Mother Island
1st Edition
Published on 3. July 2014
320 pages
978-1-4481-9088-1 (ISBN)
Description
This is the story of two women, Nula and Maggie, joined by old family history and love for the same little boy.
Nula, struggling with her new baby and feeling alone in her marriage, employs her cousin Maggie as a nanny when she returns to work. But it's not long before Nula finds herself theatened by Maggie's close bond with her son, Samuel.
Nula's outwardly perfect house crackles with unspoken jealousies and rivalry until Maggie's intense love for Samuel tips into obsession and she decides her only option is to abduct the child. As Maggie makes her desperate bid for safety, the women's shared past of trauma and loss comes to the fore once more.
WINNER OF THE JERWOOD FICTION UNCOVERED PRIZE 2015.
Nula, struggling with her new baby and feeling alone in her marriage, employs her cousin Maggie as a nanny when she returns to work. But it's not long before Nula finds herself theatened by Maggie's close bond with her son, Samuel.
Nula's outwardly perfect house crackles with unspoken jealousies and rivalry until Maggie's intense love for Samuel tips into obsession and she decides her only option is to abduct the child. As Maggie makes her desperate bid for safety, the women's shared past of trauma and loss comes to the fore once more.
WINNER OF THE JERWOOD FICTION UNCOVERED PRIZE 2015.
Reviews / Votes
Roberts writes fantastically well about motherhood and the magical, other-worldly atmosphere of Anglesey * The Times * More than just a piece of mummy lit, it's particularly good on the multiple tiny stories of hurt and resentments that can make up a family history. * Metro * There's little more engrossing than a top-notch psychological thriller. Bethan Roberts's latest novel doesn't disappoint - it's satisfyingly creepy and stimulates that delicious paradox: goose-pimples in summer. * The Independent * A sharp examination of what it means to be a mother...What makes Mother Island stand out from the crowd, though, is the compassion the author shows for her central characters...A thoroughly cracking read * Big Issue * Cleverly constructed... Skilful unravelling of events... Uncomfortable and gripping in equal measures -- Juanita Coulson * Lady * A gripping read and perfect page-turner...that manages to combine tension with nuances...of family life with great aplomb -- Laura Lockington * Brighton & Hove Independent * This is a sad and moving tale, written with understanding and compassion. A compulsive page-turner -- Melanie Whitehouse * Sussex Life *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
File size
1,73 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-4481-9088-1 (9781448190881)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Bethan Roberts
Mother Island
Book
07/2014
Chatto & Windus
€38.59
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Person
Bethan Roberts has published five novels and writes stories and drama for BBC Radio 4. Her books include The Good Plain Cook, which was a Radio 4 Book at Bedtime; My Policeman, the story of a 1950s policeman, his wife, and his male lover (now a major Amazon Original movie starring Harry Styles and Emma Corrin); Mother Island, which received a Jerwood Fiction Uncovered prize; and Graceland, which tells the story of Elvis Presley and his mother, Gladys. She also writes short fiction, for which she has won the Society of Authors' Olive Cook Prize and the RA Pin Drop Award. Bethan has taught Creative Writing at Chichester University and Goldsmiths College, London. She lives in Brighton with her family.
