The Road from Belaven by Margot Livesey is a quiet coming-of-age novel about Lizzie. She's a young girl in a small Irish village who can see part of the future in visions. The ending felt a little rushed but was satisfactory.
Thanks to Knopf and NewGalley for a digital review copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinions.

Loved this. I really enjoyed everything about this. I loved the story completely. It will stay with me for a long time. I appreciate that the author has very strong voice - one I really enjoy.

Standing on the road of decision in the heart of all those roads to take or not take, a girl could use a bit of wisdom, right? A second sight, a helpful vision of which is the better way? a little help, please?

Well, Lizzie Craig has that. . .in bits and pieces, and no particular translator to ease her into practice. She has the vision, not the Whole Vision, just a slice. And that makes (as Robert Frost would say). . .all the difference.

Margot Livesey has swept us off to Scotland, to Lizzie's grandparents' home in Cupar - Fife where she has been raised and is happy, mostly. She has country girl thoughts, hopes and wishes - the usual fare; she wants to fit in, wants friends and fun, and to please her family. For the most part she seems to feel she will be able to do that as she grows up. She has to come to terms with her gift, the first truth of which is that not everyone else has it . . .in fact, very few. The second truth of which seems to be determining whether it is a blessing. . .or a curse.

Four stars from this gr-gr-gr-granddaughter of Scotland, a reliably sturdy tale about choices - and that the weight of them isn't necessarily lightened by special gifts but they can make consequential outcomes even more astonishing.

*A sincere thank you to Margot Livesey, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

This book had its share of surprises. Lizzie Craig fought for her own identity, in a time and place when women didn't do that. It cost her, but she fought endlessly for a life she could, well, live with, in spite of at-time impossible circumstances.

I couldn’t help but compare the plot of this book with Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. Both narratives center around young women in the late 19th century who endure suffering at the hands of men who claim to love them. These stories also shed light on the prevailing hypocrisy of their time and the struggles endured by women as they navigate societal norms. The Road from Belhaven almost seems like a retelling of Tess, although its official description does not indicate that intention.

My primary connection was with Lizzie, the main female character. Her flaws, ill-advised decisions (often stemming from ignorance, youth, and emotion), and the resulting severe consequences resonated with me. The emotional impact was akin to what I experienced while reading Tess.

While the subplot involving foresight added to the story’s resolution, I personally found it somewhat contrived and not seamlessly integrated into the overall narrative.

I did feel like the pace of the book was off a bit. The beginning was meandering and sweet, and the ending felt rushed and sad. But perhaps that is a metaphor for life - childhood marked by open adventures and whimsy, contrasted with the more challenging, hurried, and occasionally painful experiences of adulthood.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the story. I was pleased with how it ended, which was a much happier ending than Tess had.
 
Thank you @netgalley and Knopf for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I love the writing of Margot Livesey!

What I loved about this book:
1. It was written in this beautiful, quiet, introspective style.
2. The descriptions of the Scotland countryside were amazing!
3. I love historical fiction and magical realism combination!

What I wanted to be different:
1. Lizzie could be annoying - she had a gift and yet she came across at times as powerless. I wanted her character to be stronger - just felt disconnected at times.


Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the digital review copy via Net Galley.

A quiet coming-of-age novel about Lizzie, a young girl in a small Irish village and the choices she makes. The twist: she can see (parts of) the future in the form of visions. This would've garnered a higher ranking if it weren't for the very rushed, overly tidy ending. Sometimes it's ok to leave things a little messy!

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of the Road from Belhaven by Margo Livesey. It takes place in rural Scotland in the 19th century. Lizzie lives with her grandparents on their farm. From the time she is a young girl, she has occasional visions, that end up coming true. She thinks she is an only child until her older sister, who has been brought up by the other grandparents, shows up. Lizzie learns a lot of the ways of the word from her sister, but not enough. She ends up pregnant, the man says he wants to marry her but has to complete his apprenticeship first. Don’t want to give too much away, but things go from bad to worse, but then get much better. I really enjoyed this book, recommend it for a different type of historical fiction. #theroadfrombelhaven #margotlivesey #bookstagram #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #takeapagefrommybook #lovetoread #historicalfiction #readersofinstagram

Brilliant! Margot Livesey is one of my favorite writers; a contemporary author whose work feels classical right away. This was beautifully written and such a compelling character.

I know that this book is well liked, but I just couldn't love it. I didn't find this book very interesting and kept putting it down. Overall, I just don't think this book was for me and I can't suggest reading it.

Margot Livesey is a beautiful and mysterious writer, with the gift of gently probing her characters' psyches, revealing all sorts of wonder. "The Boy in the Field" and "The Flight of Gemma Hardy" are two lovely examples of her skill, and as much as I enjoyed "The Road to Belhaven," it's not one of her strongest. She writes delicately of the seasonal magic in 19th century Scottish farm life and the vagaries of Lizzie Craig's second sight. From childhood Lizzie has been able to foretell certain events but not others, and she is not able to change the outcome. She tries to hide her visions but her family knows that this gift, or curse, runs in the family.

There is so much fine about this novel, but the pacing is off. It moves gently toward resolution and then cracks the whip and rushes to get there. Disconcerting.

Thanks to Knopf and NewGalley for a digital review copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for allowing me to read and review The Road from Belhaven on NetGalley.

Published: 02/06/24

Stars: 3.5

The Road from Belhaven as a book is more than the synopsis. There is a deeper story that comes through, albeit the pacing was off. However based on an individual's experience and beliefs this could move seamlessly for them. I had trouble with the selfish decisions and whatever he said was law parts. I was fighting a private internal war. I decide what works as realistic and reasonable, and the processes infuriated me.

Lizzie grows up in the story facing pain, cruelty, abandonment, and foolishness. She is naive and finds herself pregnant. This is her tale with all its bad decisions and good advice.

The book did make me think. I liked some of the character relationships and the setting. I gave it 3.5 stars, I'm not rounding up. The ending spoiled the book for me.

I would recommend reading The Road from Belhaven. If the ending had been my ideal of realistic this would be a four star read.

This is the best British novel of the year. Full of beautiful descriptions, heartrending characters that will stay with the reader forever, Reminiscent of Harry Potter meets Jane Austen with some Emma Donahue sprinkled throughout!

I finished this book on a rainy Saturday and I really enjoyed curling up with a blanket, a cup of tea and this beautifully written novel that incorporates elements of magical realism. The story is centered around Lizzie Craig, a young woman living in rural, late 19th century Scotland, who experiences brief “pictures” (i.e. visions) of the future. Like Cassandra from Greek mythology, many of Lizzie’s visions involve tragic events, and she believes herself powerless to stop them. She falls in love with a young man from Glasgow, moves to the city to be with him, and finds herself estranged from her sister and grandparents (her only family) after a series of events show her the young man’s true nature. The book is what I think of as a “quiet novel.” You’re not getting show-offy writing or dramatic tugging-at-your-heartstrings emotion, but rather a simple, moving and deeply realistic portrayal of everyday events and decisions that can change your life. My only criticism is that the ending did seem rushed, compared to the thoughtful and measured pacing of the first 3/4. That certainly would not keep me from recommending it, especially to historical fiction fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf for my review copy!

🗓️Publication date: Feb 6, 2024

We read this with our bookstore book club. The Road from Belhaven is a charming coming-of-age story. Many of us found the book to be cozy but not exactly intellectually stimulating.

Set in the 1880s, The Road from Belhaven by Margot Livesey revolves around Lizzie Craig who we meet as a young orphan growing up in the care of her maternal grandparents Rab and Flora on Belhaven Farm, in rural Scotland. Lizzie is gifted with second sight – the “pictures” she envisions that are indicative of future events - visions that come to her infrequently but know to mostly keep to herself. Lizzie loves to read and is a curious child. Hers is mostly a happy childhood with her life with her loving grandparents, in the company of the farm animals, her books and school, and their farmhand Hugh who eventually moves to Glasgow in search of better opportunities. Lizzie is surprised to find out that she has an older sister Kate who has been raised by their paternal grandparents. When Kate comes to live with them. Lizzie’s life slowly begins to change. Lizzie begins to dream of a life with new opportunities – a life she is encouraged to embark on when a young man named Louis enters her life. Unbeknownst to Lizzie, the consequences of her choices will not only irrevocably change her own life but could also fracture the relationships she holds dear.

I loved the premise of this novel and was engrossed in the first half of the story. The author’s description of Belhaven Farm, life in rural Scotland with its customs and traditions, and Lizzie’s curiosity and love for reading were a joy to read. But my enthusiasm for this novel dampened as the narrative veered toward a predictable trajectory with stereotypical characters and though I could sympathize with Lizzie’s plight, I began to lose interest in her story. As we begin to follow, Lizzie’s transition from a sheltered farm girl to a young woman finding her own way in the city, at times I felt as if the first and second half of the novel were written about two completely different protagonists. While most of the characters were well thought out and realistic, the changes in Lizzie are often abrupt, unexplored and her motivations are difficult to understand. Her choices are questionable, her behavior uncharacteristic at times, and while I won’t judge her, I would have liked the opportunity to understand her motivations. I usually enjoy quiet character-driven fiction with minimal melodrama, but I thought the latter half of this coming-of-age story lacked emotional depth. As a plot point, the magical realism aspect- Lizzie’s gift - was not explored in depth or integral to the overall plot in the way it could have been. Overall, I thought the story had potential and it pains me to be unable to give this novel a higher rating.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Livesey is a word artist and clever storyteller. In this novel, she has masterfully blended elements of love, coming of age, and the supernatural. The writing is descriptive and the reader feels transported to Victorian Scotland. It was a most enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book seemed to have all the elements I would love: historical fiction set in Scotland that centers women’s stories. But I just couldn’t connect with it. I ended up reading to about 40% before giving up and bailing out.

I am only giving a star rating because I am required to. I don’t like giving a star rating when I have not finished the book; as I am unable to fully assess it.

Lizzie is a young orphan being raised by her grandparents in the late 1800's in Scotland. She has the gift of second sight, and it shapes her life in ways that she wouldn't have imagined as a young child.

This novel read like a YA novel, although I am not certain it is meant as such. It's a quiet family drama, and rather predictable. I think it would hold the interest of a middle teen more than it held my interest. That said, its an easy read, there are no graphic scenes, and the story is interesting enough.

The Road from Belhaven had all of the elements of a historical fiction novel that I love, however, the story fell flat for me. I enjoyed the first 40% or so of the story, and getting to know Lizzie and the other characters. I liked how Lizzie had the gift of second sight and would see "pictures" of things that were going to happen to others around her. I also liked that she usually drew the pictures after and held onto them. Around the halfway mark, I started to find I was getting bored and despite how short this book is, it was starting to feel long.

While the story itself didn't resonate with me, I will say Livesey's writing is beautiful, and knows how to make a character come off the page.

Overall, it was a fine book. For me, some parts were better than others. It was simply too slow of a book for me.

Thank you Knopf Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.