needs in the village, her family and her close friend Helen. This is a charming book with lots of twists in the plot. Beautiful Cornish scenery just finishes it off nicely. The Postcard' is set in the incredibly popular place of Cornwall, and I'll be honest, I feel as though I could write my own book on Cornwall itself, due to how poular that particular setting is in the bookworld this year. Yes, there has been that many. However, the setting of 'The Postcard' didn't bother me this time as it wasn't the main focus of the storyline. Instead, it was a rather beautiful addition and the author had let the characters do the talking, as opposed to everything being centred around Cornwall. Don't get me wrong, it does sound like a beautiful place! I loved how Fern Britton used the setting to add depth to her storyline instead of making it the main focus. In 2011 Fern Britton would write her first novel, which would be titled ‘New Beginnings,’ and it would be a stand-alone romance novel. The following year in 2012 she would start her ‘Hidden Treasures’ series of romance novels, starting with the book also named ‘Hidden Treasures.’ These titles would fast see her becoming successful, as many would come to appreciate her as a fully fledged author in her own right. What a wonderful and moving story, spanning three generations of one family, and I was privileged to learn all of their stories. I was also delighted to see this book was focused on Ella's story, which I had been wanting to know more about since I finished The Postcard.Fern Britton anchored her own ITV1 Saturday night series, That's What I Call Television in 2007. In December 2007, she went on a secret trip to Basra to broadcast behind-the-scenes footage of the troops. She appeared as a guest presenter for the show, Have I Got News for You on 27 April 2007 and again on 17 October 2008. On 12 January 2008, she was the winner in the first episode of Thank God You're Here, a television comedy series hosted by Paul Merton. In April 2008, Fern Britton together with her colleague, Phillip Schofield was the presenter of the revived 'all star' version of the super hit ITV show, Mr and Mrs. The show was broadcast on Saturday nights as a six-part series.

Wonderful return to Trevay and great to see Penny Leighton again, in this new novel from Fern Britton. I need to confess something. I am actually quite disgusted with myself. Promise you won't hold it against me? Fern Britton cleverly mixes the modern-day story with that of the disappearance of Sennen all those years ago, she also tells how Adela and her husband Bill met and fell in love. This is seamlessly done and I particularly enjoyed Adela and Bill's story; a true and endearing story that really captured my imagination. I do love a book that spans the generations, and that enables the reader to see why and how characters develop and make the decisions that they do. I know personally a family who has been affected by a similar event and I could relate Ella and Henry’s attitudes in a almost identical way. The need for explanations and understanding for some and the denial from others.But when her sister turns up to share the news that her mother has died at the same as her popular television programme is cancelled Penny struggles to cope. Her cry for help is noticed but not properly heard and it takes an outsider to realise what is going on as Penny's past is laid bare for all to see. Set in Cornwall, this is a beautifully woven tale of families, and love and community. The author's knowledge of Cornwall shines through and the village of Pendruggan is a character it its own right. Set in a small village in Cornwall, the novel was warm and welcoming. There were an eclectic mix of characters who endeared themselves to the reader. It was a pleasure to get to know them. The pace and involvement is much better towards the end of the story. I have to say, this is not a book I’ll be wanting to read again soon, but it may well appeal to you more than it did to me. It could have been just me in the wrong frame of mind for it or just not my cup of tea in the first parts- but I did finish it, so it isn’t that bad! I’ve read others by this author in the past and thoroughly enjoyed them so it won’t put me off reading more from her in future. The time line floats about between the various elements and after a while I got used to never being quite sure what the next chapter would bring or who the focus would be on.

The storyline is very well written, engaging readers from the get go, allowing them to form their own opinion of every eventuality the author describes. Whilst I had to remember to not judge the mother on her decision, seeing as I wasn't in her position, I still found it hard to just sit on the fence where she was concerned. Obviously, seeing as I don't wish to sway anyone with my own opinion, I'll keep that part of it to myself. Just be prepared to go on an emotional journey. I loved the way the story evolved, with the shattered feelings being hurled in Sennen's face and the way she turns to her childhood friend for a little support. You can feel Ella's need for her mum in her life and the relationship building between them. You can feel her desperation to be reunited with her children and her shopping trip to buy some more traditional clothing is particularly bittersweet. She is an individual but wants to create the right impression with her children. Ella is that outsider, she becomes involved in Penny's life through looking after Jenna as well as working for Penny's new next door neighbour Kit. Ella though is in Pendruggan for another reason, she has come to speak to her grandmother's solicitor about her legacy - trouble is Ella is not the recipient that is Ella's mother who walked out and left Ella and her brother a very long time ago. As a mother myself leaving behind my children seems unimaginable but I cannot begin to comprehend how it would affect everyone involved.

Creative Play

The raw emotions felt by each family member were very well portrayed. Everyone reacts to circumstances differently and this was evident in the story.