Blog Tour - The Last Village by Audla English

Blog Tour - The Last Village by Audla English

Today I'm joining the blog tour for the Last Village by Audla English and am happy to share my review to see if this lovely book tempts you too.

My Review

What drew me straight to this book like a moth to a flame is the setting in the North East of England, near where I live and set in locations where my own ancestors came from.

It’s not a long book so is perfect for a quick weekend read full of atmosphere which is quick to lose yourself in and easy to enjoy.

It is a dual timeline story set in the present day and 70 years earlier when the narrators grandmother reminisces about her earlier life.

There is plenty of romantic interest too as the book begins as modern day Anna is recently engaged and planning her wedding. This sets her Grandma Lillian off on a foray down memory lane to the 1940s when she was a young woman herself and times were very differ then. Living in the present day vicinity of the renowned landmark the Souter lighthouse, Lillian reminisces back to when the area was surrounded by a small close knit community of Old Marsden a former pit village typical of the North East, which now no longer exists. We visit many real locations including Souter lighthouse, Mardsen rocks and Marsden grotto all places I vaguely remember my own Mum talking about in her own past.

With a really strong empathy with the local area, the authors love for the North east shines through and the dialect and traditions are portrayed eloquently.

The main thing which comes through is the huge contrast in the lives of the two women, a mere 70 years separate them but the lives of the people living in the back to back houses of the old village were so very different yet in many ways simpler and despite being harder, remembered with such fondness. Its lovely and romantic and gently emotional.

It made me a little wistful and I wished I could have sat down with my lovely Grandma (who died when I was only seven) as I’m sure she would have had some wonderful similar tales of Northern life to tell.

Its just 2 lovely ladies sitting down and talking and we are afforded the privilege of listening in. Atmospheric, charming and very descriptive it’s a delightful look at the recent past and a testament to the North east of England.

The Blurb

CHILL WITH A BOOK AWARDS- PREMIER READERS' AWARD WINNER
2019 AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS FINALIST- ROMANCE: HISTORICAL

The majestic Souter Lighthouse stands proudly at the edge of the cliff top surrounded by open grassy empty fields and overlooking a vast blue wilderness. Anna Charles knows nothing of the life that her grandmother once had here. It wasn’t until an unexpected engagement, that Anna discovered the past of her Gran and the truth behind an enduring love.

Seventy years earlier, Lillian Smith, had been part of the close-knit community that once thrived in the village that existed next to the lighthouse. A chance meeting with a sailor one day, would change the course of her life forever.

A moving novel set in the North East of England. The Last Village is an enduring love story which spans the 1940's and modern day, binding the generations.

The Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Audla English grew up in the North East of England.

Born in Sunderland, a graduate of Newcastle University and living in South Tyneside, she is passionate about this wonderful region which acts as an inspiration to her writing.

Her award-winning debut novel 'The Last Village' is a dual time-line historical fiction and is written as a dedication to the now sadly demolished Old Marsden Village which was built by the Whitburn Coal Company in the 1870's. The Marsden Rock coastal setting is also used to weave a family saga style narrative around a beautiful part of north east England.

The novel is a moving love story about the life of Lily, a young woman growing up with her friends in 1945 whereas the other side of the story, in 2017, is about Anna and her own discovery of her grandmother's past life- it is a novel which spans and binds the generations through family and friendship.

Twitter @AudlaE
Website http://www.audlaenglish.co.uk/

Buy the book here