By Lola Jaye
⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½ (Goodreads: 4.37)
GENRE: Mystery/Drama
PART OF A SERIES? No
WORTH READING? Yes
SUMMARY:
Two children are trapped in the same attic, almost a century apart, bound by a terrible secret.
Early 1900’s: Young Dikembe is taken from his homeland, to the UK, where he is given a new name (Celestine) and spends most of his time locked away in an attic. There he desperately clings on to memories of his family in Africa, particularly his parents and one of his brothers.
1974: Lowra is a young girl whose fortunes have suddenly changed and she, too, finds herself a victim of that same attic. One day, she discovers an old-fashioned pen, a porcelain doll, a beaded necklace and several messages. These items lend comfort to her during her stay in the attic and eventually, when older, she embarks on a quest to discover all the secrets of the attic.
Opening line: 'I open my eyes to death.'
This Lola Jaye novel hooked me immediately – how could it not which such a cracker of an opening line? I was immediately transported to a very different time and place. Lola Jaye sets the scene beautifully in the opening chapters of this book, then takes us on a haunting journey about secrets, loss, love, identity and belonging.
The young boy – Dikembe (later ‘christened’ Celestine) – has such a strong sense of duty and his role as a son and brother. This later transfers to other people once he is relocated to the England. I really enjoyed watching his growth as a person. He is such a great character – a boy and man I feel like I would’ve liked to have known.
Lowra – we learn early on that she has social issues, due to her past – a past which she never wishes to discuss with anyone. Eventually she does open up to a historian by the name of Monty… a man who also has his own problems.
Although Dikembe/Celestine and Lowra are joined by their time in the attic, we don’t hear as much detail about Lowra’s time in the attic as we do Dikembe/Celestine’s. The most important aspect of Lowra’s imprisonment is that she discovers some hidden items in the attic… these not only give her comfort at the time, but also cause her to seek out their owner down the track.
Lola Jaye keeps you hooked throughout, with several different timelines. She often ‘leaves you hanging’ so that you want to keep reading and reading. Which, of course, I did… way later than I should have most nights! My emotions were so invested in these characters.
On the surface, this wasn’t a book I would traditionally choose. But it came very highly recommended and I’m so glad I read it. I now pass that recommendation onto you.
Click here to purchase from Amazon
Kommentarer