The Hiding Place

Trezza Azzopardi

Caroline had had this book for sometime –ever since it was serialised on Radio 4 but had only just got around to reading it. It was well worth the wait. It was astonishingly well written for a first novel. It was set in Cardiff and concerned the lives and failing fortunes of the Gauci family: Frank and Mary and their six daughters. The novel is told from the point of view of Dolores, the youngest daughter. For much of the novel she is a child and the events as viewed from a child’s eyes are mysterious. It is only at the end of the novel that some of these are explained. A mesmerising book which is highly recommended. It was one of the ten books chosen by BBC Wales for the Big read http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/bigread/choices/pages/azzopardi.shtml
Caroline 24/4/05

A superb read, one of those books where you don’t want to reach the end. The story is set among the Maltese community in Cardiff. The story is told mainly from the viewpoint of a young child. Excellent characters and a powerful story with some horrific elements.
Jean 31/7/05

Set in the Maltese community in Cardiff. Depressing - awful. A Maltese man marries a local girl, has 6 daughters, gets into wrong company, gambles everything away. Quite gripping, a grim read, only sort-of-recommended.
Bob 11/9/05

By the same author

Remember Me

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