Prized Possessions [Hardcover]

Jessica Stirling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2001

In a captivating tale of an indomitable family of women in Glasgow during the Depression, Lizzie Conway is unable to protect her daughters from the biggest threat of all: falling in love with men like their long-vanished father.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lizzie Conway has spent her life trying to keep her three daughters from following in her downtrodden footsteps. Although they live in the slums of Glasgow during the Great Depression, Lizzie has struggled to maintain her dignity and protect her daughters from men like her missing husband, a henchman for the local Mafia. Before he went to fight in WWI he stole an enormous amount of money from his organization that she's still paying off in installments. Instead of retribution for her husband's treachery, the boss, Dominic Manone, has been instrumental in finding her two eldest daughters, Babs and Polly, good jobs, but in spite of their no-nonsense mom's determination to better their lives, they hang out with the locals and attach themselves to petty thieves. Stirling banishes the illusion of the "good old days" in this illuminating and riveting portrayal of the slums and one family's struggle for a better life. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

'Jessica Stirling's high reputation is well deserved' -- Manchester Evening News 'She writes in bright colours with bold, confident strokes' -- Glasgow Herald 'A naturally gifted writer' -- E. V. Thompson --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (August 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312280572
• ISBN-13: 978-0312280574
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,985,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, August 26, 2002

By 

Heather Marshall Negahdar "Haze" (Bridgetown, Barbados) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prized Possessions (Hardcover)

Although this book has nothing jumping out at you, it's storyline is good and quite entertaining.

Set in Glasgow Scotland in the Depression Era we look into the life of Lizzy Conway, a poor widow whose husband is Missing In Action during the war.

Lizzie has a load on her shoulders as she tries to make ends meet. She is indebted to the Italians through her husband's Frank unpaid debt and only managing on a small wage, it isn't easy. She has to care for three teenage daughters whom she keeps her protective eyes on, hopeful as they grow that they will find decent spouses to take them out of the slums into better living conditions and security.

Lizzie Conway the good mother and fighter takes a last chance on life for the good of all....but will it work out as planned? Read this refreshing book....a wonderful book for women of all ages..

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful look at Glasgow during the Great Depression, July 28, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prized Possessions (Hardcover)

Her husband probably died during World War I though officially he is listed as missing in action. For the last decade or so, Liz Conway has raised her three precious daughters by herself. Being a single mother is hard enough, but Liz also owes a lot of money, the debt being the inheritance from her missing spouse.

Liz gives up her life sacrificing everything so that her three children can begin the climb out of poverty. Somehow love blossoms with Bernard Peabody even if Liz is reluctant to allow her heart to call the shots at least until she knows her three darlings are happily settled. Still, the girls follow her lead as they too begin to fall in love with what Liz prays are responsible caring men.

Though there is some romance in PRIZED POSSESSIONS, the story line focuses on life in Glasgow during the Great Depression. Much of the moving plot occurs in slums teeming with abject poverty and hopelessness. Against that backdrop, Liz manages to keep her beloved family safe and secure. She is a heroine in her quiet way, which is why historical fiction fans will have a field day with this leisurely drawn character study of 1930s Glasgow.

Harriet Klausner