“Charity Brown’s life is about to change – her family have been left a huge, rambling house by a mysterious benefactor, and her parents want to move in and throw open its doors to the needy.
Only recently back from hospital after months of isolation with polio, Charity is over-protected and lonely as the only child still at home. Her family are very religious – her sisters are called Faith and Hope, and her brother Ted is studying to be a preacher – so she’s both excited and nervous at the thought of sharing her family and new home with strangers.
It’s a recipe for confusion, joy and endless misunderstandings, including with the new neighbours, an Austrian family with a daughter just Charity’s age . . .”
I have absolutely loved reading
The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown
I am not quite sure how to a new to me book
Feels familiar and comforting
And like chatting with an old friend
But this is the effect Elizabeth Laird’s story
Has had on me
A fictional story based on her own childhood
Growing up in the 1950s
This is a joyous coming of age story
That encompasses so much social history
And really gets under your skin
Making you question yourself
And search yourself, as Charity does
For the meaning of life
This is a tale of a young girl
Exploring and questioning her faith
Her family’s traditions
The fairness of the world
And getting to grips
With people and how very different they all are
Yet so often very much the same at heart
I love this portrayal of busy family life
The comings and goings of siblings
As they change and grow
As a mother of five this gave me a warm glow
In my soul
I love the open welcoming household
The rambling old house
The magical healing garden
The way the family learns and grows together
Through the people from around the world
That they meet
This is a wonderful story of family and friendship
And as we weave our way through Charity’s world
We learn so much
About life in Britain in the 1950s
About how traditions and values have changed
Over the years
It is also a book to escape into
As we join Charity on her journey
Of self discovery
As she tries to find herself
And her place in the world
I found myself smiling at
So many familiar moments
That are as true today
As they were in days gone by
I cannot wait to read this book again
With my children
I can imagine some wonderful discussions
About life in a large family
About the people who influence our lives
About experiencing different cultures, religions and traditions
Drawing parallels between lives past and life today
I know that my eldest daughter
Age 12
Will love this book and fall in love with Charity Brown
Just as I have
My son will love reading around
Some of the topics touched on in the book
And I know that it is a book I will return to again and again
As my own children grow
And start to question and challenge things in our family life
It will remind me also to keep our home open
And make everyone feel welcome
Have you read this one?