Reviews
As with all books that we choose to publish, we put them out there and hope that they will be enjoyed. Some people will hate them and some people will love them - here I have chosen my favourite reviews.
And let us not forget what the great Wellington said:
'Publish and be damned.'
When you decide to put your story down on paper - warts and all, you hold your breath in anticipation of the response. This lovely Canadian lady has given me permission to share the message which I received today.
I have just finished one of the best, life changing, eye opening book of my life. I learned more about myself through your journey than I ever have. I am from niagara falls Ontario Canada, but my family is from England. Gilford to be exact. I have never been so sad to finish a book and was wondering if you have plans to write about your wonderful soul of a grandfather's family. This summer I had emergency surgery and almost died from a perferated bowel. I am only 36 years old. Your book came to me at a time that feels like it was deliberately put in my path and when I needed it the most. YOU are an incredible woman who has honoured your family in the most amazing way. You told their stories and gave Emily the peace she has probably needed for so long. I thank you for writing such a beautiful ode to your family as well as yourself. You are an inspiration Felicity.
Top Customer Reviews
This book tells us about a lot of the hardships many of our ancestors
endured in past generations. Life was not easy back then for many
people. If you are ever lamenting about the state of womens' rights or
women's equality or perhaps the treatment of mental illness, just look
back in history even just 50 years and see how far we have come.
Do we have more to work on, yes, of course,
but we've come a long way baby!
Good book!
This is a easy read and written quite well .It is a sad but is probably one
that resinates with many who read it.
Dec 04, 2018
Janice Bridger
rated it
really liked it
This book rekindled my interest in genealogy as it told the true story of 5
generations of Yorkshire women. In particular the story of the Oaks colliery
disaster and how it changed all their fortunes made me think also about the
life of miners underground as well as those left behind on the surface. I
think the saddest part is the relationship of the author with her mother and
Gran and the one fact staring her in the face that she had managed to
overlook.
Dec 04, 2018
Janice rated it
really liked it
This book rekindled my interest in genealogy as it told the true story of 5
generations of Yorkshire women. In particular the story of the Oaks colliery
disaster and how it changed all their fortunes made me think also about the
life of miners underground as well as those left behind on the surface. I think
the saddest part is the relationship of the author with her mother and Gran
and the one fact staring her in the face that she had managed to overlook.
A story of Felicity's struggle through childhood at the hands of her mean
and ruthless grandmother. Always wondering why her mother wouldn't
just leave with her in tow. There had to be a better life out there. It's only years later when she realizes that she is stuck in poverty because of the generations
before her. "The only way to break the cycle is through education."
When Felicity hears this statement in her sociology class does she
realize the profound truth behind these words. Felicity earns a degree as
a teacher and strives to learn all she can of her family history to ensure
that not only her life, her sons lives AND her students lives will all be
better than the lives of the generations past. An excellent read. Teachers
that can teach positive lessons from personal tragedy are brilliant
educators. Thank you Felicity for being a brave, caring, beautiful person
and sharing your story with us.
When you decide to put your story down on paper - warts and all, you hold your breath in anticipation of the response. This lovely Canadian lady has given me permission to share the message which I received today.
I have just finished one of the best, life changing, eye opening book of my life. I learned more about myself through your journey than I ever have. I am from niagara falls Ontario Canada, but my family is from England. Gilford to be exact. I have never been so sad to finish a book and was wondering if you have plans to write about your wonderful soul of a grandfather's family. This summer I had emergency surgery and almost died from a perferated bowel. I am only 36 years old. Your book came to me at a time that feels like it was deliberately put in my path and when I needed it the most. YOU are an incredible woman who has honoured your family in the most amazing way. You told their stories and gave Emily the peace she has probably needed for so long. I thank you for writing such a beautiful ode to your family as well as yourself. You are an inspiration Felicity.
Top Customer Reviews
This book tells us about a lot of the hardships many of our ancestors
endured in past generations. Life was not easy back then for many
people. If you are ever lamenting about the state of womens' rights or
women's equality or perhaps the treatment of mental illness, just look
back in history even just 50 years and see how far we have come.
Do we have more to work on, yes, of course,
but we've come a long way baby!
Good book!
This is a easy read and written quite well .It is a sad but is probably one
that resinates with many who read it.
Dec 04, 2018
Janice Bridger
rated it
really liked it
This book rekindled my interest in genealogy as it told the true story of 5
generations of Yorkshire women. In particular the story of the Oaks colliery
disaster and how it changed all their fortunes made me think also about the
life of miners underground as well as those left behind on the surface. I
think the saddest part is the relationship of the author with her mother and
Gran and the one fact staring her in the face that she had managed to
overlook.
Dec 04, 2018
Janice rated it
really liked it
This book rekindled my interest in genealogy as it told the true story of 5
generations of Yorkshire women. In particular the story of the Oaks colliery
disaster and how it changed all their fortunes made me think also about the
life of miners underground as well as those left behind on the surface. I think
the saddest part is the relationship of the author with her mother and Gran
and the one fact staring her in the face that she had managed to overlook.
A story of Felicity's struggle through childhood at the hands of her mean
and ruthless grandmother. Always wondering why her mother wouldn't
just leave with her in tow. There had to be a better life out there. It's only years later when she realizes that she is stuck in poverty because of the generations
before her. "The only way to break the cycle is through education."
When Felicity hears this statement in her sociology class does she
realize the profound truth behind these words. Felicity earns a degree as
a teacher and strives to learn all she can of her family history to ensure
that not only her life, her sons lives AND her students lives will all be
better than the lives of the generations past. An excellent read. Teachers
that can teach positive lessons from personal tragedy are brilliant
educators. Thank you Felicity for being a brave, caring, beautiful person
and sharing your story with us.
and ruthless grandmother. Always wondering why her mother wouldn't
just leave with her in tow. There had to be a better life out there. It's only years later when she realizes that she is stuck in poverty because of the generations
before her. "The only way to break the cycle is through education."
When Felicity hears this statement in her sociology class does she
realize the profound truth behind these words. Felicity earns a degree as
a teacher and strives to learn all she can of her family history to ensure
that not only her life, her sons lives AND her students lives will all be
better than the lives of the generations past. An excellent read. Teachers
that can teach positive lessons from personal tragedy are brilliant
educators. Thank you Felicity for being a brave, caring, beautiful person
and sharing your story with us.
A well written and thought provoking book. I am able to identify with this book on many
levels and have also 'broken the cycle' and achieved an education and a career
beyond even my own expectations. There is always hope!
Jill rated it
A very interesting true story : The author had a very difficult childhood at the mercy of her cruel Grandmother. Later in life Felicity researches her family's past dating all the way back to the 1800's and what she discovers helps to unravel some shocking truths and how the dysfunctional family life was repeated through each generation. After finishing this book I have a renewed respect for teachers and what important and sometimes life-changing effects they can have on their students that can even "break the cycle of deprivation through education." A very well researched and thought-provoking read. (less)
A well written and thought provoking book. I am able to identify with this book on many
levels and have also 'broken the cycle' and achieved an education and a career
beyond even my own expectations. There is always hope!
levels and have also 'broken the cycle' and achieved an education and a career
beyond even my own expectations. There is always hope!
Jill rated it
Deanna rated it really liked it
At first I thought I couldn't read this. First few pages made me so angry at the situation. But I quickly got into it and read it in two days. Loved it. Especially the fact that it is a true story and the author included some real photos in the book.
Erin from Toronto
I could not put this book down! So near my home town and my favourite seaside place,
I felt I was there every step, felicity what an amazing lady you are, my thoughts go
out to you.This book is a must to read. Xx
I felt I was there every step, felicity what an amazing lady you are, my thoughts go
out to you.This book is a must to read. Xx
By Roger Gordon
The home in which Felicity Davis grew up was anything but normal. It included her
Mum, a passive but harmless soul, her grandfather, a kind and endearing man, and
her grandmother, who displayed odd and cruel behaviour toward her granddaughter.
Felicity's father, whom she visited regularly with her mum, lived elsewhere and he did
not acknowledge Felicity's real name. In later life, Felicity decided to delve into past
generations of her family tree to find out what factors may have been at play in leading
to her grandmother becoming such a strange and abusive woman to her. In Sins of the
Family, Felicity Davis interweaves her own personal struggles with her mission in life
with the tragedies endured by her ancestors. She takes the reader back to the
infamous 1866 coal mine explosion in Barnsley, in which her great great grandparents
lost two sons, to the hanging in 1903 of her great grandmother and her alleged lover
for murdering her abusive husband, Felicity's great grandfather. The impact that this
shocking event must have had on the psyche of Felicity's grandmother, a small child
at the time when her mother was hanged and her father murdered, goes a long way
toward explaining the troubled and bitter soul into which she matured.
This is a compelling read, centered around a heart-rending and dark family history.
The author shows how the tribulations suffered by one generation can have an impact
on subsequent ones. Through her uncovering of the past and most important, her
willingness to forgive, Felicity turns her own life around and provides it with a sense
of purpose. The author shows an honesty that is to be admired and a meticulous
attention to detail that is most impressive. It is a great memoir that ranks among the
best.
Mum, a passive but harmless soul, her grandfather, a kind and endearing man, and
her grandmother, who displayed odd and cruel behaviour toward her granddaughter.
Felicity's father, whom she visited regularly with her mum, lived elsewhere and he did
not acknowledge Felicity's real name. In later life, Felicity decided to delve into past
generations of her family tree to find out what factors may have been at play in leading
to her grandmother becoming such a strange and abusive woman to her. In Sins of the
Family, Felicity Davis interweaves her own personal struggles with her mission in life
with the tragedies endured by her ancestors. She takes the reader back to the
infamous 1866 coal mine explosion in Barnsley, in which her great great grandparents
lost two sons, to the hanging in 1903 of her great grandmother and her alleged lover
for murdering her abusive husband, Felicity's great grandfather. The impact that this
shocking event must have had on the psyche of Felicity's grandmother, a small child
at the time when her mother was hanged and her father murdered, goes a long way
toward explaining the troubled and bitter soul into which she matured.
This is a compelling read, centered around a heart-rending and dark family history.
The author shows how the tribulations suffered by one generation can have an impact
on subsequent ones. Through her uncovering of the past and most important, her
willingness to forgive, Felicity turns her own life around and provides it with a sense
of purpose. The author shows an honesty that is to be admired and a meticulous
attention to detail that is most impressive. It is a great memoir that ranks among the
best.
well written and an interesting insight into what "shapes us" as individuals
Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars
A very good non-fiction book. Well told by the author
By
Peter
I heard the author on the local radio and thought the story well worth reading. Great story as I am into ancestry but found the story jumped about a bit too much and at times I lost the thread and had to go back to re-read some chapters. However it is well worth the read to get an insight to understanding those days of the past.
Four Stars,
This review is from: Guard a Silver Sixpence: My Yorkshire Family's Secret (Paperback)
good condition
5.0 out of 5 stars
By mary I love the honesty of this book all skeletons revealed ,a very interesting insight into the lives of Flic and her ancestors and the mining community
This is a compelling and beautifully written tale of the author's family history - after evidently lots of research yet it never gets bogged down in detail. I enjoyed the directness in the telling, and the skill with which the author has woven together the different lives, including her own. Gradually she shows how past events and tragedies have shaped their history, and explores the choices that could or could not have been made, with a keen understanding of what the reality of life was like fo...more
Very good, written nicely - a very descriptive search into a past to find answers. I liked the way Scarborough and London were described too. Made me dream of living there in a free time in the 70s myself.
A true story of a family's history, I read this because I'm currently doing my own family tree and was intrigued. Such a sad story which shows how consequences roll through family's.
Guard A Silver Sixpence,
By
bookworm18 -
The author skillfully weaves her own life story with her family history , and also social history of the mid 1800s describing the colliery disaster that killed some of her relatives. The main "character" is her grandmother who really did make the authors life very difficult. It is only at the end of the book that we realise why the authors mother was unable to stand up for herself and her daughter against the grandmothers tyranny, and also the reason for the books title ( which I found very moving). This is a beautifully written book. At the end of it , although I can t condone her grandmothers behavour, I did find myself sympathising with her over the one event when she was four years old that really did blight her life.
Guard a silver sixpence,
By
This is an extremely moving story, intellegently written which shows how history can influence the future, and how knowledge can change it. Felicity Davis's journey of self discovery is an inspiration! This is a must read.
History Lesson,
By
sakhee
I bought this book because it contained details of the Oaks mining disaster in 1866 in which my great grandfather and his 14 year old son perished. I was shocked to learn that Emily Swann had been so badly treated by the justice system. Her daughter Eleanor lived in the same village -Gilroyd - as my father and was the same age. I remember being told that Eleanor was nicknamed Eleanor 'duck' by the village people who knew no better. I have bought several copies for Christmas presents and think it s the best book I have read.
Fascinating family history,
By
Luci (England)
Most family history reasearch only reveals names, occupations and dates. Spurred on to find out why her grandmother was so spiteful and her mother so weak, the author not only traced her family history but managed to find out what each of her great-great, great and grandparents' characters were like and how circumstances had shaped each of them.
The book is a combination of funny and tragically sad moments, revealing how cruelly people were treated a hundred years ago, how inescapable a bad marriage was and how things were hushed up. Other people's opinions ruled supreme! The author did demonstrate that however bad a person's life start, personality and choice does govern how the individual goes on to behave towards others.
A great holiday read for me. It would be good for a future edition to include a family tree.
The book is a combination of funny and tragically sad moments, revealing how cruelly people were treated a hundred years ago, how inescapable a bad marriage was and how things were hushed up. Other people's opinions ruled supreme! The author did demonstrate that however bad a person's life start, personality and choice does govern how the individual goes on to behave towards others.
A great holiday read for me. It would be good for a future edition to include a family tree.
A thought provoking read,
By
This book rattled me on several levels. I am only two years younger than the author & can remember how things were growing up in the seventies in the North of England. Like her, I didn't have a great relationship with my mother and probably blamed her for everything that was wrong in my life. Unlike her I did get an education yet failed to use it to its best potential. Reading the book reinforced the idea that education is the best way out of an impoverished life. I feel ashamed that I let the obstacles I'd faced in my life keep me down. When I think of what the female characters in this book overcame, I feel a renewed strength to try to improve my life again.
I tried not to judge the author & I don't condone what the grandmother did to her when she was a girl, but I did feel sorry for the old lady when she was left alone in later years. She clearly had issues & I would have liked her to have received proper treatment. It's tragic that each generation of women suffered & felt unable to reach out for support. By researching the family history & discovering the strength of her ancestors, as well as their tribulations, I hope Felicity can move forward & feel confident in her own skin.
This was a very interesting story that deserves to be read. Well done.
Guard a Silver Sixpence: My Yorkshire Gamily's Secret, 29 Feb 2012
By
Enjoyed this, an easy read, it has been nicely written, interesting back ground story, going back to the age of the private mines in Barnsely, running along side Felicity Davis's own life in Scarbrough.
Fantastic Book,
By
I couldn't put my kindle down while reading this. It was a sad, happy, funny book. It had lots of the old town's/address's from her ancesters which was nice as you could check the area from which they where from on google earth (i know im sad lol but I do look things like that up sometimes to give me a picture of the distances they travel etc to work)
Yorkshire reader,
By
Having researched and written about my own family history, I found this book utterly fascinating and could not put it down. Felicity commences with her own story then goes straight to her 2 x great grandparents history, weaving her own story and that of her ancestors in alternate chapters. Congratulations to Felicity for breaking free of her past, not an easy thing to do, but I felt for her grandmother and felt sad that she was not told what had happened to her mother and how this had affected her for the rest of her life. #An excellent read especially if you are interested in family history.
Guard a Silver Sixpence,
This book is fantastically written and weaves the stories together so well, it was an absolute pleasure to read and at the end, when the title is explained and the 4year old's life long effect from that event, made it just more brilliant and a big thank you goes to the author for sharing her most private feelings and at the same time helping to explain many of our own.
Well Done
well done felicity,
By
Well im up to chapter 8 and the book is becoming an addiction to see what happens next!Im finding it very sad in the way felicity was treated by her grandmother,but now shes fifteen shes standing up to her and its quite hillarious in parts.thorougly enjoying reading the book (i havent read a book in 14 years)highly recommended read!well done to the author for having the courage to share her life with us.
A Yorkshire Beauty,
By
In 'Guard A Silver Sixpence' Davis folds together the secrets of her family history and its impact on her young life and how it has sculpted her to become a strong woman. I thoroughly enjoyed the blend of the two generations and was suprised at what I learnt myself about Yorkshire history.
I found myself racing through some chapters desperate to find out what was going to happen, then relaxing into others enjoying the humour and sweet memories. I found this story beautifully evocative and empowering.
Fantastic Read !! I could not put this book down!,
By
Such a fantastic read and so interesting!! I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in family history! Felicity brings to life her ancestors and through doing so it reveals a lot about the secrets in her family and unanswered questions.
By
I heard the author on the local radio and thought the story well worth reading.
Great story as I am into ancestry but found the story jumped about a bit too much and at times I lost the thread and had to go back to re-read some chapters.
However it is well worth the read to get an insight to understanding those days of the past.
couldnt put it down,
This book was about the town and area in which I was born. So I could relate to the author's many experiences of those times of struggle and the eventual need to have a different future for myself and my children.
Understanding the past can change the present., 21 May 2013
By
Yorkshire industrial and social history covering two centuries, providing a background to a life story of surviving an abusive upbringing in a seaside town. Evocative writing.
After the first page, I wondered whether it was going to be a misery memoir, but I was hooked. Why was her Gran like that? By the end, we understood and there wasn't anything miserable about the writer. It was about being gutsy and discovering that while past events inform who we are, we can change patterns of behaviour.
After the first page, I wondered whether it was going to be a misery memoir, but I was hooked. Why was her Gran like that? By the end, we understood and there wasn't anything miserable about the writer. It was about being gutsy and discovering that while past events inform who we are, we can change patterns of behaviour.
thought provoking,
By
A book in which you find unbelievable hardship & resilience. This book is a "must read", it evokes so many emotions.
A rare completed chunky paperback for me.,
By
I read this book over a few weeks between audio books and other thinner paperbacks, as I have difficulty holding a book. I kept going back to it as I had to discover what made Felicity's grandmother tick. The alternate accounts of Felicity's own life and her family history made the whole account absorbing. She has every right to say how hard life can be for lots of people and be proud that she has done her very best to overcome the challenges in hers. Sometimes sad but often uplifting, I enjoyed this book very much.
guard a silver sixpence,
By
my kind of book it was set quite near my home town i recognised all the areas and learnt a lotabout what happened
Guard a silver sixpence,
A good read was not feeling too good but forgot my aches and pains and got lost in it thanks a lot
Amazing read,
By
I work with felicity so it made the book even more thrilling. excellently written and inspiring...it brought a tear to my eye on a few occasions. Couldn't put it down.
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