3 out of 4 stars
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Lily’s Story, by Don Gutteridge, begins in 1845. Lily is a little girl who takes care of her sick mother and is loved by her hard-working father. She feels at home with the nature that surrounds their small house and is intrigued by the Indians whose lifestyle starkly contrasts with the one that her society prods her to follow. Lily is uprooted from her home and sent away to live with her aunt after an unpleasant encounter shakes her understanding of the world. At her aunt’s place, a world of possibility opens up for her, which, in turn, paves a path of upheavals that will test her mettle, time and again.
Lily’s Story is a very beautifully written novel. The author has a keen way of describing the backdrops in his story. His characters come alive when he describes their aches and emotions in the most heartfelt manner. Every line of the story feels like a stroke on the canvas- meticulously planned and carefully drawn, to create a mesmerising picture. In many ways, it is not the plot itself that draws you in. It is the way that the story is written which binds you in a spell, and you are compelled to read further. I can’t say that the writing of any recent novel has had such an impact on me. It reminds you of the classics, written by the likes of Austen, Hardy and the Brontë sisters.
Just as beautifully he has painted his characters, Gutteridge has made them equally realistic. Lily’s character is very lovable. You quickly invest in her story and share in all the good and bad experiences of her life. You watch her grow from a curious young girl to a woman who has been hardened by her experiences. Lily has a vibrant and strong personality, and by the end of the story, she establishes herself as an inspirational heroine, of sorts. What makes her story all the more colourful is the myriad of characters that cross paths with her. If you begin to make a count, you’ll find that there are too many characters in this story. However, they come in waves, one after the other, and leave quietly when their purpose is served. This way, it never feels too crowded or confusing. It is easy to keep a track of everyone, and you get to know them with the same sincerity that Lily does.
I would recommend this book to people who like reading the classics. While some will appreciate its descriptive nature, for others, it might become tiresome. Amateur readers and those who are used to a simpler form of writing might not want to read Lily’s Story. Considering the age group, the possible audience for this book ranges from teenagers to octogenarians. For the young, this book will act as a lesson on multiple fronts. For the old, it could be reminiscent of some similar experiences in their lives. Everyone has something they can take away from this book.
My rating for Lily’s Story is 3 out of 4 stars. Despite the fact that it was very well-written, I felt that it could have been a bit shorter. The last quarter could use some cutting down, which would further elevate the impact of the revelations that the reader is exposed to. In addition to this, there were a couple of typos and errors; however, they were too far and few to significantly influence the reading experience. All in all, this is a very good novel and comes highly recommended by me.
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Lily's Story
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