Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Winds of Heaven by Monica Dickens

'That's all very well for you, Louise thought.  You've never had to take things from people, except as your right, as a daughter or a wife.  Wait till you're a widow and Ellen offers to buy you a dress, and you want to say yes, but would love to be able to say no.'

Louise Bickford is a widow and judging by the way she was treated by her husband, Dudley, I would say she is better off.  But sadly, with very little to live on she is shuttled like a piece of furniture between her three daughters.  Miriam and her husband pretend all is well in their magazine-style English existance with their three school-age children.  Eva is an actress whose big break is just one play away and then there is Anne, a slattern if ever there was one, living on a small farm with her husband, Frank.  There is something very reminiscent of Hyacinth, Daisy and Violet about these three women.

While everyone bustles about in their lives, Louise endures her loneliness as best she can.  Stopping into a Lyon's tea room one day, she strikes up a conversation with another man sitting on his own.  Gordon Disher works at a department store but for extra money he writes crime novels under the pen name, Lester Drage.  There is an immediate affinity between these two lonely people and Louise finds herself offering to read his latest murder mystery and offer an opinion.

This new relationship is scoffed at by her daughters.  After all, why would a woman of a certain age need male companionship and if you did, he should at least travel in well-heeled circles, not sell beds in a department store or write trashy novels. 

Ellen Chadwick, Miriam's eldest daughter, melted my heart.  She doesn't quite fit in at home and is treated harshly by her father thus living in a world where she feels things deeply.  Being with her grandmother and Mr Disher fills her heart with delight and thank goodness for that at least.  A trip to the markets stalls on Portobello Road where she finds a painting to hang by her bed is written so wonderfully that I am sure I will never forget it.

There were times when I wanted Louise to stop being so polite, to stop placating her spoiled daughters but she desperately needs their support.  If the times meant that this was how things were, with no social assistance for women like Louise then I wanted Mr Disher to be her knight in shining armour.  He could well have done with the company and a feminine touch in his meagre flat.  But you'll have to read the book yourself to find out what happens.

The Winds of Heaven was an enjoyable read, I only wish it went on a bit longer.

19 comments:

  1. I loved this book too Darlene - except for the ending! I found it too much for me - not just what happens (trying to avoid spoilers here), but the way it is some how dismissed so quickly. I too wish the book had gone on for longer!

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  2. ramblingfancy, I have to tell you, I didn't even look at the word 'Afterword' and started reading thinking it was the next chapter! Thoroughly engrossed one minute, deflated the next! We will just have to imagine the rest, Donna.

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  3. Oh I loved The Winds of Heaven. And Monica says Monica Dickens' other novels are equally good, though I haven't tracked down any others yet.

    K x

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  4. What a super review! I loved the Windows of Heaven, although often found it quite painful reading (those daughters are so horrid). I agree it ended far too abruptly.

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  5. I do love a good Monica Dickens novel - here's hoping Persephone will bring more of them back into print!

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  6. Looks like it's time to start a wishlist for my NEXT trip to London ;-)

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  7. Kristina, Have you read 'Mariana' yet? I know you own that one!

    skirmishofwit, Weren't they just! There were a few choice words for all of them running through my head at times.

    verity, And thanks to your recommendation way back when I have a copy of One Pair of Hands to look forward to!

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  8. JoAnn, Well someone is going to have to help your daughter bring home her extra baggage and it just might as well be you! A perfect chance to stock up on more Persephone gems.

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  9. Thank you for a lovely review. I found an ebook version of this novel and was tempted to read it asap as soon as I read the first line. I have it lined up for a read very soon, especially after your review. The descriptions sound wonderful :-)

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  10. P. S. I do like the photo of a High Street with Lyons and Co. - and with a Lyons delivery van outside with 'swiss rolls' written on it :-)

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  11. I wish I could find this. Sounds faintly sad but would love to read it all the same.

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  12. Mystica, you can download a free copy of this novel in ePub or PDF format at
    http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Winds-Of-Heaven/book-Sa2t9FTUiU-dsZQKmuseqA/page1.html

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  13. Cristina, Thank you for passing on that link to Mystica, it would be wonderful for her to be able to access this story easily.

    Hope you enjoy this story as much as I did and oh, little Ellen *sniff*.

    Mystica, Thanks to Cristina, I think you may just be able to!

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  14. I am super excited about reading this now I've read your review, Darlene! If you love it, I will - apart from the royal wedding of course! Ha! ;)

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  15. I have this on the tbr shelves & your review makes me want to read it straight away but I'm halfway through a Gladys Mitchell & I'm reading T S Eliot's letters (until my wrists give out or Abby wants to sit on my lap, it's a very heavy book)& I want to read Saki's Unbearable Bassington next because half my online reading group are reading it & I don't want to be left out... How am I going to fit in working & eating? Still, too many books is a lovely problem to have.

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  16. bookssnob, Oh Rachel, you do make me laugh! Go ahead, carry your mug around but you'd better be wearing your fake nose and glasses whilst having your nose pressed against a storefront window with a television showing the big event!

    lyn, It is a reader's lament and I completely agree. Oh to have someone to do all the housework and lots of money in the bank! And yet we love nothing more than to be tempted by the fabulous books that others are reading. Isn't it wonderful!

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  17. I haven't read this one, but read Mariana which I thought was quite good, although I do wish I had read it as a teenager...

    I want to read this one now, but have a couple of Persephones on the shelf which might take precedence...

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  18. My library bought a copy of this--I can't wait to read it! I must have been a good book if you wanted more! :)

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  19. So I've never read this - but I love the way your review makes it sound like a great book as well as some mean characters and a horrid situation for Louise. Adding it to my TBR - and hoping the library have/get a copy.

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