The Sea Lady
| Published: 30th November 2007 14:01 |
The Sea Lady traces the lives of Humphrey - quiet and serious; and Ailsa - a larger than life red-head with matching temperament. Humphrey's family is living with his grandmother at Olnemouth to escape the ravages of war whilst his father is in the Far East. Following a traumatic tonsil operation he spends an idyllic summer at Finsterne on the North coast fishing and searching for sea creatures with local boy Sandy. They form a close friendship and the days seem endless. He can't wait to return the following summer but Ailsa and her brother join them and dynamics change dramatically.
Ailsa and Humphrey fascinate each other as children and when their paths cross as adults years later they have a brief but passionate love affair which ends disastrously.
The story continues many years later and we find them journeying towards the same destination - to receive honorary degrees at Olnemouth University. Ailsa jet sets in by plane whilst Humphrey travels by train; a long and tedious journey giving him ample time to analyse the past.
The tension builds as we learn more about the intervening years and the reader is compelled to continue to the climax of their meeting.
It is an exciting story exploring how childhood experiences influence and shape our future lives. There is a strong parallel made with the evolution of marine life and the ebb and flow of time.
It is an interesting and challenging read but well worth the effort.
Review by Wendy I Soar
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