Yes, My Darling Daughter - Book Review

You all know I'm a big reader, and after recently finishing my favorite book out of the 76 I've read so far in 2011, I decided I would do a review.  Because this book is so excellent - and it isn't at all the type I'd have picked to read in the store.  The title isn't very appealing to me.  And neither was the cover (to me, it looked a little outdated, although the book was published in 2009).  But don't let that deter you - because Yes, My Darling Daughter by Margaret Leroy is an absolute must-read!  The reason I picked it up is because I read a review of it in my annual book calendar, in which Leroy's writing was compared to Daphne Du Maurier.  And as I read a summary of the book, I was intrigued by the story line.  It's a gothic, and I do love a good gothic.  Let me tell you something - last time I read a gothic this good (with not even an ounce of cheesiness to be found) was when I was 12 years old and read Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart. 

Here's what makes this book so unusual though.  In addition to being set in modern day, it has the mom factor.  And I mean reality mom.  There's no glossing over.  This is a mom (Grace) pouring her heart out, worrying herself to death over her child.  She's single and working in a flower shop in London, with very little support.  And her child, Sylvie, is four years old and starting to regress into these horrendous tantrums in which she screams with such terror and persistence that she often vomits and repulses all others.  Soon, friends start recommending psychiatric evaluations, and here poor Grace is struggling just to put food on the table each week.  When Sylvie gets kicked out of the nursery for her uncontrollable behavior, Grace is certain to lose her job if she can't find another place that will take Sylvie.  It's all one big train-wreck of motherhood and written so beautifully, so heart-wrenchingly, so lyrically, that you long to step into the book and take over.  To make things better. 

Meanwhile, Sylvie sees a picture from a magazine of a male model on a coastline.  She declares that this is where she is from.  That she lived there.  Other puzzling tidbits occur - Sylvie's declaring that she lived in another house, a nicer house than theirs.  Her refusal to call her mother Mum, instead calling her Grace.  Her increasing nightmares, and her sheer terror of water, particularly on her face.

Grace, in desperation, seeks out a psychology professor who researches children who may have psychic abilities or might have experienced past lives.  And although Grace's few supportive friends are against it (in fact, they think she's crazy), she decides to take a trip with him and Sylvie to Coldharbour, Scotland, to visit the place that Sylvie claims she has lived before.  What exactly is her mysterious connection to this coastline? 

That's all I'm going to tell you, because if you're interested, I don't want there to be any spoilers.  But you'll get your intriguing cottages, your stormy weather, your creepy cliffs in this read.  For two days, I got nothing done while I read this book.  It's fantastic.  If you like gothic style, you would love this book.  Check it out!

Disclaimer - I'm reviewing this book because I loved it, and thought I'd share the joy of reading it.  I didn't receive anything for doing so.