Tug Of War

Reviews.

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Based around the true life experiences of her grandmother, dual influences are played out in Catherine Forde's latest novel, "Tug of War". Set in the near future, the book sees the United Kingdom subject to repeated and increasingly endangering attacks from terrorism. Ship building in Glasgow makes the city a particular target, thus it is that that siblings John and Molly are preparing to be evacuated to safety.

Experiences for the two siblings from this point forth could scarcely be more divergent. John is evacuated to Mr Nott's where he is abused and used as forced labour. Molly meanwhile is 'molly'-coddled by the excesses of Pernilia, a larger than life, glamorous individual who teaches at the local school and is keen to lavish upon her evacuee the source behind each of her every whim and desire. Personal intent behind this becomes increasingly clear as Pernilia's efforts to extend influence become ever more overt and desperate.

Caught between her own mother and Pernilia who, unable to have children of her own, is keen to adopt Molly and is most persuasive about the type of lifestyle she could expect with her, Molly faces a difficult choice . Town is played out versus country, modernity versus the pastoral, indusrial versus agricultural and emotional versus materialism as Molly is forced to assess what is important to her.

 

"Skilfully observed and rich in its emotional depth and charge, the importance of this book is its ability to stimulate real consideration as to the modern meaning and worth of family ties in the development of childhood.

From Achuka Reviews April 2007

 

"This is a raw and perceptive story, its emotional truths focused by the backdrop of a future war which, through its similarities with past conflicts, reminds us that unlike Molly and John, we have learned very little. "

___________________________________From Books For Keeps May 2007

 

________________________________"The idea for this story is absolutely amazing."

__________________________________From TV Hits.co.uk

 

 

___________________________________"Unflinching prose, rough dialect and very real emotions are set against a terrifying backdrop of terrorist threats, food shortages and travel chaos."

 

___________________________From The Glasgow Herald April 2007

 

 

_______________________________"Catherine Forde's Tug of war (Egmont f4.99) is another gripping story, set in Glasgow and using rich local dialect. But its story of a teenage girl torn between her _______________________________loving but ageing parents and the glamorous outsider who wants to adopt her is strong enough to keep the pages turning, however unfamiliar some of the words.
_______________________________Living in a grim future when big cities are regularly gas-bombed, Molly welcomes a stay in the countryside, where she is spoiled rotten. Forgetting to look out for her _______________________________older brother, who Is having a bad time at a nearby farm, she is visited by the mother she has become ashamed of - good stuff from an author who never _______________________________disappoints."

__________________________From The Independant April 2007

 

 

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