Janet of the Dunes

The story of a girl raised by her father, Cap’n Billy or as Janet calls him, Cap’n Daddy. They live together on the dunes away from the land where Billy and the crew serve the government by watching the sea for dangers to ships and schooners that might get grounded on the outer bar before the harbour. Billy is beginning to realise that at 17, Janet is far too wild and needs to become more like a woman. But this is not so easy, since she would rather stay there living her free life.. So, small steps.. she goes to stay nearer the town in the lighthouse that is manned by Cap’n Davey, her father’s friend. Although she misses Cap’n Daddy terribly, she begins to see that there is more than being looked after while she does as she wishes. Cap’n Davey’s wife needs a great deal of care because a stroke has left her unable to look after herself. Her husband takes time to see to her needs before his shift up the stairs tending the flame for the lamp of the lighthouse and in the morning settles her before he gets his sleep much needed sleep. Besides that, the woman is ungrateful and bitter about her condition, complaining or taking it out on anyone within earshot. Janet realises she can be a help to Cap’n Davey, so takes on the care of his wife. The little town has started to be infested with tourists after seeing paintings of the place by a great artist. The quiet little town begins to change as the people realise they could make money off of the tourists, giving them boarding or cooking up the local delicacies. Some of these changes touch Janet in ways different to the townspeople. She wants to find ways to help her father, realising what little money he has been making while trying to raise her. The story continues to show how Janet grows and learns life lessons. Much of the language used in the talk and description of her path of life is that of the sea and boats. One person is said to have ‘slipped her moorings ‘ when letting go of this life to go on to a different life in heaven. I liked the book. It was interesting to hear a different type of ‘coming of age’ story. And quite unique in the way it showed the trend for city people to decamp for the summer to the lovely countryside, bringing their city ways with them. It is not often you read about the affect this has on the people who live in those quaint places. Also, the book is unusual in the way it goes into such detail about the miserable disabled woman and what tasks are necessary to care for her. A lot of books show those invalids as ‘bearing their cross’ so to speak. Or leaving their care out all together as they lay bedridden. I had never come across the author before. I would be interested in reading other of her books to see the in-depth look at other places and ways people live. The reader was ok, but he when he was reading the speech of the different characters, he used the same tone, whether the person was excited and crying out or if they were saying something quiet and full of emotions. I also sped the reading up because it was a bit too slow for me..