The Far Away Girl By Sharon Maas

Sharon Maas ¼ 8 Free download

This book is a little hard for me to rate. I found the first 20-30(ish)% hard to get into. So much so, I was contemplating calling it a day. However, I pressed on and the next 60(ish)% was much better. Then we got to the last 10(ish)% and I again found it lacking. I am not sure what it is lately with books and endings that just seem so abrupt or unfinished. Maybe I read too much romance and now expect a nice, neat, wrapped in a bow ending. I don't know, but the ending on this one just felt SO abrupt. I wanted MORE. A further in the future look at what Rita's life looked like. Anyway, so yeah, this one was a mixed bag for sure....

**ARC Via NetGalley** Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary In 1976, five-year-old Rita is ripped away from the only family she has ever known and is taken to Georgetown, Guyana, to live with her father, Jitty Miraj. A wild child, she surrounds herself with animals and books, and shares everything with her diary, a gift from her father. Her father becomes her world, and she forgets her past.

When Doomsday comes, and she meets Jitty's new wife Chandra, Rita is told that she is not good enough. Chandra is embarrassed of Rita's African and Amerindian roots, her curly hair, and the fact that her parents weren't married. Rita is quickly set off to the side. Then a chance to visit her mother's family presents itself. Will Rita finally learn the truth her father will never tell? How did her mother die? This is the coming of age story of Rita Miraj, from five years old to adulthood.

This is an absolutely gorgeous, soul-touching book that I could not put down. We are immediately drawn into Rita's life and grow up with her as she learns to cope with a weak but manipulative father and his empty promises. Words are her gift, and we are gifted with her poems and diary entries. Music, movies, and political/historical events of the 1970s and 1980s are relayed through Rita, Jitty, and flashbacks to Rita's mother Cassie. The lush beauty, diverse wildlife, and rich history of the Pomeroon River area are described in vivid detail. Rita has a deeply moving and soul- changing moment on Shell Beach watching a turtle lay her eggs, and I was drawn in to her overwhelming wonder and joy. The evolution of Rita's heart, mind, and goals as she grows and learns is so well captured here. This book was an unforgettable, magical joy to read. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Historical Novels Review Magazine. My opinions are my own. Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary This book is Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction. I found the beginning very hard to get into, and I also found parts of this book hard to follow. I feel the historical jumps back in time need to be done better. I loved the book after I got into the book, and after I figured out what was happen. The last 50% was so great, and it is so worth getting through the first part of the book. There was a big reveal in this book, and the reveal was so heartbreaking, but it was good. There is some problems of this book that could upset readers, so you should really look into the triggers of this book before reading this book if you get upset by things you read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Bookouture) or author (Sharon Maas) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary The Far Away Girl is the eleventh novel by Guyana-born author, Sharon Maas. When she was five, Rita Maraj came to live at Number Seven Kaieteur Close, Georgetown, with her father and Mildred the maid. Her Daddy, having not had his own family from the age of three, didn’t know how to be a parent, so there wasn’t much discipline, but eventually Rita was happy, which was the most important thing, as far as he was concerned.

Until Doomsday arrived, Rita had been free to have her ant farm and jars of tadpoles and a menagerie of animals (she loved animals). Things in their old Dutch colonial white wooden mansion could be as messy as they liked, no one was bothered. Then Daddy brought home a wife, Chandra, who would be a mother for Rita, and everything changed: ants, animals all gone, everything had to be tidy, and a new baby…

Jitendra Maraj was always uneasy when Rita, ever inquisitive, raised the topic of her mother. She would hear whispers about her mother’s death and some would say Rita was a bastard; Jitty promised to tell her everything when she was older. Meanwhile, he discouraged contact with her mother’s family, up there in the hills near the Pomeroon.

When Rita finally met, properly, her maternal grandmother and visited the place from where Cassie Gomes had come, would she learn the truth? What was Jitty not telling?

Maas gives the reader a touching story of love and loss, guilt and grief, racial prejudice and moral judgement, as well as touching on conservation issues. Her characters are credibly flawed and most have a genuine appeal that allows the reader to invest in them, care about their fate and shed a tear or two at their tragedies.

The story is told from multiple perspectives and skips back and forth between timelines, clearly marked so there is no confusion. Entries into the diary that Jitty gives his daughter when she turns seven add to the narrative.

Maas deftly captures the era with mentions of popular songs, movies, political and world events; her gorgeous descriptive prose easily evokes her setting, giving it an authenticity only possible from one who is intimate with the place. The love that Maas has for Guyana and her people is apparent on every page. A wonderful, truly moving read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Bookouture.
Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Astoundingly beautiful, incredibly powerful, a powerhouse of a book. This author never ceases to amaze - book after book she stuns and beguiles with her beautiful prose and her wonderful stories. While her books are always making a point or several - this book is about racism, prejudice, self discovery, conservation, humanity- they also always tell a great, great story. This author is one of the most versatile writers I've read and yet whatever the genre her books are masterpieces. And this book! A coming of age story which also tackles racism and prejudice and environmental issues. But most of all it is an ode to Guyana. After reading this I want to go there, travel to the Pomeroon and the Kaieteur falls. This book is sheer perfection. Please read it. If you don't you're missing out. Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary

She dreamed of finding a new life…

Georgetown, Guyana 1970. Seven-year-old Rita has always known she was responsible for the death of her beautiful mother Cassie. Her absent-minded father allows her to run wild in her ramshackle white wooden house by the sea, and surrounded by her army of stray pets, most of the time she can banish her mother’s death to the back of her mind.

But then her new stepmother Chandra arrives and the house empties of love and laughter. Rita’s pets are removed, her freedom curtailed, and before long, there’s a new baby sister on the way. There’s no room for Rita anymore.

Desperate to fill up the emptiness inside her, Rita begins to talk to the only photo she has of her dead mother, a poor farmer’s daughter from the remote Guyanese rainforest. Determined to find the truth about her mother, Rita travels to find her mother’s family in an unfamiliar land of shimmering creeks and towering vines. She finds comfort in the loving arms of her grandmother among the flowering shrubs and trees groaning with fruit. But when she discovers the terrible bruising secret that her father kept hidden from her, will she ever be able to feel happiness again?

A beautiful and inspiring story that will steal your heart and open your eyes. Fans of The Secret Life of Bees, The Vanishing Half and The Other Half of Augusta Hope will be captivated by The Far Away Girl. The Far Away Girl

Daddy's Secret

Rita is a seven year old girl living in Guyana in the 1970's. She is happy living with her happy go lucky father and her animals. She hasn't a care in the world until all of a sudden she has a stepmother Chandra. She does not get along with her stepmother who always puts her down for being half-caste, not that she is sure what that means but she thinks it is because she has kinky hair. Then she has a little sister, she loves her sister but she is annoying at times.

Rita wonders what happened to her mother. Her father never talks about it, ever. He also never keeps any promises. The older she gets the more she wonders about her mother. She gets birthday presents from her aunts and grandmother, but when her aunt comes to visit her father slams the door in her face. Still she wonders where she came from and who her mother was, what was she like and why did she die.

This is a coming of age story about Rita. The story of her life, her loves, her young years and her teen years. About family secrets, family problems and a father that loves his daughter but is not cut out to be a family man. One day when Rita is grown she finds out the secret of her mother's death .
This is a book of forgiveness and of love. It is a book of everyday living and a family that just doesn't quite fit together. Rita forges ahead with her life and finds happiness in spite of her upbringing.

I loved the characters in the book, but most of all the vivid descriptions of the beauty of Guyana and the wildlife and rain forest. The shell beach made of shells and the turtles. The beautiful Kaieteur Falls set in the Kaieteur national park. The Golden frogs that are as small as a thumbnail. It was so descriptive I felt like I was there watching the falls and seeing the turtles hatching on shell beach.

I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Sharon Maas, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy in return for an honest review.
Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary The beautiful cover of this book captured my attention at first and when I read that it was set in Guyana, I knew I had to read it! You see, I know nothing about Guyana and I love to learn as I read. The best person to teach you something, is someone who has experienced it themselves. Fortunately, the author, Sharon Maas hails from British Guiana and therefore, she had a treasure trove of experiences and memories from which to draw for her story. Did you know that Guyana is in South America? It’s a country in the north, sandwiched between Venezuela and Suriname. It’s actually considered part of the Caribbean region because of its strong cultural, historical and political ties with other Caribbean countries. Maas’s novel is set against a colourful backdrop and showcases a tale of racial tension, forbidden love and family secrets.

The Far Away Girl is the saga of Rita Maraj and her family. The author invites us to delve into Rita’s past and meet her father, Jitty, who raised her from she was five years old. Although he is a fantastic father, Rita struggles to accept him after being torn from the only family she’s ever known. When he marries and has another daughter, Rita realizes that she’ll never fit in to the family. When there’s talk of them immigrating to London or Canada, Rita knows she can’t go with them. Thankfully, it’s at this point that her auntie shows up, begging Rita to come for a two week trip to meet her grandparents and extended family. When Rita agrees, she has no idea how much the visit will change her life. Finally, she gets to experience joy, love, acceptance and a sense of ‘family.’ When buried secrets come to the surface, Rita’s world is shaken. Can she accept them and move forward? Will she learn to emulate her grandmother and learn to forgive? Will she finally learn about her mother?

As Rita explores her new surroundings, it gives the author a chance to teach her readers about this country and its customs. Maas paints a vivid picture of the stately homes framed with colourful blooms against a backdrop of foliage. She has ignited in me a desire to travel and learn for myself the beauty of this country. In sharing Rita’s story, which parallels the life of a leatherback turtle, Maas reminds us of the importance of forgiveness, being accountable and transparent, and the far-reaching effects of family on shaping our future. The Far Away Girl is to be published March 2, 2021.

Thank you Sharon Maas, Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Many thanks @netgalley and @bookouture for this advance reader copy of Sharon Maas’ latest novel, The Far Away Girl set for publication on 2nd March.

Based in 1970's Georgetown, Guyana, a landscape and culture I'm not overly familiar with, Maas sets the scene beautifully. Her imagery and scene setting is like no other, telling a story like no other as we follow young Rita and her father Jitty.

Rita lost her mother at an early age, in a way not known to her (which has been kept a staunch secret by her father) and she has enjoyed a childhood where her father has allowed her to run free, up until Jitty re-marries a lady called Chandra, a character who is not so lenient on her step-daughter’s upbringing and is so prejudice against Rita’s mixed race, personality and appearance.

Whilst still a child, Rita is wise before her time and stays true to herself and her beliefs. One for no messing, watching Rita come of age throughout this novel was such a treat and so eloquently and sensitively written.

The part of the story where Rita accompanies her Aunt Penny to her late mothers home and family in Pomeroon in the remote Guyanese Rainforest, were some of my favourite chapters of the book. Seeing her amongst family experiencing love that she has never felt, learning important life lessons that couldn't be taught at school, being at one with nature, living a simple life surrounded by loyalty, kindess and support, saw Rita open up in a way I didn't expect.

Despite being 450 pages in length, I devoured this book in just a couple of days. The emotion it evoked, the exquisite writing and the brilliant story telling, this book is sure to be a hit and has certainly become a firm favourite of mine.

For fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and The Vanishing Half, I'd be sure to give this one a try 🙌

4.5 🌟✨ from me! Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary The Faraway Girl sees Sharon Maas returning to the exotic South American country of Guyana, the setting of some of her earlier books. Instantly I knew that this would be a very good read and the more the book progressed I could tell that the author felt so comfortable writing in this setting because she was using her own memories of the country and she knew it so very well. She recreated a world that was part of her and it showed. In the end notes she mentions how her last few books required a lot of research because they were set in Europe during the war but here it was easier as she was delving back into her memories. I sense this story just flowed onto the page whilst she was writing it and that she enjoyed the time spent writing about Rita. I did enjoy her last few books set in Europe but I just felt it just wasn’t what the author was used to writing about and at times it showed.

Now we are back on familiar territory and The Faraway Girl is a brilliant coming of age story that transport you to an alluring, colourful, vivid country yet one with its own history and struggles. Similar to the difficulties and confusion that abound for Rita. Rita is an incredible character and it’s testament to such brilliant, engrossing writing that you do connect with her so much given for most of the novel she is a young girl and then we follow her teenage years. She lives with her father Jitty in Georgetown, her mother Cassie having died when she was a baby. Rita is of mixed race and this is something that presents many challenges and questions for her as the years pass by and we journey with her through ups and downs ad struggles both physical and emotional.

She is only six when we are first introduced to her but it’s easy to see she has an indominable spirit. She is fiery, self-sufficient and her love for all creatures great and small is evident with every turn of the page. Rita is more or less allowed to run feral and do what she wants. She is not your typical young girl but yet there is something that really draws the reader into her world and her mind. She is confused over not knowing her mother. She hates the fact that her father is so absent both in mind and body and promises are always broken. Rita is a survivor. She has learnt to go out there on her own into the gardens and the surrounding neighbourhood and fend for herself to explore and discover what is on offer to her inquisitive mind. These areas are what shape and mould her and the children she meets and the friends she makes and then perhaps distances herself from all really add to Rita’s story.

Yet there is also a softer side to her, one which she reluctantly shows every know and again. When Jitty introduces Chandra, as her new stepmother, she feels even more abandoned as if she doesn’t matter to anyone anymore. Chandra imposes rules and regulations and tries to curb the free spirit that is Rita. She does not like to be controlled or curtailed. This complex, deep and meaningful need within her really needs to be listened in order to understand and have her questions answered but this is never forthcoming.

Every so often we have chapters from Jitty’s viewpoint where he recollects his history, and he too struggled since he was left in the care of his grandma when his family were killed in a car accident. We learn how he met Cassie and theirs is an intriguing but problematic love story as they have to deal with family traditions, rules and regulations that impose on their unity. It was fascinating to read about this because it helped me understood even more what Rita was experiencing and really how Jitty couldn’t open up and tell his daughter everything she desperately needed to know in order to make sense of her place in the world. She couldn’t understand why Jitty was so secretive, forgetful and never spoke of her mother. He has deep secrets, hidden flaws, and has made slips ups and bad decisions. Yet for most of the book he does not seem to feel an urgent need to rectify them in order to help Rita. Instead this tough, caustic, defensive attitude of self preservation increases within Rita as she grows older and she battles with her identity. This really comes across in the friendships and relationships she forms and it is hard to read her and understand some of her actions.

I found at times the book went off on tangents away from the main plot and normally this would really frustrate me as quite often said tangents add nothing to the overall story but rather detract from it. Here this wasn’t the case at all but rather it added to the overall picture being built up. The insight into Jitty every so often helped mould the plot even further as we came to know more about his mannerisms, upbringing and his mind and it was truly fascinating. Similar to Rita he battles with his conscience and what he knows is the right thing to do but he doesn’t listen to his mind and follow the right path. Instead he has created confusion and Rita’s quest to understand her family, her heritage and her own sense of self only further intensifies instead of her being told the truth which would allow comfort, acceptance and a new stage of her life to begin. Rita has always felt like a slice of her life is missing and if you have this solidity in your own life you wonder how she must feel. But her feelings and emotions do jump off the page and sharing her diary entries with the reader really helps with this.

When Rita comes to know of her family in Pomeroon, an area deep in rural Guyana, she believes finding the spirit of her mother will provide her with the answers she seeks. That branch of the family have tried to communicate in the past and there is certainly something there that she needs to discover but it has been shut off from her for so long. Through Jitty’s actions of non contact or Rita’s refusal to meet an aunt who lives in Georgetown, either way in the later half of the book Rita’s remarkable journey takes many turns as she journeys to the Pomeroon.

Here the author’s vivid descriptions of a country so colourful and exotic and so vastly different to ours really help us understand the experiences and emotions Rita is going through. The countryside is vast and filled with sights, sounds, animals and visions Rita has had no experience of. Why was she so cut off from everything? Why has Jitty been such a closed book when it comes to her mother? Why can he not provide her with the answers and peace of mind she deserves? Will Rita experience something there that will transform her thought process and take her in a direction she never deemed possible? I loved the scenes set in Pomeroon, you could see the changes occurring within Rita that were also manifesting themselves on the outside. Her sense of worthlessness disappears and although the path she still has to thread remains difficult and mired with obstacles she may have the strength to reach the other side. The Faraway Girl was a wonderful story and for me I feel Sharon Maas has returned to top form. More like this please in the future. Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary The Faraway Girl is set in the 1970s in Guyana. Rita is five at the beginning of the story, knowing that she's the reason her mother died but not why or how. Her father, Jitty, refuses to talk about it and, unused to being a father, basically lets Rita run wild, their house cluttered, full off stray pets that Rita has adopted. But then Jitty brings home a woman, Chandra, to be Rita's new mother, and soon a new sister too. From the start, Chandra looks down on Rita for her mixed race and is very stern with her. Later, determined to learn more about her mother, Rita travels to stay with her grandmother, but the truth she learns will change her life forever.
I had a hard time getting into this book and it wasn't until about halfway through that it caught my attention. The descriptions of the beautiful countryside and the wildlife was fascinating though and well worth the effort to get to the heart of the story. I just wanted to give Rita a hug for how she was treated for a lot of her childhood.
I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily. Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary