The One True Thing
Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback
Ages: 18+
When the ground shifts, where is one true thing to be found?
Jane, in her twenties, is left parentless when her father dies suddenly; a second shock follows when his Will reveals the existence of a son no-one knew of. Now Wildings, the family home, must be sold.
Spanning two generations, the novel tells the story of Bridget, Jane’s mother, trapped in an unhappy marriage on which her career depends, and of stone-carver Meg, who wants only independence but is enmeshed in conflicting loyalties and desires when Adam, a young artist, enters their lives, to devastating effect.
Now far from Wildings, Meg is bound by a promise to support Jane in her loss. Having thought of herself as an observer who saw everything, she’s forced to realise how much she failed to see – and the cost to those she loves.
‘A beautifully complex tapestry of lives and relationships … a novel to immerse yourself in.’ Jane Rogers, author of Mr Wroe’s Virgins
‘Newbery writes wonderfully.’ Financial Times
Reviews
Wow! This was such a satisfying read. It's a while since I felt so immersed in a fictional world. Beautifully written, with the lyricism one finds in all Newber's books, with a strong sense of time and place, a memorable cast, and a twisting, intriguing story. Accessible enough for a holiday (or garden) read while brimming with humanity, wisdom and depth. A thumping good family story. Highly recommended. Would make a brilliant book club selection: so much to talk about.
Wildings, the house and more particularly the garden are as much a part of the novels as the characters. Linda Newbery is a superb observer of both the natural world and its tamed and cultivated horticultural sister, describing both in exquisite and exact detail as she follows her characters through the seasons of the years and the seasons of their lives. She is equally skilled at describing the most complex and difficult human emotions: love and loss, grief and sorrow. This is writing full of riches. A world you don't want to leave. A very superior novel indeed.
