How Saints Die
How Saints Die by Carmen Marcus, published by Harvill Secker in 2017, is a poignant exploration of childhood and family dynamics set against the backdrop of the wild North Yorkshire coast in the 1980s. The story follows ten-year-old Ellie, who lives with her fisherman father, Peter, while grappling with the complexities of her mother’s mental health struggles, which are only whispered about in their small community. Through the lens of Ellie’s curiosity and imagination, the narrative delves into her journey of self-discovery amidst challenging circumstances.
Readers will find a vivid portrayal of adult breakdown as seen through the eyes of a child, highlighting themes of responsibility and care. As Ellie navigates her world, she draws strength from her father’s sea-myths and her mother’s memories, ultimately shedding her innocence at a significant cost. This edition, comprising 360 pages, invites readers to reflect on the transformative power of stories and their ability to shape our identities and experiences.
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** Selected by Sarah Moss as a Book of the Year 2017 in The Big Issue **
Ten years old and irrepressibly curious, Ellie lives with her fisherman father, Peter, on the wild North Yorkshire coast. It’s the 1980s and her mother’s breakdown is discussed only in whispers, with the promise ‘better by Christmas’ and no further explanation.
Steering by the light of her dad’s sea-myths, her mum’s memories of home across the water, and a fierce spirit all her own, Ellie begins to learn – in these sudden, strange circumstances – who she is and what she can become. By the time the first snowdrops show, her innocence has been shed, but at great cost.
This vivacious and deeply moving novel portrays adult breakdown through the eyes of a brightly imaginative child, sensitively explores questions of responsibility and care, and, above all, celebrates the power of stories to shape, nourish and even save us.
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