REMEMBER ME, BY LESLEY PEARSE
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Although I am in my mid-forties I could count on one hand the number of books I have read since leaving school - until my mother-in-law introduced me to Lesley Pearse books. I am now reading my seventh of hers. Remember Me is spell-binding, I read it in a week even though it is lengthy. The book actually reduced me to tears on two separate occasions. I missed the heroine once I had finished the book and thought about the characters and their story for days afterwards. It was not until I had finished the book that I realised it was actually a true story.
I would recommend this book to anyone, whether a regular reader or not. Be warned, you may have a few late nights! Another excellent read by Lesley is 'Hope'.
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One of my all time favourite reads!
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This is a brilliant read, totally captivating and the fact that it is based on truth just makes it all the more memorable. If you never buy another book, buy this one, because after reading this book you will be encouraged to buy more.
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Relentlessly Harrowing
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Stealing a hat. What sort of punishment would you think that crime deserves? A warning? A fine? A short prison sentence?
In 1786, Mary Broad was sentenced to death for stealing a hat. She was eighteen years old.
However, Mary was granted a 'reprieve', and instead was sent to a sea-prison called 'Dunkirk', and then later to another ship which was set sail for New South Wales.
What she discovered was actually a fate worse than death, living in some of the most squalid and inhumane conditions any mind could possibly imagine, amongst some of the most desensitised human beings anyone could have the misfortune of meeting.
But Mary did not curl up and die, rather, she chose to survive, and did what was necessary in order to do so. Along the way, she fell in love, married and also had children, whilst also nurturing a compassion for the ill, frail, and weak which would characterise her whole life.
Mary's life was marred by starvation, squalor, disease, illness and tragedy, yet finding the strength to go on, she not only kept her own spirits up, but also boosted and cared for all those who came into her life, plotting a daring escape from the awful prison colony in New South Wales, and navigating their escape route. Way back in the eighteenth century, this was nothing short of awe-inspiring, and all of this is based in fact, told beautifully through Lesley Pearse' gift for story-telling.
All of Mary's life story is moving, fascinating and horrifying in equal measure, but as a study of a failing justice system, the spirit of survival and a woman's potential in life, this is a truly remarkable and humbling book. Every woman could learn a lot from Mary Broad.
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Brilliant Storytelling
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This was the second Lesley Pearce book I read ("Hope" is also excellent)and for anyone who hasn't read it please be warned that once you start you won't get much done until you've finished it. The storytelling is amazingly compelling and also very informative. I had no idea just what conditions were like for the convicts who were shipped off to Australia, often for petty crimes. It is based on a true story and Mary, the central character, will have you feeling her feelings as the tale progresses, and willing her on to achieve the things she so richly deserves.
I hate reviews that give away too much of the story so I'm not going into details, but mixing truth with fiction is not always an easy path to tread for an author, yet Lesley does it in style with this one. Mary was one amazing woman, and her life story has stayed with me long after I turned the last page and left her behind with much regret and fond memories.
I am just starting to read "Rosie" and it doesn't look like I am going to be able to put this one down for long either. Great stuff!
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A very good book!
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I enjoyed reading it, the story of Mary is vividly described, full of details and emotional moments. I think that the fact of it being a true story, makes it more attractive. It is surely worth reading it....
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