What an insensitive time to be a woman!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND HER WORDS ON THE STORY
Judith Barrow
Judith Barrow, originally from Saddleworth, a group of villages on the edge of the Pennines, has lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, for over forty years.
She has an MA in Creative Writing with the University of Wales Trinity St David’s College, Carmarthen. BA (Hons) in Literature with the Open University, a Diploma in Drama from Swansea University. She is a Creative Writing tutor and holds workshops on all genres.
She says:-
My next book, Sisters is due to be published by Honno ( https://www.honno.co.uk) in January 2023. Two sisters hold a secret that changes both their lives forever.
My last book, The Heart Stone, was published by Honno in February 2021. Set in Lancashire, the story begins as the First World War is declared. The protagonist, Jessie, has realised that her feelings for her friend, Arthur are far more than friendship. Arthur lies about his age to join his local Pals’ Regiment. Jessie’s widowed mother is so frightened, she agrees to marry Amos Morgan, not knowing what a violent and spiteful man he is. When he turns on Jessie, Arthur’s mother is the only person to help her and the two women are drawn together. But Jessie faces a desperate future and must choose between love and safety. (~ from Amazon)
MY REVIEW
The Heart Stone by JUDITH BARROW is a story peopled with unforgettable characters.
What an insensitive time to be a woman! That poor protagonist, 16 years old, braving a misogynist world.
To call Judith Barrow’s The Heart Stone captivating would be an understatement, as
this book is beyond that: it’s historical fiction that’s non-fiction. And if you’re anything
like me, you’ll want to hide behind your shadow for not giving much thought to the
callous hardships you didn’t know about how your sisters survived and flourished during that hideous time– World War II in London.
Time and time again, I saw how the prospects weren’t good for women. There were
times when I felt the women shouldn’t have kept quiet about things done to them. But
that’s because I was brought up under different circumstances. But jeez, those women,
how they suffered! I felt myself crash over for Jessie, the poor protagonist who readily
found a cozy spot in my heart.
I loved how women looked out for each other and supported each other as best as
possible: the flourish part of the story.
Yes, this is fiction, but even the author’s lovely words couldn’t lessen the blow I felt
with every hardship women endured, especially that poor girl. This book opened up my
mind to quite a few feelings. For example, could it be that men really took themselves
so seriously at any time in history to think that they were above us women? Where is
the gentility that’s packaged in everyone at birth? It became so intense in this book that I started to pity all the men in the story. Were they that blind? That soulless?
All that said, I adored The Heart Stone by Judith Barrow. Wow. Storytelling at its best!
I struggled to understand the way Bob spoke– broken up and not sure what to call his
distinctive ‘different’ way of speaking. Oh, but that all paled in comparison with the
storyline.
We aren’t that different than the men in that story. One look around, and we can see
that we, none of us, men and women, aren’t much different– we still hate, are
prejudiced, and walk with chips on our shoulders– even now in this day and age. God
save us.
Perhaps I looked too deep to come out of reading this book feeling so bleak about our
humanity. But I think this is what good literature is supposed to do: put us through the
wringer and land us in a better place than where we started. This book did for me, and
I’m forever grateful to Judith Barrow, the fantastic author of The Heart Stone. What
an uplifting story. I feel more human now after reading this book. Thank you so
sincerely. Get this book: You’ll be happy you did— 5-star from me.
Top Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com
Second Photo by yours truly
Thanks for reading and I wish you miracles.
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Lovely review!
Thanks so much, lovely Annette. I appreciate you tons. Stay sweet. Xoxo
It’s difficult reading these types of books, but you do have to remember that times were different then
Times were different then, yes. Look how far we’ve come! Thanks for the comment, dear Deb. I appreciate you tons. Stay sweet. xoxo
Thank you Selma for this review. These kind of books are eye openers, making us feel grateful for what we have today.
Eye openers indeed. And to get the history in the form of fiction is splendid and heartwarming. Stories is where we leave our hearts. And in our hearts is where the characters live on. Thanks for the visit, Sonia. I bless you.
Sounds like a great read, adding it to my list. Great review Selma. ❤️
Super cool you! I’m sure you will enjoy it. Thanks for reading and commenting, dear Daphny. I bless you. xoxo
You’re welcome, dear Selma! Bless you too xoxo
It sounds like a great book, Selma: what a wonderful review! 😊
I enjoyed reading it. It’s a great one. I cannot wait for the launch of THE book we’re all waiting for. I will purchase. Thanks for commenting, Ingrid. I bless you. xoxo
Thank you Selma 🤩
That’s a great review, Selma, of a book I loved too. The picture of it in your hotel window made me feel dizzy!
Oh no. I didn’t mean to make you dizzy, dear Alex. But now that you mention it, the hight is dizzying.
THE book is phenomenal. So glad I read. That makes two 😉
Hope many more find it. Xoxo
Be well. I wish you miracles.