I loved the characters in this book and I cared about them all. I also loved the sound of windswept and beautiful Harris in Scotland and was sorely tempted to jump on a plane and go there until I thought to look up the weather forecast which for this week in February is 7 straight days of rain, short days and highs of 7 degrees. Nell's 'mother', Wendy, is settled in a nursing home suffering from advancing dementia, and her father is out of the picture . More recently, when Nell visits her mother, Wendy denies she ever had a daughter and thinks that Nell is someone called Florence. In Little Wing, Freya North gives us three unforgettable characters across two timelines: pregnant schoolgirl Florence, who is banished in 1969 to one of the farthest outposts of Scotland to deliver her baby; lonely, untethered Nell, who divides her time between care in the community and visiting her mentally impaired mother; and photographer Dougie, a man estranged from his roots and troubled by a painful past.

Little Wing by Freya North | Waterstones Little Wing by Freya North | Waterstones

The book has two timelines - the late 1960s/early 197os, and the early 2000s. The book jumped between the two timelines, which isn't my favourite type of book structure. As I read on and got to know the characters better, I got used to the time jumps and in the end didn't mind it. I adore family drama as long as it’s not too dysfunctional. The choices that individuals made in past times because of societal pressures are always interesting to me. Thoughtful themes include family secrets, finding answers, belonging, the true meaning of family, forgiveness, lost souls, mother/daughter relationships, supportive coworkers, friendship, compassion, and resilience. Decades ago it was easier to keep secrets. Families, neighbors, and/or friends were likely to care for unwanted, abandoned, or neglected children and raise them as their own. In addition, a great deal of shame existed for the family that experienced a teenage pregnancy. Without DNA technology, it’s more difficult to unravel the past as you question an older generation that might feel the need to keep secrets. North has crafted her characters so boldly, so intricately; endowed them with qualities so inherently human, you cannot help but take them into your heart. I cared for all of three. For Florence and her exile to a foreign place. For Nell and her heartbreaking search for the truth. And for Dougie and the scars that refuse to heal. Don’t you just love it when characters in a book become to feel like friends or family? That is precisely what happened with the characters in Little Wing, Nell and Dougie especially. They just brought such warmth to me, and I wanted nothing but the best outcome for them both.Told from three points of view, the structure facilitates a connection with each character. We experience Dougie’s and Nell’s work frustrations and empathize with their parental relationships. I love hearing from Nell’s birth mother in her own voice through journal entries. I need to note that I appreciate this point of view printed in italics. It made the transition to her POV easy to navigate. In addition to the three main characters, I loved the portrayal of the kind and compassionate nurse in both the present and past timelines. It is not mawkish and syrupy at all but a book full of tenderness and grace as Nell embarks upon a personal journey in her hunt for a sense of belonging. I’m enthusiastically recommending this well-written and engaging story for readers who appreciate a strong sense of place, interesting characters, family drama, and unraveling secrets. Book clubs might enjoy this for the rich discussion possibilities. Readers from Scotland will definitely appreciate the setting!

Little Wing by Freya North | Goodreads Little Wing by Freya North | Goodreads

The story weaves its beautiful way to the conclusion, which was exactly how I wanted it to end. But to be honest, I didn’t really want it to end at all.As the past begins to close in on them both, they find themselves travelling to a remote village called Harris in the Outer Hebrides; Nell to explore her family connections that have been long-buried with the woman she learns is her real mother; Dougie, for a long overdue stay to reconnect with his father, Gordon, and confront events that he has tried to ignore for too long. Inevitably, their paths are destined to cross! In 2004 Nell Hartley, cafe owner in bustling Colchester, discovers something about herself and her family which will changer her life forever. She decides to try and find out more about this bombshell which has just impacted her world. But where does she start? I loved the difficulties Nell and Dougie face, the way the lives of the characters have such rich histories and how two very different worlds collide in the early 70s and then almost 40 years later. The second timeline joins Nell and Dougie who are both in critical times of their lives. Nell's 'mother', Wendy, is in a nursing home suffering from advancing dementia, and her father is out of the picture. When Nell visits her mother, Wendy denies she ever had a daughter and thinks that Nell is someone called Florence. This is a story about self-discovery, belonging, love, loss, family, friendships, motherhood, strength, resilience and the courage to live with and accept the truth.

Little Wing: A beautifully written, emotional and Little Wing: A beautifully written, emotional and

I'm not that familiar with Hendrix's music and didn't recognise the 'Little Wing' reference, but it seems to fit quite nicely. The story has well-developed characters, depth and history , and I absolutely loved finding out more about a remote area of the UK. Dougie Munro, searching for adventure, leaves the Isle of Harris – the island of his birth – for art college and a career in London as a photographer.Little Wing' was a steady read. I felt it began perhaps a little too slowly, but as the story gathered pace, I became invested in Nell's story and found that I was drawn to it more and more. I enjoyed the characters and while it was hard to make out quite what was going on in the beginning, come the middle and end, I was able to relax into the different story lines. Learning about Flora and her journey was so beautiful and heartbreaking, her storyline was definitely my favorite. I really loved Gordon who is such a loving and caring father figure to Dougie. The ending really wrapped it up for me and warmed my heart. I was smiling to myself constantly with sheer happiness for our main characters. North’s most powerful, most resounding message, though, is one about home, about roots. About finding home, going home. About the pull of home — that invisible cord that tugs you and tells you, THIS is home. This book is very much a character piece and a very beautiful one at that. The story is told in 2 timelines: 1969 where a young 16 year old girl called Florence is banished from her home to the Outer Hebrides to hide her shameful secret. We learn about how Florence navigates teenage pregnancy and motherhood with no family, no friends in a very foreign place.

Little Wing: A beautifully written, emotional and - WHSmith Little Wing: A beautifully written, emotional and - WHSmith

Also, this is the second book I've read recently with a young mother raising a baby completely on her own in an isolated location and absolutely revelling in every minute of it. I have to admit I think that would be my idea of hell and I'm not sure it would have been helpful for me to read this when my kids were little. Maybe that's just me? A couple of things bugged me. Firstly, I question whether someone could really be in their mid 30s and have never seen their own birth certificate/know where they were born. Having a passport or a birth certificate for ID is a pretty standard requirement in this day and age, so that's something you have to suspend disbelief about. In the 1960s, a pregnant 16-year-old is banished to one of the remotest parts of the UK. Years later, Nell and Dougie are both at critical moments in their lives when their paths cross. Between Camden, Colchester and the Outer Hebrides, the three storylines collide when secrets are uncovered and answers sought." The characters are warm, emotionally complex and vulnerable in particular Nell and Dougie who are trying to find out who they really are and where they belong in the world. We join these main characters on an intimate emotional journey tracing their past and connecting with loved ones. The stories of Florence, Nell and Dougie are utterly captivating, as they unfold, collide and intertwine, revealing secrets, tragedies and unexpected connections.Little Wing shares the story of a pregnant teenager who is sent away from her family to give birth. Years later, Nell (the child) is a young adult and concerned for her mom who suffers from dementia. Her mom’s ramblings cause Nell to question her past. Nell sets out for the Outer Hebrides in search of answers. While there, she crosses paths with Dougie and makes significant discoveries. Two timelines, two main characters and two different stories. The first timeline begins in the 1960's with a pregnant 16-year-old banished from her home and sent away to one of the most remote parts of the UK.