Sisters of the Quantock Hills: Sarah's Story

 

I have not re-read The Sisters of the Quantock Hills in almost twenty years (!) because I was held back by two fears: What if I couldn't handle how sad the stories are in places? What if my memories are colored by nostalgia and the writing not as good as I remember? This re-read put both fears to rest. The sadness is realistic but not without hope. And the writing is amazing. I will always feel that this series is an underappreciated gem.

This series was one of my favorites when I was 16. I loved the physical books- the gorgeous cover art, the font, the thick pages, even the smell of the paperbacks. I loved the story. The same period of time, told four times over, from four different perspectives, the readers gaining a deeper understanding of the "whole story" with each new point of view. These stories are beautifully written - vivid descriptions and strong emotion but all done in a very tight, almost sparse writing that makes the feelings hit that much harder because it is not effusive and wordy. I loved the plot - four newly orphaned sisters under the care of their housekeeper, their lives entwining with the Rector and his sons and daughter next door, as they all face the build up and resolution of World War I. This short book spans ten years of time, and it does it well.

Sarah's Story is just that, a focus on Sarah, who begins the book at age 7 in 1910 with the death of her mother and ends it at 17 in 1920, the war over, her sisters home, and she going away to Oxford. A lot of her interest is focused on Frances, the sister ten years her senior, and Frances' relationship with Gabriel, the Rector's oldest son. We see the events of their relationship through Sarah's youthful perspective, and have to wait until Frances' Story to find out more about the why behind Frances' actions. Middle sisters Julia and Gwen are introduced, but not developed much as characters, though we learn more about them as the series goes on.

The British title of this book is A Silent Shore, which is much more romantic and less utilitarian than the Sarah's Story we get in America.

***

 

And now, for nostalgia's sake, and because you have to be able to laugh at yourself, here is the review I wrote for this book when I was 14 years old and posted on Amazon:

5 Stars                 Wonderful Historical Fiction                                 June 28, 2002

I love good historical fiction (I grew up on "Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman" & later on the 'Dear America' books). If you're looking for a good read set in simpler times, but full of rich language and a pinch of romance...look no further than the "Sisters of the Quantock Hills." The story tells of the life of the four Purcell sisters: Frances, Julia, Gwen, and Sarah orphaned and left under the care of a neighbor. The first book "Sarah's Story" follows the youngest Purcell sister from 1910-1920. It tells of her life before World War I, during it, and a bit after it has ended. The lives of the four sisters tend to entwine with the life of the three sons of the Rector, the Purcell's guardian. You get Sarah's point of view on the events between her sister Frances, and the oldest son, Gabriel (whom Sarah secretly pines for). In the next book the events begin to make a bit more sense, when you get Frances's point of view on all that is happening. The beginning of "Sarah's Story" is a bit boring, as Sarah is only seven. The book is also a bit hard to follow at first, with one chapter set in 1910, and the next in 1911, etc. But once Sarah becomes about 14 or 15, it is easier to follow. I strongly recommend this series to anyone who likes historical fiction.