Review: Leaving Lancaster by Kate Lloyd

From the start, Leaving Lancaster is a dizzying experience. The author switches from first to third person between the two main characters (mother and daughter, Esther and Holly Fisher) with no warning. I found myself having to re-read passages more slowly than usual to figure out who was speaking. Also, there seemed to be no sense of passing time in this book. I still have very little concept of how much time actually passed during the storyline, which, again, makes some of the developments hard to believe. It was interesting to me what the author decided to dwell on and explore, and what she left open ended (Mommy Anna's diagnosis, for one thing, Samuel's MIA status and Nathaniel's wife's disappearance, for others). Those who like the answers spelled out for them can only hope that there is a sequel to this book. I found it unrealistic that Nathanial would profess his love for Esther after briefly seeing her again after 30-odd years....enough so to propose marriage, and she seriously considered it! Add to that the fact that these two never had a relationship to begin with, 30 years ago. Suddenly they are declaring their love for one another, but the author spent zero time developing a relationship between them. If we are expected, as readers, to delve into fanciful notions like this, I would have much rather seen Samuel Fisher return from Vietnam, safely back into the arms of his family. I kept expecting either a) Nathaniel's long-lost wife to pop up on his doorstep; or b) Nathaniel to turn out to be Samuel, in some bizarre case of amnesia. By contrast, the relationship between Zach and Holly was a little more believable. The fluctuating emotions -- anger, fear, more anger, displayed by both mother and daughter made me kind of sick of both of them. I would expect behavior like that from adolescents, but not a 37-year-old college graduate, and her 50-something mom. I bought this book because it was offered for 99 cents. If I had paid $14 for the book, I might be disappointed. There were too many loose ends left untied, too many personality or background aspects left unexplained. Having said all that, I've read worse books. But I've read better books, as well, no offense to the author. If a sequel were written, I would read it, hoping that loose ends would finally be tied, and resolutions found.