Julia R Kelly

The Fisherman's Gift by Julia R Kelly is a highly recommended historical domestic drama full of heartbreak set in Skerry, a remote Scottish fishing village.

In 1900 Dorothy Aitken is a schoolmistress in Skerry when a child is found washed ashore by the fisherman Joseph and circumstances result in Dorothy caring for him. She has lived there for years and all the villagers know of the heartbreaking tragedy she experienced years earlier when her young son Moses went missing and was presumed lost show more in the sea. Only his boot was found.

When Dorothy first arrived she struggled to be accepted in the close-knit gossipy village, which resulted in her setting herself apart from others. All those years ago she and Joseph fell in love but a local woman, Agnes, wanted Joseph for herself and made that clear. Meanwhile tongues were wagging as the gossip swirled around everything.

The past and the present collide in this even paced atmospheric historical tale of love, guilt, loss, grief, secrets, and disappointment. The narrative follows two timelines, the current action and years ago when Dorothy fell in love with Joseph. The plot unfolds through the characters of Dorothy, Agnes, Joseph, William, and other Skerry residents.

The writing is really quite lovely in this literary historical tale. Normally I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, but the descriptive passages and the care with which the characters were developed make this special. The characters are all portrayed as realistic people, full of flaws and failings and the world they are living in is equally dismal in many ways. Everyone has their own burdens, struggles, and secrets.

The Fisherman's Gift is a great choice for those who appreciate historical literary fiction. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
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A small Scottish village has secrets, and Dorothy has been keeping one for many years, but the biggest secret and puzzle is did someone have anything to do with the disappearance/drowning of Dorothy’s son, Moses.

When another child who looks like Moses washes up many years later, it brings back all the questions for the village and the emotions for Dorothy.

Dorothy is asked to take care of the child and says no at first - she knows she should help out, but she can’t.

But then she realizes show more she needs to help out the people in the village and the child. It turns out to be good for her.

The characters were portrayed perfectly for that time period and setting even though some characters caused Dorothy to make decisions she really didn't want to make.

THE FISHERMAN'S GIFT is not an uplifting read, but it is beautifully written, has a pull-you-in storyline, and a main character you don't know if you want to feel sorry for or be angry with for the choices she makes.

A moving, thought-provoking debut that may have you thinking about decisions you have made and/or ones you may make. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. show less

In the early 1900s, a young Dorothy arrives in a small fishing village along Scotland’s coast to become the schoolmistress. Dorothy’s mother has undermined her throughout her youth, eroding any self confidence and encouraging her to eschew social interaction. So Dorothy is not predisposed to living in a small community in which everyone knows everyone else’s business and gossip abounds. From the beginning she is somewhat ostracized and in response retreats even more from engaging with show more her neighbors. Eventually she marries—not the man she loves--and has a child, but that child is lost to the sea. Years later, when a child the same age is found washed ashore, Dorothy’s life is set in emotional turmoil. Although at times I wanted to throttle Dorothy for her lack of sense, Kelly keeps Dorothy’s perspective in character throughout. The portrayal of an insular community—in both its caring for one another and its being confining and hurtful in its gossip—was well executed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Simon and Schuster for an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own. show less

Set in a small village in the Scottish Highlands, a small boy washes ashore during a storm. The village rallies around him to take care of him and find his family. The local school teacher, Dorothy, is chosen to take him into her home.

Dorothy, who had lost a son to the sea, thinks this boy is sent for her. She wavers between reality and her hopefulness to keep him with her permanently. Her grief of the loss of her own son often renders her confused.

As the boy recovers and his family sought, show more readers will learn Dorothy’s history in the village, where she has known love, loss and a deep sense of guilt. By the story’s end, Dorothy will offer forgiveness and friendship where she withheld it before and will learn the value of a community’s strength.

I loved the story, but at times I found it unbelievably sad. The forgiveness and lasting love was one I won’t soon forget.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this to readers and give my honest review. show less