It all started with judging a book by its cover. The jacket
of Tensy Farlow really jumped out at me and got me intrigued. I somehow
acquired a reading copy (I think I was working in a bookshop at the time) and I
brought it home with every intention to read it. The only trouble was, I was
bringing so many books home and then reading other things, or not having the time because
of uni work that it soon got left behind.
So for two years this sad and sorry state continued. Every
time I saw the eye-catching Tensy in a shop I would think to myself, I should
read that, oh wait, I’ve got it at home…
Then a few weeks ago, I updated my book database (yes I’m
that kind of nerd) so that the “Read it” option was actually representative of
what I had read. It was at this point I discovered 45% of the 1100-odd books I
currently own are sitting on my shelves, unread. I knew this needed to be
rectified, so I implemented a new policy in my book acquisition: Focus on Picture Books until I have read more of the fiction I own. I have a habit of
getting copies of books I like the look of (fiction, I mean) and then not
reading them. This has got to stop. Admittedly, it’s predominately because I
have so much reading for work and uni that personal selections tend to take a
back seat.
However, the point of that whole story was to say that the
first book I picked up on my quest to read what I own was Tensy Farlow and I’m
really glad it was! If I enjoy half of what I’ve got left to read a fraction of
how much I enjoyed Tensy, then I’m in for some good reading.
Tensy was not very much like I was expecting, (it’s hard to
build legitimate expectations from cover alone) but it was so much better! Set
in a more magical first half of the 20th century, we are introduced
to Guardian Angels and other less seemly creatures that occupy our world with
us. The tale then follows Tensy who seems to have been born without a Guardian
Angel and all of the problems that causes her, such as being abandoned at birth.
This book is filled with fantastic characters. From Albie
Gribble, who finds the baby and becomes besotted and just wants to look after
her, to Madam Pluckrose, the delightfully wicked matron of the Home for Mislaid
Children who you just love to hate. Even the Angels each have such vivid and
varied characters, Jen Storer certainly isn’t short of imagination, nor the
skill to back it up.
When I reached the end, I had very mixed emotions, but not
for the reasons you might guess. I discovered that it was a stand-alone title.
Now, I think there should be more stand-alone titles and I kind of feel like
every other book is in a series, as if the art of the genuinely good
stand-alone is being lost. But at the same time, I really connected with the
characters and the world in this book and wanted more of them. Hence, my mixed
emotions. I love a good series, and I LOVE a stand-alone.
I loved Tensy Farlow.
