Queenie of Norwich: A compelling tale based on the true story of one woman's quest to beat the odds.

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Queenie of Norwich is an addictive read, hard to put down, but it also brings to life much of the social history of Norwich in the early 20th century. Scroll down to read the author’s blog about this book. I decided to break the process down into three parts- Ellen Hardy, Nellie Westrop and Queenie Read, all names Queenie held at different times in her life. The author as narrator does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life and manages the various voices like a professional. I really felt I was there. If you would like to know more about this period in history, I would strongly recommend two books by Frances and Michael Holmes: The Old Courts and Yards of Norwich by Frances and Michael Holmes

It's a tragic story at times but ultimately uplifting as she suffers the loss of loved ones but keeps learning and moving on. Queenie has a resilience that I can only admire. This could also be really hard to get through. Queenie goes through so much. She is so unhappy. And I am the kind of reader who pours myself into my books, so I feel what the characters feel. Queenie's sadness and suffering made me very, very sad. But watching her progress at the end was enough of a reward to make that easily worthwhile. Author and musician LK (Laura) Wilde was born in Norwich, but spent her teenage years living on a Northumbrian island. She left the island to study Music, and after a few years of wandering settled in Cornwall with her husband, where she raises her two crazy, delightful boys. Candice is a unique writer. Even that 500-word contest entry told me there was something special about her. After re-reading the finished work I knew I had been right. I’m excited to see Queenie meet a wider audience, and to see Candice’s star really shine. We need more voices like hers. People say you get one life, but I've lived three. I was born Ellen Hardy in 1900, dragged up in Queen Caroline's Yard, Norwich. There was nothing royal about our yard, and Mum was no queen.

And so, Queenie of Norwich is here. It’s been a long time coming and a real team effort. I hope you enjoy reading Queenie’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. The old Norwich Yards CREDIT: Norfolk Library and Information Service. (Image: Norfolk Library and Information Service.) It would be unrealistic to expect these loose ends tied up, because racism will likely not be solved in a volume of literary fiction (no matter how good it is), but the disappearance of these storylines was disquieting. First as Ellen, then Nell, then Queenie, our protagonist adapts and proves she is well able to take care of herself even in some very nasty situations. Yet there is a softness about her, a gentleness seen through her love for her siblings, and especially sister Florrie, which brings her close to us and makes us want the very best for her. There’s pathos here, including in the plight of the mother, so often seen in those times, as well as in other tragedies that befall Queenie. But it’s never sentimental and there’s plenty of humour too. Queenie did grow on me though and I enjoyed her character progression. I liked her friend, Kyazike, as well as her grandparents — While they were definitely old-fashioned, you could tell they cared about her and I found their dialogue together comical.

And at the same time, the book doesn't feel too touchy-feely or didactic. The tone stays relatively light-hearted; Queenie's relationship with the Corgis is admirable and often hilarious. The book recognizes when Queenie's behavior is problematic even when she doesn't, but it treats her with empathy and understanding. Which is, honestly, something that we could all stand to learn to do a little better. I know some readers will feel frustrated with her behaviour at times, but I also think the author never portrays it as a good thing, and instead honestly portrays a young woman dealing with severe anxiety in the only way she feels she can. I think it's a good example of some very serious issues being wrapped up in a book that is full of humour to balance out the sadness. If you watch as much British TV, as I do, you would get a better idea if you imagine Queenie as a cross between "Fleabag" and "Chewing Gum." From the author of Silver Darlings comes LK Wilde's captivating portrayal of the life of Queenie Read. Heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure, Queenie of Norwich is perfect for fans of The Foundling, Where the Crawdads Sing, and The Smallest Man. The reader gets dropped into Ellen’s world when she is a six-year old child, one of many children who lives in extreme poverty with parents who are unable to adequately meet their children’s needs. That’s the polite version and the author gets into the gritty aspects of what this really means; hardly any food, one set of clothes, no running water and so much more.so either i will adore this book and give it 5 stars and think about it constantly, or i will forever be haunted by another quirky protagonist continually spilling coffee on herself and falling into the lap of not only colin firth but hugh grant??? Queenie’s story has been a long time in the making. After writing my first novel, Silver Darlings, I finally felt ready to take on the challenge. Sometimes you hate Queenie, sometimes you feel sorry for her but mostly you understand her ! She’s flawed, she’s broken, she’s confused but she’s strong enough to find her way and embrace her loved ones tightly to not fall from a cliff, again! He put a hand on my thigh and moved it higher, digging his nails into my skin. That'll be a pair of tights gone.