The Linnet Bird was good story, if rather unbelievable. I enjoyed it, once I decided to suspend my disbelief for a while. ( )

http://moloch981.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/the-linnet-bird/ ( )

I found the story somewhat incomplete, and unsatisfactory. Everthing always seems to be on the verge of going bad for the heroine, but some last minute device saves her. I had the feeling it wants to be deep and feminist, but it's just a really sad story of a young woman who always seems one step removed from happiness. ( )

wordt aangeraden in "De geur van koffiebloesem"

This book was just what I needed as I recovered from the flu. It was interesting enough to keep my attention but not too difficult or dark.

Linny Gow has a horrible childhood in the slums of Liverpool. Her mother died when she was young and her stepfather put her to work as a prostitute at a tender age. Narrowly missing death from the hands of one of the customers she decides to set up on the streets herself. Although she isn't in a bed of roses she has her own money and arranges for her own customers. One night she makes a mistake and gets into a carriage with a violent man. However, this ends up being a blessing in disguise as she ends up being cared for by a gentleman who arranges a job for her in a library. There she meets a young lady who decides to go to India on the Fishing Fleet (young woman from England go out hoping to find a husband) and asks Linny to accompany her. Although Linny isn't interested in marriage she does want to travel and she agrees to go. Her life in India is also no bed of roses but she does triumph.

This book is a little like the passionate romances I read in my 20's, you know the type that always had "Fiery" of "Flaming" in the title. But it does provide a lot of historical detail which seems real to me. Besides, the author lives in Winnipeg and I always like to support local writers. ( )