Book Description:
ONE OF THE MOST HEART-WARMING, FUNNY AND INSPIRING BOOKS YOU WILL EVER READ
LIVERPOOL, 1931
Meet Daisy Gallagher, a mother from a large Irish Catholic family living in the tough streets of pre-war Liverpool. She’s a huge character, passionate in her loves and hatreds. After her own mum dies, she becomes head of her poverty-stricken family.
Her best friend Nellie O’Brien is dying. She needs urgent medical attention. Daisy’s desperation for money leads her into the darkened streets and into the arms of drunken sailors willing to pay.
FROM THE BEST-SELLING AUTHOR WHO ORIGINATED THE GENRE, AN ABSOLUTELY COMPELLING NOVEL OF A WOMAN STRUGGLING TO LOOK AFTER THOSE SHE LOVES IN HARD TIMES.
Fighting competition, weeping at her own suffering, laughing with her clients, she becomes the toast of the waterfront and earns enough money to help her friend and her family.
Daisy manages to hide her new occupation from her loved ones. But what happens when her sailor husband comes back from sea?
A BOOK WHICH WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, CRY, AND HAVE YOU GRIPPED TILL YOU FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO DAISY
My Thoughts:
It’s been a long time since I have read a book by Helen Forrester. I read quite a few in my teenage years and couldn’t devour them quickly enough.
The author transports us back in time to life in Liverpool in the 1930’s. Daisy is trying to hold things together. Her mother has not long died and her husband works away, leaving her to her own devices. She finds herself turning to prostitution to earn extra money for herself as well as to pay for medicine for her good friend Nellie.
Daisy is a definitely a larger than life character with a big heart. You can’t fault what she does as it’s a means to an end as the saying goes. She wants a bit of the finer things in her life and not living hand to mouth. The fact that she does it for her friend though is what pulls on the heart strings.
The author brings to life day to day life back then, with the pawn shops, trams, the gossiping and everyone knowing everyone’s business. It comes alive in your head. There is a sense of community though and spirit of which we don’t see as much of in present days.
Liverpool Daisy is an endearing and light hearted read. The author has always had a sense of humour in her novels and manages to put a smile on the readers face in places. It did get a little emotional towards the end due to the storyline with Nellie but Daisy’s antics will make you smile whilst shaking your head at what she gets up to. Helen Forrester is without a doubt a wonderful story teller.
My thanks to Jill Burjinshaw and Joffe Books for a readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Liverpool Daisy is available to purchase from Amazon.
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