Outcast
by Dianne Noble
GENRE: Women's fiction
BLURB:
In the daily struggle for survival,
she is often brought to her knees, but finds strength to overcome the poverty
and disease, grows to love the Dalit community she helps.
But then there are deaths, and she
fears for her own safety.
Her café at home is at risk of being
torched, and finally, she has to make the terrible choice between her daughter
and the Indian children.
Excerpt:
Penzance,
Cornwall. Sept
2014
A
violent evening sky, bruised, slashed red and purple. Her teeth chattered as she
watched the clouds spit out further bursts of rain. Pulled on a jumper, poured
a glass of Merlot, the bottle clattering against the glass. Downed it in one.
It felt warm and welcoming. Her stomach revolted instantly and she dashed to
the bathroom. Rinsed her mouth and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
Jesus, what a wreck. White face, red eyes, black mascara streaks. Her hands
shook. She was standing on a precipice, waiting to fall a vast distance, trying
to hold herself together. Sobs racked her body. There was nobody she could talk
to.
Just
after midnight she filled the kettle for coffee and set some soup to heat. The
darkness outside pressed against the windows and the tables and chairs were
ghostly in their emptiness. She heard the rhythmic tick of the clock, the music
thud, thud from a passing car and then the phone shrilled. Cold fingers of fear
squeezed her heart.
‘She
wasn’t on the plane,’
‘What?
But…’ Rose watched the stumbling flight of a moth, struggled to comprehend.
‘They’ve
checked the passenger list. Ellie didn’t get on the plane.’
She
sank to the floor, thank you God, oh thank you God.
‘You
still there?’
‘Yes.’
Drew in a great, shuddering breath. ‘Yes. Why didn’t she get on?’ Her voice
rose. ‘Where is she?’
Review
Sadly this is going to be a short review. I enjoyed this book but I am still trying to
absorb everything that I read. From the
beginning this book grabbed my motherly heart strings and had me under a spell.
I felt myself in Rose’s shoes and I
think I would handle things much the same way as she did. The imagery of India and what the Dalits go
through have really touched a spot in my heart and I am not sure what can be
done. The one thing I know is that I enjoyed and highly recommend this
book. I will be writing a more extensive
and thorough review at a later date.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I was brought up as a
Service child in Singapore
and Cyprus
which ensured itchy feet forever! Journals kept on a lifetime of travelling in
far flung places are now providing rich material for my writing. Readers will
be transported to exotic and atmospheric settings in the company of women
responding to enormous challenges.
I am currently writing a
novel set in Cairo about a forced marriage, and
re-editing an earlier manuscript about an English woman trying to help the
street children of Kolkata,
India.
Website - http://www.dianneanoble.site
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dianneanoble
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dianneanoble1
Tirgearr Publishing - http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Noble_Dianne
I really enjoyed reading the excerpt, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nikolina If you go on to Amazon you can read even more as a freeby!
DeleteThank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure!
DeleteThanks for sharing your review, I'm looking forward to reading your extended review when you have it because this sounds like an amazing book :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Victoria. It is a multi layered book with the stories of several people. Rose who wants to get closer to her estranged daughter Ellie, Hannah who has the mother from hell, and the poor Dalit people of India who have nobody on their side.
DeleteNo problem... I'm definitely going to be checking it out myself! I love stories like this, it forces you to think and see a different perspective :)
DeleteThank you for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure entirely! It's my opportunity to talk about my book so people can know what it's about, and perhaps want to find out more.
DeleteI liked the review.
ReplyDeleteI think the review gives a good idea of the intricacies of the story and the main characters, whilst also giving a feel of the atmospheric country India is.
DeleteWhat a fascinating life Dianne must have led!
ReplyDeleteIt has been very interesting, must confess! On the plus side it has given me lots of life experiences for use in my writing. On the minus side the constant moving has meant few old friends and certainly no school reunions. On balance, would I have changed anything? Definitely not!
ReplyDeleteI certainly haven't travelled the globe as much as you, but have moved house/school many times and certainly agree that it's hard to make friends. It gets to the point when you don't even bother trying as you know you're going to be leaving in a year or two anyway. It can get lonely.
DeleteI'm back, hope you're not too tired of hearing from me. Thanks again for this opportunity to win and have a terrific day!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the giveaway and have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteDianne, with your extensive travelling you will have eaten some unusual foods. What's your favourite and what's your least favourite?
ReplyDeleteDianne, with your extensive travelling you will have eaten some unusual foods. What's your favourite and what's your least favourite?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an emotional and moving story. Thank you for the review and excerpt. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Father's Day to all the Dad's who may see this and thank you for the chance at winning this giveaway
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the excerpt & hope to read the rest soon!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the excerpt & hope to read the rest soon!
ReplyDeleteI have added this book to my TBR list and look forward to reading this book!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for introducing us to Ms. Noble.
ReplyDelete