Review: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan

Posted August 11, 2016 by Charlotte in Reviews / 2 Comments

The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Farm at the Edge of the World by  Sarah VaughanThe Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan
Published by Hodder & Stoughton on June 30, 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Historical
Pages: 321
Format: Arc
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

1939, and Will and Alice are evacuated to a granite farm in north Cornwall, perched on a windswept cliff. There they meet the farmer's daughter, Maggie, and against fields of shimmering barley and a sky that stretches forever, enjoy a childhood largely protected from the ravages of war.
But in the sweltering summer of 1943 something happens that will have tragic consequences. A small lie escalates. Over 70 years on Alice is determined to atone for her behaviour - but has she left it too late?
2014, and Maggie's granddaughter Lucy flees to the childhood home she couldn't wait to leave thirteen years earlier, marriage over; career apparently ended thanks to one terrible mistake. Can she rebuild herself and the family farm? And can she help her grandmother, plagued by a secret, to find some lasting peace?
This is a novel about identity and belonging; guilt, regret and atonement; the unrealistic expectations placed on children and the pain of coming of age. It's about small lies and dark secrets. But above all it's about a beautiful, desolate, complex place.

Having adored The Art of Baking Blind I eagerly read The Farm at the Edge of the WorldAnd it was fantastic, so much better than the first.

For me I felt that this was a very different book to The Art of Baking BlindFor starters it is a lot more serious in tone.  The light, fluffy tone is gone and instead there is a sense of brooding darkness as past regrets and mistakes catch up to the present.

This is a story that will pull you in and let you taste the Cornish countryside. As you delve into the past and over the edge as you try to find the present and strive to learn more.

Captivating and compelling it is hard to decide with story-line is best. Is it the tale of a young evacuee from London trying to make the most of a new life, or will a older women trying to repair a mistake win?

Love, lost and holding on to the past play an important roll in this story. The Farm at the Edge of the World is perfect read for the end of summer. Especially when we all reminisce about our childhood summers.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 372 other subscribers


Tags: , , , , , ,

2 responses to “Review: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan

  1. Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy

    This sounds like a very thought-provoking story. I’m more drawn to your description of The Art of Baking Blind though for the lighter tone, but I’m glad this was a great read for you. It sounds very well written!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.