The Strange Year of E.G. Rawlings (Hardback)

A remarkable story of love and survival. Brilliant, compelling and unexpected. Gyles Brandreth; A truly outstanding story. 5 stars; Marnie rents the boathouse on Lady Isobel Mallison's land. She's startled when a man emerges out of the mist, asking if he can moor his houseboat. Little does she know how E.G. Rawlings' arrival will change her life as she gets acquainted with him over the year.... she invites him to share either dinner or coffee. She uses these occasions to find out about his life as a war correspondent. The places he's reported from, the love of his life, the PTSD he and other wartime journalists have in common. However, this book is so much more than Marnie and her growing interest in Rawlings. Lady Isobel Mallison, the owner of this beautiful property, had first met Rawlings while she was a diplomat's wife at the embassy in Kabul. Her husband Peter had passed from cancer a couple of years before leaving her with this beautiful property they had both so looked forward to exploring and developing in their retirement. Isobel was a woman in her own right, having been a Justice of the Peace. It was through this role that she met Marnie and offered her the boathouse to rent. She shines through this storyline as this graceful, elegant but very kind "matriarch". Others interact throughout the novel with the main protagonists. All are superbly drawn so that as the reader, you feel like you're getting acquainted not just with Rawlings, Marnie, and Isobel, but with all those who make up this very lively house filled with love. There were so many things I loved in this book, Rawlings view on Brexit. The confidence Marnie embraces to hide her past. Isobel's role as the matriarch of this strange group of players. Felix's arrival brings love and life to all who he meets while grappling with his demons. I stupidly started reading this book at midnight, thinking "I'll read a chapter to lull me to sleep". It did not! Instead, I read until the sun came up at six. Fortunately, I was able to close the book with a deep sense of fulfilment and love with one proviso, Jane McCulloch; this was such a beautiful storyline filled with interesting, vibrant characters from whom I want to hear more... With a bit of luck, I won't have to wait too long to find the answers. Treebeard; Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.