Language : English
Hardcover : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 0241453208
ISBN-13 : 978-0241453209
Book Blurb
One of the world’s bestselling storytellers, Lesley Pearse writes brilliantly about survivors. Why? Because she is one herself . . .o
Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted.
As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.
But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed – and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories – of women struggling in a difficult world – found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned.
As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . .
My Review
Over the years I have read and reviewed many of Lesley Pearse’s books and when I look at her author biography I always think what a fascinating life she has lived. Finally Lesley has written her autobiograph and the lovely people at Michael Joseph books very kindly sent me a copy to review. I don’t read many biographies or autobiographies but I said yes to this straight away, and I’m glad I did as it was as fascinating as her works of fiction.
The Long and Winding Road is an apt title as Lesley’s life has taken many different twists and turns that finally took her to writing her first novel at age forty nine. Lesley has led a varied and at times exciting life, from London in the swinging sixties, that brought her into the, circle of associates of the Krays, to pubs and clubs with a boyfriend who was in a band and out to a quieter existence in running her own shop in Kent. There were also the harder side of life, being brought up by her stepmother who could be cruel and cold, getting pregnant young and having to give her baby up, later on being a single mother and sometimes living with very little money. Along the way she met some colourful characters, many she has remained freinds with and who helped shape her life.
Through Lesley’s writing I felt I lived her story with her, her heart and emotions dripping off the page. I loved that each stage of her life she had a playlist, songs that remind her off that period in her life, bring back those wonderful memories. It felt personal reading this book, being let into Lesley’s life, experiencing it with her, being part of the highs and the lows. I have always liked Lesley’s writing style, her empathy and understanding of human emotions, really getting under the skin of her characters, and she uses this same style in wrting her own story. Whilst reading The Long and Winding Road I saw how she used some of her personal experiences in the plots and characters of her books, which is why those subjects are dealt with such reality and understanding.
The Long and WInding Road is a heartfelt, emotional and ultimately uplfting read. Lesley has had a varied and fascinating life, and shows her great resilience and strength in this book. She is able to bounce back after any lows, always making a negative into a positive, always looking at the next opportunity and not letting life get her down, no matter what it threw at her. If you are a fan of Lesley’s books then I highly recommenend this book, even if you don’t read autobiographies you won’t regret it. This is a fascinating, heart wrenching, and joyous read, and I’m so glad read. it.
