Something Like Breathing

It’s the 1950s, and Lorrie is unimpressed when her family moves to the remote Scottish island where her grandad runs a whisky distillery. She befriends Sylvie, the shy girl next door: ‘The slightest smile from Sylvie was a fluffy elephant at the fair. It had to be won with a clear aim,’ writes Lorrie. Yet fun-loving Lorrie isn’t sure Sylvie’s is the friendship she wants to win. As the adults around them struggle to keep their lives on an even keel, the two young women are drawn into a series of events that leave the small town wondering who exactly Sylvie is and what strange gift she is hiding. Readman’s feel for emotional nuance and flair for mixing strangeness with poignant detail make this long-awaited debut novel one to savour. Its the fifties, and Lorrie is unimpressed when her family moves to the remote Scottish island where her grandad runs a whisky distillery. She befriends Sylvie, the shy girl next door: The slightest smile from Sylvie was a fluffy elephant at the fayre. It had to be won with a clear aim, writes Lorrie in her diary. Yet fun-loving Lorrie isnt sure Sylvies is the friendship she wants to win. But as the adults around them struggle to keep their lives on an even keel, the two young women are drawn into a series of events that leave the small town wondering who exactly Sylvie is and what strange gift she is hiding. Readmans feel for emotional nuance and her natural flair for mixing strangeness with poignant everyday detail make this long-awaited debut a novel to savour. "It's the fifties, and Lorrie is unimpressed when her family moves to the remote Scottish island where her grandad runs a whisky distillery. She befriends Sylvie, the shy girl next door: 'The slightest smile from Sylvie was a fluffy elephant at the fayre. It had to be won with a clear aim, ' writes Lorrie in her diary. Yet fun-loving Lorrie isn't sure Sylvie's is the friendship she wants to win. But as the adults around them struggle to keep their lives on an even keel, the two young women are drawn into a series of events that leave the small town wondering who exactly Sylvie is and what strange gift she is hiding"-- from Amazon.com It's The Fifties, And Lorrie Is Unimpressed When Her Family Moves To The Remote Scottish Island Where Her Grandad Runs A Whisky Distillery. She Befriends Sylvie, The Shy Girl Next Door: 'the Slightest Smile From Sylvie Was A Fluffy Elephant At The Fayre. It Had To Be Won With A Clear Aim,' Writes Lorrie In Her Diary. Yet Fun-loving Lorrie Isn't Sure Sylvie's Is The Friendship She Wants To Win. But As The Adults Around Them Struggle To Keep Their Lives On An Even Keel, The Two Young Women Are Drawn Into A Series Of Events That Leave The Small Town Wondering Who Exactly Sylvie Is And What Strange Gift She Is Hiding -- Angela Readman. Friendship blossoms between an enigmatic girl and a whisky distiller's granddaughter on a remote Scottish island.