For those who enjoy the writing style of Kate Morton and the like, they will definitely enjoy reading Footsteps. Katharine McMahon has a gift for telling the stories of Women faced with various obstacles and how they overcome (or don't overcome) them. For a rather short-ish novel, she does an excellent job of giving her characters depth, their relationships and interactions believable, as well as provoking thoughtful observations and conclusions in the reader.
The book follows the story of two young women and goes back and forth between each characters' story: Helena (in modern times), and her grandmother Ruth (as a young woman).
Helena, the primary female protagonist, struggles not only with the loss of her husband, but with the prospect of raising her young child alone, a difficult relationship with her mother, and a haunting family legacy. She seeks distraction by collaborating with a photographer in researching her grandfather, as well her own family's history. I immediately felt empathy with her and enjoyed reading her character's chapters as she copes with everything and gradually changes throughout the novel.
Ruth's story begins with her as a young woman and progresses over several years of her life. She has her own difficulties within her family such as a convalescent mother and an absent father, and struggles herself with wanting to leave the small seaside town she lives in and having to stay; an interesting dilemma given that there were few options for women in her day. Many will find her situation familiar and relate-able, and though there were times I did not like Ruth or the choices she made, it only demonstrates how interesting and real her character is.
I should emphasize that this is not some touchy-feely book about women; this is a story with a plot and a mystery- or at least some mysterious elements. It also
provides interesting historical insight into life during the early part of the 20th century and photography.
Readers will enjoy the various reveals through-out the book and the unexpected ending.
The book follows the story of two young women and goes back and forth between each characters' story: Helena (in modern times), and her grandmother Ruth (as a young woman).
Helena, the primary female protagonist, struggles not only with the loss of her husband, but with the prospect of raising her young child alone, a difficult relationship with her mother, and a haunting family legacy. She seeks distraction by collaborating with a photographer in researching her grandfather, as well her own family's history. I immediately felt empathy with her and enjoyed reading her character's chapters as she copes with everything and gradually changes throughout the novel.
Ruth's story begins with her as a young woman and progresses over several years of her life. She has her own difficulties within her family such as a convalescent mother and an absent father, and struggles herself with wanting to leave the small seaside town she lives in and having to stay; an interesting dilemma given that there were few options for women in her day. Many will find her situation familiar and relate-able, and though there were times I did not like Ruth or the choices she made, it only demonstrates how interesting and real her character is.
I should emphasize that this is not some touchy-feely book about women; this is a story with a plot and a mystery- or at least some mysterious elements. It also
provides interesting historical insight into life during the early part of the 20th century and photography.
Readers will enjoy the various reveals through-out the book and the unexpected ending.
