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Nowhere but North: A North and South Variation
Can the pieces of a broken past be enough to build a solid future?
Haunted by sorrow and regret, Margaret Hale stands at the precipice of an uncertain destiny. Fiercely determined but not knowing how to find her way, she risks the little she has left on the heart she once shattered—hoping somehow to win back his respect, if not his love.
Since he was a boy, John Thornton has fought the consequences of his father’s mistakes. Resolved to overcome past failings and the disdain of the world, he has striven for wealth, respect, and personal honour, but he is denied love. Now, all he had previously gained is slipping away, but he cannot resist a second chance with the woman he once lost. Crushed on all sides, all he has left to offer the one who needs him most is a home, and a heart that aches for her.
Can a struggling manufacturer ever be enough for a woman who deserves the world? Can a grieving, inexperienced young woman learn to look beyond her Southern past to appreciate her Northern man? When sorrow and fear threaten to conquer them both, they must overcome the odds to find the strength to forge a better life ahead.
This dramatic tale delves into the wonderful world of Elizabeth Gaskell’s epic North & South.
Haunted by sorrow and regret, Margaret Hale stands at the precipice of an uncertain destiny. Fiercely determined but not knowing how to find her way, she risks the little she has left on the heart she once shattered—hoping somehow to win back his respect, if not his love.
Since he was a boy, John Thornton has fought the consequences of his father’s mistakes. Resolved to overcome past failings and the disdain of the world, he has striven for wealth, respect, and personal honour, but he is denied love. Now, all he had previously gained is slipping away, but he cannot resist a second chance with the woman he once lost. Crushed on all sides, all he has left to offer the one who needs him most is a home, and a heart that aches for her.
Can a struggling manufacturer ever be enough for a woman who deserves the world? Can a grieving, inexperienced young woman learn to look beyond her Southern past to appreciate her Northern man? When sorrow and fear threaten to conquer them both, they must overcome the odds to find the strength to forge a better life ahead.
This dramatic tale delves into the wonderful world of Elizabeth Gaskell’s epic North & South.
492 pages, ebook
Published August 31, 2018
68 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Clarkston
29 books212 followersNicole Clarkston is a book lover and a happily married mom of three. Originally from Idaho, she now lives in Oregon with her own romantic hero, three kids who are taller than she is, and one very fat dog.
Nicole can be reached through Facebook at http://fb.me/NicoleClarkstonAuthor, Twitter @N_Clarkston, her blog at Goodreads.com, or her personal blog and website, NicoleClarkson.com.
Nicole can be reached through Facebook at http://fb.me/NicoleClarkstonAuthor, Twitter @N_Clarkston, her blog at Goodreads.com, or her personal blog and website, NicoleClarkson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 21, 2018
I had tears in more than one place reading this tale. There is so much here to delight and even to emphasize what a good person needs to know and to practice. I loved the language and the phases of each life that intertwined to give us characters, not perfect, but ones able to ponder mistakes and misfortunes and to take lessons learns and apply such to their future. Oh, there was a part when ODC's separation pained me in reading of the place in the social structure in each person's family and or their place perceived by employment or profession which then builds a wall. Life seems to be promising a happily ever after at the beginning of this tale but even after being joined together fate has some hard lessons to teach, reflective of lessons already taught while growing up or entering adulthood. Life is a refiner of character...again.
Mr. Hale has died, cousin Edith and Aunt Shaw are traveling abroad while it is believed Mr. Bell is in South America. Dixon and Margaret are left at loose ends, in deep mourning, when Mr. Thornton again offers marriage to Margaret. He does not repeat his sentiments and Margaret wonders, nay, hopes, that he still has that love he ardently professed so many months ago. She knows her heart has changed but in the days before the wedding and even during the first few days of marriage it is all awkwardness in a home where her mother-in-law has been first in John's life for so many years.
When John and Margaret reach an understanding I wondered at where life would now take them as they seemed to be at a point of happily joined...but life had much more shaping to present in this story. As flashbacks take us to the young days of both we realize how those years have shaped them. Yes, you know John will never speculate with his business dealing as canon has informed us and thus even with pressure from his brother-in-law & sister and offers of loans later from Mr. Bell, John is adamant about dealing with business his own way.
A tragedy strikes and John's and Margaret' union is thrown into a tailspin. Neither seems to know how to make the other aware of their feelings or of how they perceive the feelings of the other. Then the return of Edith and Aunt Shaw bring in other influences. They have never approved of the Hales moving to Milton and the marriage of Margaret to a man in trade is looked upon with disgust and reprimands as to how Margaret could have moved into their closed London house rather than marry for protection. Surely she knew they would not abandon her. These words are spoken in John's hearing, at dinner, and Margaret does nothing to defend him. He returns to Milton and leaves her to "happier circumstances".
Having suffered one heartbreaking blow upon their union, this second assault threatens to be the final brick in the wall between them. And fate is not yet finished. The mill is suffering, influenza has spread and there are no resources to help John through this period. No last minute loan from bank or friend drops into his lap. The flashbacks on his relationship with youths who are now part of the industry which is his world bring us to understand that it is more than just the refusal to speculate that make John take the stand that he does. Sadly, he watches his world crumble...alone...or so it seems.
This story is not just about John and Margaret. Of course, we read of their histories but we also read of John's mother, past and present, and her relationship with Margaret must touch your heart. John's sister, Fanny, also has a part in this story. Her husband secures most of her loyalty but she, in time, learns a lesson about family matters. Higgins is another man who has a part. And then there is Frederick. He, too, has a part in this story and it is not just letters from Spain.
I loved this story. If you love North and South or even if you are just looking for an excellent story to read, I urge you to open this book.
Mr. Hale has died, cousin Edith and Aunt Shaw are traveling abroad while it is believed Mr. Bell is in South America. Dixon and Margaret are left at loose ends, in deep mourning, when Mr. Thornton again offers marriage to Margaret. He does not repeat his sentiments and Margaret wonders, nay, hopes, that he still has that love he ardently professed so many months ago. She knows her heart has changed but in the days before the wedding and even during the first few days of marriage it is all awkwardness in a home where her mother-in-law has been first in John's life for so many years.
When John and Margaret reach an understanding I wondered at where life would now take them as they seemed to be at a point of happily joined...but life had much more shaping to present in this story. As flashbacks take us to the young days of both we realize how those years have shaped them. Yes, you know John will never speculate with his business dealing as canon has informed us and thus even with pressure from his brother-in-law & sister and offers of loans later from Mr. Bell, John is adamant about dealing with business his own way.
A tragedy strikes and John's and Margaret' union is thrown into a tailspin. Neither seems to know how to make the other aware of their feelings or of how they perceive the feelings of the other. Then the return of Edith and Aunt Shaw bring in other influences. They have never approved of the Hales moving to Milton and the marriage of Margaret to a man in trade is looked upon with disgust and reprimands as to how Margaret could have moved into their closed London house rather than marry for protection. Surely she knew they would not abandon her. These words are spoken in John's hearing, at dinner, and Margaret does nothing to defend him. He returns to Milton and leaves her to "happier circumstances".
Having suffered one heartbreaking blow upon their union, this second assault threatens to be the final brick in the wall between them. And fate is not yet finished. The mill is suffering, influenza has spread and there are no resources to help John through this period. No last minute loan from bank or friend drops into his lap. The flashbacks on his relationship with youths who are now part of the industry which is his world bring us to understand that it is more than just the refusal to speculate that make John take the stand that he does. Sadly, he watches his world crumble...alone...or so it seems.
This story is not just about John and Margaret. Of course, we read of their histories but we also read of John's mother, past and present, and her relationship with Margaret must touch your heart. John's sister, Fanny, also has a part in this story. Her husband secures most of her loyalty but she, in time, learns a lesson about family matters. Higgins is another man who has a part. And then there is Frederick. He, too, has a part in this story and it is not just letters from Spain.
I loved this story. If you love North and South or even if you are just looking for an excellent story to read, I urge you to open this book.
January 3, 2020
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
It's hard to review this without spoilers, but I'll try...
The book starts with the wedding of Margaret Hale and John Thornton. Mr. Hale has just died, and Margaret has been left without any source of income or male protection. John offered her a marriage of convenience, which he knew she had no choice but to accept. He still loves her despite her crushing refusal of his original marriage proposal and wants to provide for her. He has the faint hope that she may come to return his affection.
As you'd expect, Hannah Thornton isn't pleased with her son's wife, so the two strong-willed Mrs. Thorntons must adapt to living with each other. Just when things in the Thornton household start to settle in a bit, tragedy hits. At about the same time, the mill starts having financial difficulty, as in canon.
John is offered a lifeline, a "sure thing" investment that could save his business. His sister Fanny and her husband are among those urging him to accept it. Is it just pride and undue resentment that make him stubbornly refuse?
Frederick Hale's fugitive status becomes another element of the plot, as do the attitudes of Margaret's cousin Edith, Aunt Shaw and, most significantly, Henry Lennox. Dixon appears, of course, and remains Margaret's ever-faithful servant, and Mr. Higgins is Thornton's most reliable employee, in good times and bad. Dr. Donaldson has a significant role here for more than one reason.
There are many things I love about this. Ms. Clarkston's writing is poignant and emotive, and I think she does a marvelous job of capturing the style of Elizabeth Gaskell's work. I particularly admire the scenes from the characters' past inserted throughout that perfectly complement the events in the book's present. The numerous switches back and forth are the best parts of this story, bringing to life seminal moments years ago that have direct bearing on current events. Unfortunately, the author gets away from that very effective device in the middle.
She belabors the descriptions of Margaret's and John's despair, which is often caused by easily avoided misunderstandings. It's not circumstances or other people that separate them. Instead, they manage to inflict much of their own pain. They go through two stretches where they're less than honest with each other. The first is more understandable than the second.
Things between them start out poorly, then there's a brief spurt of bliss and happiness, and then things go totally awry. The two take lodging in the Pit of Misery a LONG time. When Margaret and John have their overdue clearing of the air, the plot finally gets interesting and more believable.
Chief among my other complaints during their fissure is that I could not believe Margaret would put up with the insulting nonsense of her London relations as long as she does. The explanation doesn't seem credible, regardless of her depressed state of mind.
The section in the Pit of Misery is really, really well written, but all that wallowing becomes infuriating when the reader knows all they have to do is talk to make things better. They have plenty of other problems even without the overcooked marital drama.
When they're happy (which feels like a small percent of the book), they are usually enjoying the physical aspect of their love. Definitely for Mature Readers.
...And those who have an extremely high tolerance for angst.
It's hard to review this without spoilers, but I'll try...
The book starts with the wedding of Margaret Hale and John Thornton. Mr. Hale has just died, and Margaret has been left without any source of income or male protection. John offered her a marriage of convenience, which he knew she had no choice but to accept. He still loves her despite her crushing refusal of his original marriage proposal and wants to provide for her. He has the faint hope that she may come to return his affection.
As you'd expect, Hannah Thornton isn't pleased with her son's wife, so the two strong-willed Mrs. Thorntons must adapt to living with each other. Just when things in the Thornton household start to settle in a bit, tragedy hits. At about the same time, the mill starts having financial difficulty, as in canon.
John is offered a lifeline, a "sure thing" investment that could save his business. His sister Fanny and her husband are among those urging him to accept it. Is it just pride and undue resentment that make him stubbornly refuse?
Frederick Hale's fugitive status becomes another element of the plot, as do the attitudes of Margaret's cousin Edith, Aunt Shaw and, most significantly, Henry Lennox. Dixon appears, of course, and remains Margaret's ever-faithful servant, and Mr. Higgins is Thornton's most reliable employee, in good times and bad. Dr. Donaldson has a significant role here for more than one reason.
There are many things I love about this. Ms. Clarkston's writing is poignant and emotive, and I think she does a marvelous job of capturing the style of Elizabeth Gaskell's work. I particularly admire the scenes from the characters' past inserted throughout that perfectly complement the events in the book's present. The numerous switches back and forth are the best parts of this story, bringing to life seminal moments years ago that have direct bearing on current events. Unfortunately, the author gets away from that very effective device in the middle.
She belabors the descriptions of Margaret's and John's despair, which is often caused by easily avoided misunderstandings. It's not circumstances or other people that separate them. Instead, they manage to inflict much of their own pain. They go through two stretches where they're less than honest with each other. The first is more understandable than the second.
Things between them start out poorly, then there's a brief spurt of bliss and happiness, and then things go totally awry. The two take lodging in the Pit of Misery a LONG time. When Margaret and John have their overdue clearing of the air, the plot finally gets interesting and more believable.
Chief among my other complaints during their fissure is that I could not believe Margaret would put up with the insulting nonsense of her London relations as long as she does. The explanation doesn't seem credible, regardless of her depressed state of mind.
The section in the Pit of Misery is really, really well written, but all that wallowing becomes infuriating when the reader knows all they have to do is talk to make things better. They have plenty of other problems even without the overcooked marital drama.
When they're happy (which feels like a small percent of the book), they are usually enjoying the physical aspect of their love. Definitely for Mature Readers.
...And those who have an extremely high tolerance for angst.
August 31, 2018
There are arcs and then there are ARCS. Ms Clarkston takes on the latter as she seeks to illustrate how scenes in her character's lives--and by inference, her readers'--repeat themselves; not in the sense of history repeating itself, but rather with the idea that (John Locke rises up!) experience shapes a person's response to events that transpire in their lives. Thus, the reader is presented with a scene involving either John or Margaret in a younger persons clothing and then follows with a tableau in the book's present tense.
The time shifts can be off-putting at first, but once a reader understands what is happening, the device becomes our own private trip into the characters' memory hoard. And, the splits become narrower as the characters age in the present...and are always kept chronologically consistent until they vanish as yesterday butts against today. Thus, by way of explanation...a matches to 1, b matches to 2, c matches to 3 and so on.
This books fits wonderfully into the North and South matrix created by the author. Her writing is compelling. I urge future readers to take the time to savor the imagery she creates. In other words...while a page-turner, take it slowly! I was privileged to receive an advance copy...and I spent nearly 6 days enjoying Ms Clarkston's way with a plot and the language.
The time shifts can be off-putting at first, but once a reader understands what is happening, the device becomes our own private trip into the characters' memory hoard. And, the splits become narrower as the characters age in the present...and are always kept chronologically consistent until they vanish as yesterday butts against today. Thus, by way of explanation...a matches to 1, b matches to 2, c matches to 3 and so on.
This books fits wonderfully into the North and South matrix created by the author. Her writing is compelling. I urge future readers to take the time to savor the imagery she creates. In other words...while a page-turner, take it slowly! I was privileged to receive an advance copy...and I spent nearly 6 days enjoying Ms Clarkston's way with a plot and the language.
June 23, 2021
4.5 stars
June 20, 2019
Nowhere But North is a character driven book that uses flashbacks to enlighten the reader about the life events that shaped the characters personalities. It starts with what appears to be a forced marriage scenario, which is not only shocking but also innovative in the north and south variations genre, and it develops into a heart whelming love story of two newlyweds who are still learning about what married life is all about. The main story will alternate with chronological flashbacks that will transport the reader into the past to witness several marking events that contributed to the characters development, and allow him to better understand each character.
It is not easy to go back in time and remain truthful to characters who were created by another author, let alone show us how their personalities developed, and the fact that every single flashback was pure perfection in the North and South realm shows a deep character knowledge, and a writing skill that very few have. In fact, I believe only a couple of authors would be able to write such a perfect North and South Variation, which is in my opinion as good as Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South in terms of character development. Had I not known these flashbacks were written by Nicole Clarkston, I could have easily believed that Gaskell had written them herself considering they are perfectly in line with the characters she created.
I have always been fascinated by John Thornton’s life and this book was the first to give me the pleasure of reading about it. I had always been curious about his father and his childhood, about his journey from a teenager into adulthood, I always wanted to know how he made it, how he became a Mill Master after everything that happened to him, and thanks to this book I was finally transported into the past and made the wonderful journey of his life alongside with him. I witnessed him in his worst moments, I felt his struggles and insecurities and now I feel I understand this man even better and respect him all the more because of it. His life story is so interesting that it deserves a place in a North and South variation book and Nicole Clarkston did a wonderful job at making that happen.
Apart from the profound character knowledge Nicole Clarkston demonstrated with this book, venturing into flashbacks alternated with real time events showed a tremendous writing talent. Nicole Clarkston certainly knows how to write a beautiful story with interesting and complex characters while maintaining it clean, and captivating the reader at the same time. The transitions into and from the flashbacks are absolutely perfect, with the scene of a chapter being somehow connected to the scene in the next chapter, even it that scene is happening several years later. It takes true talent and courage to craft such a complex story the way Nicole Clarkston did and she deserves to be praised for such a magnificent work.
I loved the initial scenes between Margaret and John, when they were still afraid to let their emotions be known, but also decide to be honest with one another. I am clearly an angsty type of person and books with angst are usually my favourite, but it was nice to see that in this book no unnecessary angst was present. The characters already had too much to overcome in their life so it was nice to see that, at least amongst them, there were no unnecessary misunderstandings. Nicole Clarkston knew how to perfectly balance the emotions in this book, making sure they were realistic, but taking care not to make the story too dark, the result was an incredible book that made my heart ache at times and tears come to my eyes, but which also made me smile with the tenderness that was emanating from the pages. Margaret and John’s love was pure and stout and it was a joy to see how their companionship grew with each page that I turned and how passionate they both were about one another.
It is hard to say what I enjoyed the most about this book because I loved it all, the character insight and development, the writing style, the flashbacks, John Thornton, their relationship, the romance, the secondary characters and how it all came into place, John Thornton (I know I already mentioned him, but the character is so swoon worthing that I have to mention him twice), the balance, etc.
I am completely rendered to this story and I honestly consider this is the best North and South variation book I’ve ever read. I loved both No Such Thing as Luck and Northern Rain from this author, but I believe that with Nowhere But North Nicole Clarkston took the stakes into a completely different level. This book is a masterpiece that should not be missed by anyone who enjoys good literature and I highly recommend it to all readers.
It is not easy to go back in time and remain truthful to characters who were created by another author, let alone show us how their personalities developed, and the fact that every single flashback was pure perfection in the North and South realm shows a deep character knowledge, and a writing skill that very few have. In fact, I believe only a couple of authors would be able to write such a perfect North and South Variation, which is in my opinion as good as Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South in terms of character development. Had I not known these flashbacks were written by Nicole Clarkston, I could have easily believed that Gaskell had written them herself considering they are perfectly in line with the characters she created.
I have always been fascinated by John Thornton’s life and this book was the first to give me the pleasure of reading about it. I had always been curious about his father and his childhood, about his journey from a teenager into adulthood, I always wanted to know how he made it, how he became a Mill Master after everything that happened to him, and thanks to this book I was finally transported into the past and made the wonderful journey of his life alongside with him. I witnessed him in his worst moments, I felt his struggles and insecurities and now I feel I understand this man even better and respect him all the more because of it. His life story is so interesting that it deserves a place in a North and South variation book and Nicole Clarkston did a wonderful job at making that happen.
Apart from the profound character knowledge Nicole Clarkston demonstrated with this book, venturing into flashbacks alternated with real time events showed a tremendous writing talent. Nicole Clarkston certainly knows how to write a beautiful story with interesting and complex characters while maintaining it clean, and captivating the reader at the same time. The transitions into and from the flashbacks are absolutely perfect, with the scene of a chapter being somehow connected to the scene in the next chapter, even it that scene is happening several years later. It takes true talent and courage to craft such a complex story the way Nicole Clarkston did and she deserves to be praised for such a magnificent work.
I loved the initial scenes between Margaret and John, when they were still afraid to let their emotions be known, but also decide to be honest with one another. I am clearly an angsty type of person and books with angst are usually my favourite, but it was nice to see that in this book no unnecessary angst was present. The characters already had too much to overcome in their life so it was nice to see that, at least amongst them, there were no unnecessary misunderstandings. Nicole Clarkston knew how to perfectly balance the emotions in this book, making sure they were realistic, but taking care not to make the story too dark, the result was an incredible book that made my heart ache at times and tears come to my eyes, but which also made me smile with the tenderness that was emanating from the pages. Margaret and John’s love was pure and stout and it was a joy to see how their companionship grew with each page that I turned and how passionate they both were about one another.
It is hard to say what I enjoyed the most about this book because I loved it all, the character insight and development, the writing style, the flashbacks, John Thornton, their relationship, the romance, the secondary characters and how it all came into place, John Thornton (I know I already mentioned him, but the character is so swoon worthing that I have to mention him twice), the balance, etc.
I am completely rendered to this story and I honestly consider this is the best North and South variation book I’ve ever read. I loved both No Such Thing as Luck and Northern Rain from this author, but I believe that with Nowhere But North Nicole Clarkston took the stakes into a completely different level. This book is a masterpiece that should not be missed by anyone who enjoys good literature and I highly recommend it to all readers.
September 6, 2018
“Mankind has crafted for himself a wretched world, far short of the perfection which was intended—that is what we are to understand. Many things have not been revealed to us, but there is always a reason. You are being shaped for some purpose." (quote from the book)
This is a deeply moving and compelling variation of Elizabeth Gaskell's 'North and South' that take our beloved characters, John Thornton and Margaret Hale, on a journey of discovery, not only of themselves but of each other. A journey that tests their fortitude, love and beliefs.
The story opens with the wedding of John and Margaret. One, each of them believes is a marriage of convenience, but each silently hoping for more. The combined tension between them and the frostiness of Mrs. Thornton, John's mother, has you feeling on edge. All three have much to learn about each other before true understanding and love can be given. However, when tragedy strikes at the heart of Margaret and John's marriage, each are thrown into a tailspin where rational thoughts fly out the window and doubt creeps in. Each become insular and revert to stoicism. Walls are built and pain is buried deep. This tension is strung beautifully throughout the book like a fine-tuned instrument and is a key element that held me to the end.
I so enjoyed the elder Mrs. Thornton's journey in this story. She is a tough nut to crack, but watching the cracks in her facade break down to reveal a woman who has carried such heavy burdens, was emotional and rewarding. Ms. Clarkston has delved deep into each of these characters psyche and given them depth.
We are shown flashbacks and insight into Margaret and John's childhood, and how their upbringing has strongly impacted and influenced their character. We are also shown flashbacks of a younger Mrs. Thornton that provide reasons for her rigid wall of protection. These flashbacks are seamlessly woven into the story providing key information that moves the story forward.
Ms. Clarkston has captured the essence of both Margaret and John's character, their thinking and self-doubt. John, a self-made man, who has worked tirelessly to improve himself and support his mother and sister. His mother's strength and the loss of his father has driven him to overcome adversity and poverty.
"His jaw clenched. “Honour. I wish to be a man of honour, Mother, for my dignity is dearer to me than any other possession. And I shall begin by honouring the man who set me on this course. I shall no longer despise him. If not for him, I would not face my present difficulties, and I choose to be strengthened rather than broken. I will care for you and Fanny in every way, and I will look back with respect for the opportunity I have been granted.” (quote from the book)
Margaret, such a serious thoughtful soul, has had her fair share of loss and adversity. Life in Milton has opened her eyes to the conditions of the factory workers. However, she still has much to learn, especially about herself and those of her family.
Oh the gentle subtleties within this story...the arrogance and duplicity of Henry Lennox and the selfishness of her cousin, Edith...but she always was. The guilt they piled on Margaret. She was blind to their feelings when she was visiting...she was blind to her own. And John was blinded by his fears for Margaret and of his failures. Oh the heartbreak these two endured...
I highly recommend this beautifully crafted story as they journey toward understanding and overcoming heartbreak. I also recommend that you have a 'hankie, towel or bedsheet' close at hand...
I also want to give praise to the cover artist, Janet Taylor, for rendering a beautiful depiction of the characters and their struggles within this story.
This is a deeply moving and compelling variation of Elizabeth Gaskell's 'North and South' that take our beloved characters, John Thornton and Margaret Hale, on a journey of discovery, not only of themselves but of each other. A journey that tests their fortitude, love and beliefs.
The story opens with the wedding of John and Margaret. One, each of them believes is a marriage of convenience, but each silently hoping for more. The combined tension between them and the frostiness of Mrs. Thornton, John's mother, has you feeling on edge. All three have much to learn about each other before true understanding and love can be given. However, when tragedy strikes at the heart of Margaret and John's marriage, each are thrown into a tailspin where rational thoughts fly out the window and doubt creeps in. Each become insular and revert to stoicism. Walls are built and pain is buried deep. This tension is strung beautifully throughout the book like a fine-tuned instrument and is a key element that held me to the end.
I so enjoyed the elder Mrs. Thornton's journey in this story. She is a tough nut to crack, but watching the cracks in her facade break down to reveal a woman who has carried such heavy burdens, was emotional and rewarding. Ms. Clarkston has delved deep into each of these characters psyche and given them depth.
We are shown flashbacks and insight into Margaret and John's childhood, and how their upbringing has strongly impacted and influenced their character. We are also shown flashbacks of a younger Mrs. Thornton that provide reasons for her rigid wall of protection. These flashbacks are seamlessly woven into the story providing key information that moves the story forward.
Ms. Clarkston has captured the essence of both Margaret and John's character, their thinking and self-doubt. John, a self-made man, who has worked tirelessly to improve himself and support his mother and sister. His mother's strength and the loss of his father has driven him to overcome adversity and poverty.
"His jaw clenched. “Honour. I wish to be a man of honour, Mother, for my dignity is dearer to me than any other possession. And I shall begin by honouring the man who set me on this course. I shall no longer despise him. If not for him, I would not face my present difficulties, and I choose to be strengthened rather than broken. I will care for you and Fanny in every way, and I will look back with respect for the opportunity I have been granted.” (quote from the book)
Margaret, such a serious thoughtful soul, has had her fair share of loss and adversity. Life in Milton has opened her eyes to the conditions of the factory workers. However, she still has much to learn, especially about herself and those of her family.
Oh the gentle subtleties within this story...the arrogance and duplicity of Henry Lennox and the selfishness of her cousin, Edith...but she always was. The guilt they piled on Margaret. She was blind to their feelings when she was visiting...she was blind to her own. And John was blinded by his fears for Margaret and of his failures. Oh the heartbreak these two endured...
I highly recommend this beautifully crafted story as they journey toward understanding and overcoming heartbreak. I also recommend that you have a 'hankie, towel or bedsheet' close at hand...
I also want to give praise to the cover artist, Janet Taylor, for rendering a beautiful depiction of the characters and their struggles within this story.
April 14, 2021
I didn't love it as much as North Rain by the same author, Nicole Clarkston; but this story is still a beautiful alternative North & South plot. I enjoyed John's angst and confusion concerning why Margaret agrees to a marriage of convenience upon her father's death. I wasn't really a fan of the many flashbacks. To me, the flashbacks could have been a separate book. I hope to read her P&P stories in the future.
September 2, 2018
Ok, so I have some thoughts on this book. For one this book is so driven with angst that at times I wanted to put it down and come back to it but I powered through it and I'm glad I did. I believe that the author did a good job with keeping the characters in character to the original book but I did find John to be a bit more proud than I remember. The parts where John and Margaret were a loving couple I really enjoyed. The back and forth part I could have done without even though we did a lot of backstory for the book.
The good majority of this book was nothing but pure angst and I got very frustrated with the Thorntons to the point where I wanted to slap both of them and lock them in a room where they could talk or scream out their problems. A good chunk of the book could have been cut if they had only just talked to each other instead of assuming stuff. I felt for the Thornton's though when they experienced their loss. I was so glad they eventually worked out their problems and was ecstatic when Margaret got reunited with Frederick.
In all seriousness though even though this book is so angst driven and I did want to put it down at times I'm glad I stuck with it. I still believe that Margaret and John should have just talked out their problems instead of clamming up and refusing to. While I did enjoy this book it's not my favorite out of Miss Clarkston's North and South novels. That honor goes to No Such Thing As Luck.
*Originally posted at http://halfagonyhalfhopereviews.blogs...
The good majority of this book was nothing but pure angst and I got very frustrated with the Thorntons to the point where I wanted to slap both of them and lock them in a room where they could talk or scream out their problems. A good chunk of the book could have been cut if they had only just talked to each other instead of assuming stuff. I felt for the Thornton's though when they experienced their loss. I was so glad they eventually worked out their problems and was ecstatic when Margaret got reunited with Frederick.
In all seriousness though even though this book is so angst driven and I did want to put it down at times I'm glad I stuck with it. I still believe that Margaret and John should have just talked out their problems instead of clamming up and refusing to. While I did enjoy this book it's not my favorite out of Miss Clarkston's North and South novels. That honor goes to No Such Thing As Luck.
*Originally posted at http://halfagonyhalfhopereviews.blogs...
September 24, 2018
Angst, yes, but more reality than a simply overwhelming platform.
One cannot read this book without appreciating the prose. Amidst the darkness of the descriptive, the emotions are even more fully illuminated. This is an adaptation that fills every gap. Tragedy and devotion did grasp this reader in equal measure. A wonderful story by an extremely talented author. Couldn't nor wouldn't put it down.
One cannot read this book without appreciating the prose. Amidst the darkness of the descriptive, the emotions are even more fully illuminated. This is an adaptation that fills every gap. Tragedy and devotion did grasp this reader in equal measure. A wonderful story by an extremely talented author. Couldn't nor wouldn't put it down.
August 30, 2025
Oh how I wish this would have been better.
August 23, 2018
I'll start with the confession that although I have seen the movie multiple times, I have never read North and South even though it is on my tbr list. I probably should have read it first so I could make accurate comparisons of canon to fan fiction. I can say that the feel of the writing in this book matches the feel of the movie well. I assume it also matches canon but again, I haven't read it so I'm not sure. The writing is what I would call artistically done. And Clarkston tells a good story. I have read some of Clarkston's Pride and Prejudice fan fiction which had a lighter feel but there is not a lot of lightness in this story. These are people who work hard in difficult circumstances. Nothing comes easily and they see loss, the poor among them, illness, the prejudices of the upper class and so forth. Even their love isn't light. It is always intense; Intense attraction, intense anger, intense despair, intense grief, intense love.
Again, I'm comparing to the movie and not the book here. This story veers off after the death of Margaret's father. Instead of her being "saved" by family and Mr. Bell, Margaret turns to John who she has grown to love since turning down his first proposal though he is not yet aware of it. They marry at the beginning of the book but the book flashes back to tell their stories. I don't always enjoy flashbacks but it seemed to work well here.
I liked watching Margaret and her mother-in-law, Hannah, learn to love and appreciate each other. It was painful to watch Margaret and John learn to work together through adversity but ended satisfactorily. It was also painful to watch how badly John is treated by Margaret's extended family. I loved how things go with Higgins but I think you get more of his story from the original and less from this so if I didn't know him from before, I probably wouldn't love him as much in this one. He is one of my favorite characters. Actually I think there was quite a bit in the minor characters of this story that one would need to know the original to really understand in any depth. (Again, I'm basing that thought on the movie -and really wishing I'd read North and South first).
This book is really long and so much of it is dealing with difficult things that it can feel a little oppressive. If you are looking for light and fluffy, this is not the book for you.
My biggest problem with the book was the sex scenes. I much prefer a closed bedroom door or fade to black than to get a play by play. I will say that these tended to be more about feelings even though there were descriptions of the physical as well. The scenes were perhaps more tastefully written than just a description of sex. Still I would have preferred to shorten the very long book a little by shutting the door on them. Without them, I probably would have given the book 5 stars.
Again, I'm comparing to the movie and not the book here. This story veers off after the death of Margaret's father. Instead of her being "saved" by family and Mr. Bell, Margaret turns to John who she has grown to love since turning down his first proposal though he is not yet aware of it. They marry at the beginning of the book but the book flashes back to tell their stories. I don't always enjoy flashbacks but it seemed to work well here.
I liked watching Margaret and her mother-in-law, Hannah, learn to love and appreciate each other. It was painful to watch Margaret and John learn to work together through adversity but ended satisfactorily. It was also painful to watch how badly John is treated by Margaret's extended family. I loved how things go with Higgins but I think you get more of his story from the original and less from this so if I didn't know him from before, I probably wouldn't love him as much in this one. He is one of my favorite characters. Actually I think there was quite a bit in the minor characters of this story that one would need to know the original to really understand in any depth. (Again, I'm basing that thought on the movie -and really wishing I'd read North and South first).
This book is really long and so much of it is dealing with difficult things that it can feel a little oppressive. If you are looking for light and fluffy, this is not the book for you.
My biggest problem with the book was the sex scenes. I much prefer a closed bedroom door or fade to black than to get a play by play. I will say that these tended to be more about feelings even though there were descriptions of the physical as well. The scenes were perhaps more tastefully written than just a description of sex. Still I would have preferred to shorten the very long book a little by shutting the door on them. Without them, I probably would have given the book 5 stars.
November 18, 2021
Draggy, not much happens, I skimmed last 20%. He is perfect, never wrong behavior, not even the canon's John with his quick temper or excessive pride. She picked stupid fights, behaved like a spoiled 21st-cent. girl, instead of the resilient, patient, strong-willed Margaret of Canon. In one incidence, she humiliates him in front of guests, Margaret would never do that. Even Hannah behaves extremely out-of-character and does something that Mrs.Thornton would never do (I wont mention here so as not to spoil.) The worst is the lack of angst when there was much opportunity...2/10
September 10, 2018
I'm kind of new to the North and South fanfiction/variation genre so I haven't read a lot of it, but I do read a lot in general and I will just say this was very well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Read
April 7, 2021I couldn’t finish. This book is a good reminder for why “fan fiction” isn’t for me.
May 19, 2020
Finalmente lo conseguí. Hace mucho que quería leer esta secuela, mi primera en el mundo de North & South. Y estuvo realmente MUY bien.
El libro plantea un camino distinto a la historia original a partir de la muerte del padre de Margaret, el Sr. Hale. En vez de que Margaret sea acogida por su familia de Londres, éstos están ausentes en el extranjero, y también lo está su padrino el Sr. Bell. Por tanto, Margaret se queda sola y ante esta perspectiva desoladora, John le propone casamiento nuevamente para asegurarse de poder cuidarla. Está seguro de que ella no lo quiere y solo puede esperar que, algún día, pueda llegar a sentir algo por él. Ella acepta la proposición. La pareja da el paso, aparentemente forzada por la situación y no por amor... ¿o sí?
A medida que avanza el libro, asistimos al desarrollo de unos personajes realmente muy, muy bien hecho. Hay mucha pena en este relato, muchos momentos de tristeza, intercalados con otros de alegría. Margaret y John se van conociendo mejor, e intentan no solo confiar en el otro, sino también en ellos mismos. Porque la baja autoestima de ambos (pero me atrevo a decir que especialmente la de John) crea posiblemente todos los grandes problemas a los que se enfrentan en este libro. Aprenden a comunicarse y abrirse, y a compartir lo que sienten, para entender que realmente son muy importantes para el otro, aunque les cueste creerlo. Era exasperante a veces, pero en un buen sentido. Y la pasión que se tienen se muestra en dosis justas, muy bien distribuidas y necesarias en momentos clave.
Mientras que esta relación se desarrolla y los conflictos (varios) apremian, la autora también profundiza en el pasado de John, lo que nos hace comprender mucho mejor su carácter y quererlo todavía más por su increíble fortaleza y resiliencia. La madre de John, que juega un muy buen rol de "analista" de las situaciones y consejera cuando es debido, es tal cual me la imaginaría. Su creciente relación con Margaret me resultó conmovedora por ambas.
En fin, realmente un libro súper disfrutable para los que amamos North & South. ¡Seguiré leyendo más de esta autora!
El libro plantea un camino distinto a la historia original a partir de la muerte del padre de Margaret, el Sr. Hale. En vez de que Margaret sea acogida por su familia de Londres, éstos están ausentes en el extranjero, y también lo está su padrino el Sr. Bell. Por tanto, Margaret se queda sola y ante esta perspectiva desoladora, John le propone casamiento nuevamente para asegurarse de poder cuidarla. Está seguro de que ella no lo quiere y solo puede esperar que, algún día, pueda llegar a sentir algo por él. Ella acepta la proposición. La pareja da el paso, aparentemente forzada por la situación y no por amor... ¿o sí?
A medida que avanza el libro, asistimos al desarrollo de unos personajes realmente muy, muy bien hecho. Hay mucha pena en este relato, muchos momentos de tristeza, intercalados con otros de alegría. Margaret y John se van conociendo mejor, e intentan no solo confiar en el otro, sino también en ellos mismos. Porque la baja autoestima de ambos (pero me atrevo a decir que especialmente la de John) crea posiblemente todos los grandes problemas a los que se enfrentan en este libro. Aprenden a comunicarse y abrirse, y a compartir lo que sienten, para entender que realmente son muy importantes para el otro, aunque les cueste creerlo. Era exasperante a veces, pero en un buen sentido. Y la pasión que se tienen se muestra en dosis justas, muy bien distribuidas y necesarias en momentos clave.
Mientras que esta relación se desarrolla y los conflictos (varios) apremian, la autora también profundiza en el pasado de John, lo que nos hace comprender mucho mejor su carácter y quererlo todavía más por su increíble fortaleza y resiliencia. La madre de John, que juega un muy buen rol de "analista" de las situaciones y consejera cuando es debido, es tal cual me la imaginaría. Su creciente relación con Margaret me resultó conmovedora por ambas.
En fin, realmente un libro súper disfrutable para los que amamos North & South. ¡Seguiré leyendo más de esta autora!
September 5, 2018
I was looking forward to reading this so much and it did not disappoint! It's a tale that has real highs, but also real lows and at times is quite dark.
The story starts when Mr Hale dies leaving Margaret with nothing and no one. John Thornton asks Margaret to marry him, knowing that she will have to accept out of obligation but hoping that she will come to love him eventually.
The early part of the book is really lovely as these two are coming to know each other but things take a turn for the worse when the mill starts to fail. It's hard to explain the rest of the plot without spoiling so let's just say that there are lots of twists and turns, hard times, angst, sadness, loneliness, illness, death.... but there is also forgiveness, redemption and recovery. It's a real roller coaster.
I love John Thornton... he's so strong yet so vulnerable at the same time, so honest and decent yet lonely and misunderstood and I think Nicole Clarkston captures him perfectly. I started to get a little frustrated by the ongoing troubles in the middle of the book but at the same time, we are given enough insight into the characters to understand exactly why things continued the way they did and I could accept it, despite not liking it!
The story starts when Mr Hale dies leaving Margaret with nothing and no one. John Thornton asks Margaret to marry him, knowing that she will have to accept out of obligation but hoping that she will come to love him eventually.
The early part of the book is really lovely as these two are coming to know each other but things take a turn for the worse when the mill starts to fail. It's hard to explain the rest of the plot without spoiling so let's just say that there are lots of twists and turns, hard times, angst, sadness, loneliness, illness, death.... but there is also forgiveness, redemption and recovery. It's a real roller coaster.
I love John Thornton... he's so strong yet so vulnerable at the same time, so honest and decent yet lonely and misunderstood and I think Nicole Clarkston captures him perfectly. I started to get a little frustrated by the ongoing troubles in the middle of the book but at the same time, we are given enough insight into the characters to understand exactly why things continued the way they did and I could accept it, despite not liking it!
September 21, 2018
Another great North and South variation by Ms. Clarkson
I love this author’s stories, especially her N&S stories and this one did not disappoint. The story deviates from canon quickly with Mr. Hale’s death that leaves Margaret on her own. While a wedding between Margaret and John quickly follows, a final HEA takes a while.
Ms. Clarkson lulls the reader into a false sense of everything is going great before the angst starts. An unexpected health issue, a brief separation and a final resolution that is oh so satisfying make this story well worth reading.
The portrayal of Margaret and John was so real - something Ms. Clarkson is known for. I also absolutely loved Mr. Bell, I just wish he was a more prominent presence. Even Mrs. Thornton and Fredrick get their HEA’s.
I love this author’s stories, especially her N&S stories and this one did not disappoint. The story deviates from canon quickly with Mr. Hale’s death that leaves Margaret on her own. While a wedding between Margaret and John quickly follows, a final HEA takes a while.
Ms. Clarkson lulls the reader into a false sense of everything is going great before the angst starts. An unexpected health issue, a brief separation and a final resolution that is oh so satisfying make this story well worth reading.
The portrayal of Margaret and John was so real - something Ms. Clarkson is known for. I also absolutely loved Mr. Bell, I just wish he was a more prominent presence. Even Mrs. Thornton and Fredrick get their HEA’s.
November 7, 2018
This Story Makes My Heart Happy!
Call me weird, be I loved all the intense arguing and hardships John and Margaret went through. It made the characters more believable and real in a way. I also enjoyed that the story detoured just enough from the original to keep the plot interesting. N&S is my favorite book and this story made me happy! Oh, and the flashbacks were a nice addition to character development that really connects the reader to John and Margaret as individuals. I’d read more from this author!
Call me weird, be I loved all the intense arguing and hardships John and Margaret went through. It made the characters more believable and real in a way. I also enjoyed that the story detoured just enough from the original to keep the plot interesting. N&S is my favorite book and this story made me happy! Oh, and the flashbacks were a nice addition to character development that really connects the reader to John and Margaret as individuals. I’d read more from this author!
April 7, 2021
Wow, that was a bit different to the other Fanfiction books, some powerful stuff in it. It starts off with what would be their dream senario - their wedding. It is anything but that with a broken Margaret marrying a John, who is convienced she has no love for him. It then continues using alternating chapters in the past and current time to show how they came to this position and repairing their marriage, which was broken from the very start. It a way this book would be almost better if you had not read Elizabeth's book. This book adds a lot more details to their back story but from the original one already knows enough. I guess the flaw in it, as another reviewer mentioned, is that the lack of communication in the middle dragged on a bit too long.
June 26, 2021
I loved it!
I've read several different continuations of Mrs gaskell's North and South oh, and each of them have something to offer this one was decidedly different. It was all at once funny and heart-wrenching and I love the ending. I wonder if it has any point in the future the characters will remember that moment?
I've read several different continuations of Mrs gaskell's North and South oh, and each of them have something to offer this one was decidedly different. It was all at once funny and heart-wrenching and I love the ending. I wonder if it has any point in the future the characters will remember that moment?
February 29, 2020
This book was very well written and the characters well in keeping with the original. Was very difficult at times to read, at times tears streaming down my face and you wondered if it would ever come out of the darkness.
October 14, 2020
I have read many of Nicole Clarkston's Pride and prejudice variations with great pleasure.
This is the first North and South variation that I have read. I just watched the BBC series.
I really enjoyed the story and would recommend it.
This is the first North and South variation that I have read. I just watched the BBC series.
I really enjoyed the story and would recommend it.
September 4, 2018
Great read
This book was a highly entertaining continuation of the tale of John and Margaret. I loved the characterizations and plot. A true delight to read.
This book was a highly entertaining continuation of the tale of John and Margaret. I loved the characterizations and plot. A true delight to read.
August 30, 2019
Loved it! The perfect supplement to the original novel!
September 26, 2019
An enjoyable re-telling of North & South where it goes back and forth from the current time to John Thornton's childhood.
April 14, 2021
Another fun variation on this story, where I found myself totally enjoying it, and seeing the what ifs.
October 31, 2022
Generally not a fan of excessively depressing variations. This is North and South, not Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
Want to read
May 4, 2025third of three
January 11, 2025
*2.9/5 Stars
This variation was well written and detailed, not one of my favorites, but my goodness Mr. Thornton and Margaret made me want to pull my hair out. Like just talk to each other!!!
This variation was well written and detailed, not one of my favorites, but my goodness Mr. Thornton and Margaret made me want to pull my hair out. Like just talk to each other!!!
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