TRACES OF DREAMS

Author: Tricia McGill ISBN: 9781934614044 9/2007 SAGA Publisher: CALDERWOOD BOOKS
Time Period: 1914 to 1990's

Part one tells Alicia's story and begins in 1914 in North London just at the beginning of WWI. Alicia's first love goes away to war and is killed, leaving her pregnant. She eventually marries Matt and they have another nine children. Traces of Dreams is the story of a changing world, moving through two world wars and follows the story of a large family battling extreme poverty. But despite this they are rich in the things that matter—love and pride. Part two is Sara, Alicia's headstrong daughter's story. Sara follows her mother's example and finds the strength and indomitable courage to face many trials and setbacks before building a new life for herself and daughters.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

TRACES OF DREAMS by Tricia McGill is a story that can't help but touch the reader's heart. It is a moving tale told in two parts. The first begins in London at the start of the first World War and showcases the plight of Alicia, a pregnant woman who sends her true love off to war. She is, of course, left alone as he's killed, and she must find a way to gather her shattered life into some semblance of normal for the child he's given her. She marries another man and bears nine more children. This is not a light-hearted tale. Matt and Alicia are horribly poor and nearly every twist of fate seems cruel. But the family has love and they survive. The second part of this tale deals with one of Alicia's children, Sara, and her story. Sara has learned much from her mother, and is as headstrong and determined as Alicia.

I loved this story, although there were times when I felt tears welling in my eyes and an enormous lump in my throat. This story touched me deeply, and I won't forget it. Watching a family struggle so desperately is not easy, but seeing them triumph over tragedy is uplifting. I enjoy long, intense family sagas like this. Tricia McGill writes so realistically that the joys and sorrows portrayed in TRACES OF DREAMS made me laugh and cry. This is a novel of great emotional depth.

Kay James