The Reading Head

he Mill Girls of Albion Lane was a captivating tale of life in the 1930’s and the Mill Industry. Fans of Margaret Dickson and Call the Midwife will definitely enjoy this book.

Set in the Bradford Mill Industry of the 1930’s we meet Lily, the eldest daughter of the Briggs family. Lily has worked in the Mill since she was 14 and is the middle daughter of a mother who tries her best and a drunken father. As well as learning about life during this period, and specifically the industry, we follow Lily and her family through some serious adversity involving health, betrayal, love, fear and the criminal justice system. When things get tough, we see how the mill community comes together to offer support.

I was captivated to the story throughout, crying on many occasion. I highly recommend a big box of tissues toward the later half of the book. At one point I cried so much I had to stop reading! To me that is the sign of a great story-teller.

All the characters are well-developed, making it easier to imagine them and to develop a kind of relationship. You believe everyone you see to be real, feeling anger and hatred to some, and love toward others. Each and everyone of the characters could be someone you know. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Lily and Billy, although that was where most of my tears came from. The not so likable characters like her uncle and cousin really got my hackles up!

I feel the story itself is well enough paced. Although I found the first part of the book a little slow, the pace picks up nicely as you move on, passed the preliminaries. The history is well researched and accurate.

Overall, I think just about anyone would enjoy this book. Enjoy.

NB I Reveived this book free for an honest review