by Jane Gardam
Faith's mother died bringing her into the world, leaving behind a grieving father too overwhelmed to parent alone and a bitter grandmother who blames the child for her daughter's death. This motherless girl becomes the unlikely project of a colorful collection of caregivers. Her uncle operates a commune in northern England where Tibetan refugees have taken up residence. Her paternal grandparents bicker constantly but share a fierce devotion to Faith's welfare. Together, this mismatched group of guardians attempts to raise Faith properly, navigating between the worlds of high society and bohemian unconventionality. Their efforts create a comedy of clashing personalities and good intentions. Faith grows up surrounded by people whose love for her takes wildly different forms, from her grandmother's reluctant duty to her uncle's idealistic experimentation. The story captures how families form in unexpected ways when loss brings together the most unlikely allies in the shared mission of nurturing one small life.
Genres: fiction, family, literary-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief
Setting: England, Northern England
Period: 20th Century
Paperback · Fayard