Tonight I finished reading Linda Holeman's The Linnet Bird. I have to say this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I fell in love with the setting and the characters, and found myself quickly immersed in the plot of the story.The novel tells the story of Linnet Gow, one of the strongest female fictitious characters I've personally ever encountered. Linny, as she is called, loses her mother at a very young age and is forced to live with the man who took her mother in. This man is of no relation to her, and cares nothing for her. At the age of 11, this man, Ram, tells Linny it is time for her to start earning her keep. He begins to prostitute her out, and naturally, takes all the money for himself. It is years before Linny is able to escape from Ram's clutches; and it takes a very near death experience for her to do so. From Ram's home we find ourselves following her to a whore house, where she begins working and spends several more years. Throughout this time, Linny is frugal, saving as much money as she possibly can, to someday change her lifestyle and make her mother proud of the woman she has become.Through a series of unfortunate events, Linny meets a kind man, Shaker, who makes it his goal to transform Linny into a proper English woman. Linny agrees, as Shaker expects nothing from her in return. Linny begins living a lie; as nobody can know of her true origin, and eventually becomes accepted into society. A friendship is formed with another young woman, and we next find ourselves on a journey to India, where Linny is one among many of the "fishing fleet" or women born of acceptable blood, sailing to India to find a husband. Linny is excited about India, and all its endless opportunities, but is quickly disappointed. Shortly upon arrival, Linny realizes that the British section of India is no different than life back at home.Linny ends up married to Somers Ingram, a marraige of complete convenience, as both members have secrets they will do anything to keep hidden. Though Linny is miserable being married in India, the story does have some happiness to it. It is in India, that Linny finds a release; she finds happiness and contentment, and a way to let go of her past. She is finally able to be herself.This story had it all: love, lust, betrayal, opium addiciton, culture, fear, pain, murder...I couldn't put it down.If you're looking for a good work of fiction, I'd highly recommend this book!
So far I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book, and I confess I'm only continuing to read because of the time I've already invested in it. Sort of like throwing good money after bad. The main character, Linney, is forced into prostitution in Liverpool at the age of eleven. I'm assuming the raunchy (and crudely executed) descriptions of child (and later, teenage) prostitution are the reason this book made it past the editor's desk. Perhaps someone at Crown Publishing was so taken with the images that they failed to notice how painfully two-dimensional the stock characters are (fervid, religious old woman; kind, crippled son who loves Linney from afar; evil, scheming Englishman whom she's forced to marry, etc. I won't pain you further). This book should be a lesson on character cliches. Also, the voices don't match. The narrator (Linney) tells her story in one (boring) voice, and then writes long letters to her friend in a completely different, stiltedly elegant voice. It's like two different people talking. There are also several vernacular terms (too crude to reproduce here) that I'm fairly certain would not have been in use in the 1820s and early 1830s. Nothing about this book rings true to me.I'd better stop now. When I began this review I felt mildly antipathetic toward this book, but now I'm feeling downright hostile. Read it at your own peril, but don't say you weren't warned.*****Edited to add, I've decided I'll never finish this book. Life is simply too short to waste on some things, and this wretched book is one of them.
What do You think about The Linnet Bird (2006)?
Re-read for Library Book Club; October 17, 2008I've found an increasing enjoyment in reading historical fiction, and The Linnet Bird surely satisfies! Set in 1830's Liverpool and Calcutta, this book is truly unique. Linnet Gow, or Linny as she prefers to be called, is growing up on the rough streets in Liverpool's riverfront area. Pimped out by her step-father at the age of 11, it seems that Linny future is set to follow a sad path.But through a twist of fate, and the generous care of a stranger, Linny's life is changed dramatically and her path to living in Calcutta, India begins. The book begins with Linny in Calcutta and she goes back to the beginning to bring the reader into her life. The writing is suberb, bringing you right onto the back alleys of Liverpool and the choatic markets of Caluctta.I very much enjoyed this book and was sad to see it end.
—Bethany
I have mixed feelings about The Linnet Bird. On the one hand, it was engrossing. Not a "couldn't put it down" book but one that I was pleased to open when I had a moment. The action and drama do pull you along and you wonder how it will turn out for the main characters. Descriptions of scenery and natural beauty were a particular strength of the writing.On the other hand, the characters often seem like stereotypes: the prostitute with a heart of gold, the devoted Indian servant, the cruel husband, etc. Especially in the part of the novel where Linny stays in a Pathan encampment, I had to roll my eyes at the "Harlequin Romance" feel of the plot.On the whole, I'm not sorry I read The Linnet Bird but I found the author's earlier book, The Dress Lodger, to be a much more sophisticated and satisfying read.
—Jane Kessler
Requested this from the library well before Christmas, and at long last went and got it from the library. Due to my Kindle being poorly, I decided to pick this book up and see what it was like, well, I'm very suprised! Expecting to pick up this book and only read about 20 or so odd pages, I'm now on 160 pages. This book is most pleasing. It starts in the 1850's with a little girl named linnet,otherwise, named as Linny. It goes through the turbulent and poverty stricken times of the Victorian era, right through to the time she sets food on Indian soil.After finishing work today I'm going to go and actually sit in the library and read a few more chapters. The library is like my Nirvana for the stressed soul. Please pick this book up you will be most pleasantly surprised, like most people who have read it have been and me too.
—Lisa Shears
