Canvey Island by James Runcie

Canvey Island

James Runcie

On a stormy night in 1953, the lives of a family change forever. Don't expect a six hankies, happy ever after story: this is a truthful exploration of love, loss and compromise.

Extract
Perhaps if I hadn't looked then the storm wouldn't have come and we would still have been a family. Perhaps it was my fault for peeping.
Mum left the door ajar so there was some light from the hall. She even turned the wireless down but I could hear her humming. Then I was glad I hadn't told her about the water in the ceiling. Everything changed when she was afraid.
Parallels
  • Liars and Saints by Maile Meloy
  • The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard
  • Atonement by Ian McEwan