Review: Truly heartbreaking...and wonderful!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2013
I came upon this excellent new novel thanks to one of my favourite authors mentioning Wild Girl in a facebook post. I was tentative, I have to admit. I wasn't sure if this was going to be a story about children more than adults and just how engaging on a personal level it might be.I am SO glad I decided to give it a go!I love the sense of mystery fairy-tales can elicit in us. That reverting back into a child like wonder of the world and all the amazing possibilities that existed, before you learn reality as you grow older. Those feelings fade. And then...for most of us they might very well disappear completely.Unless you are lucky, and stumble onto a wonderful story such as this one. That brings that world alive again. Whilst still retaining complete reality. There is nothing fantastical - and for that I am glad. To do fairy-tale type things in an adult and engaging fashion is near impossible. Maybe other people will feel differently (and I am sure they will!) but it is just that feeling - that wonderful mysterious emotion that enters into our minds, that is what I crave. And enjoy, most of all.Add to that a very real and harsh world, with a heroine that is truly lovable in her genuine character and goodness. Without being a saint; though. That is important to me.It is a love story ultimately. A wonderful one. That had me in tears at several points and staying up until 6am, as once I had got stuck into the first part of the novel, I couldn't put it down.There is wonderful research and detail put into Wild Girl - the Napoleonic setting I have never read so well done. From the perspective of the middle class, it presents the challenges people faced whilst the characters and story grew.I am not sure what the emphasis of this story is, in the end. The value of love? Of never giving up on someone? How we can overcome abuse? The realities of life for the working and middle class?  Or maybe you don't really need to dig into what that may be, and just enjoy it for what it is. A tantalising, harsh, heartwarming and engaging story of love, friendship and family.