Owl Song at Dawn

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By Emma Claire Sweeney

Publisher Description

Maeve Maloney is a force to be reckoned with. Despite nearing 80, she keeps Sea View Lodge just as her parents did during Morecambe's 1950s heyday. But now only her employees and regular guests recognize the tenderness and heartbreak hidden beneath her spikiness. Until, that is, Vincent shows up. Vincent is the last person Maeve wants to see. He is the only man alive to have known her twin sister, Edie. The nightingale to Maeve's crow, the dawn to Maeve's dusk, Edie would have set her sights on the stage—all things being equal. But, from birth, things never were. If only Maeve could confront the secret past she shares with Vincent, she might finally see what it means to love and be loved—a lesson that her exuberant yet inexplicable twin may have been trying to teach her all along. "Funny, heartbreaking and truly remarkable."—Susan Barker, bestselling author "I found the novel most poignant and tender in its depiction of disability, without a whiff of sentimentality . . . it crept under my skill and will stay there for a long time."—Emma Henderson, Orange Prize-shortlisted author of "Amazing: fierce, intelligent, compassionate and deeply moving . . . an important and very beautiful book."—Edward Hogan, Desmond Elliot Prize-winning author of "Fresh, poignant and unlike anything else."—Jill Dawson, Whitbread and Orange Prize-shortlisted author of

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Owl Song at Dawn Reviews

4.5

Todsal

Created over 1 year ago

“This was such a welcome change when compared with a lot of modern popular writing. The narration was excellent and brought the characters fully to life. I almost want this to be a true story as we need people like the Maloneys, especially Maeve to fill the world with love and kindness. I hanker after a visit to Sea View Lodge, or to open my own similar one day. I work with young people with SEND and despite some tough passages, loved their positive representation. Lovely.”

Coralie Offet

Created over 7 years ago

Chloe Smith

Created over 9 years ago

“Inspire by the author’s own experience with disability through her autistic sister, Owl Song At Dawn is a fulfilling read that tugs at the heart-strings and provides an outlet that gives insight into the lives of those suffering from disability whilst highlighting the differences in perception and society from the 1950s to today. Full of emotion, Sweeney brings to the reader and array of emotions surrounding love, death, family, and friendship that bring come together to bring this novel that makes you feel homely and at one with the Maloney family. I am one of those people that has always been interested in things I don’t fully understand: space, religion, history. Disability is one of them. Having never really known anyone with a disability, I would say that I am at a loss as to how they live their day to day lives but understand that there is a perception about them that, to this day, still seems to fog the brains of society. Emma Claire Sweeney truly highlights the differences, yet similarities, between the 1950s and today’s society on how we behave, communicate, and – in some cases – ostracise those with disabilities. Sweeney gave me a greater understanding of those with disabilities whilst enforcing my own opinions that they are the same as any other human being who just need a little more care and attention. It was heartwarming to see the love, care, and attention received by Edie, Steph, Len, and the other disabled characters at the hands of people like Maeve, Vincent, Zenka, and many others showing the compassion. The layout of the narrative and the different strands really help to gain a thorough understanding of each other characters. Though Edie is no longer alive in the present day narrative, we are frequently thrown into the past as Maeve is reminded of key moments in her life from scenarios in the present. It is through these flashbacks that we get to know Edie and realise how defining a character she is; she is what makes Maeve who she is today and has shaped Maeve’s life. It is Maeve’s compassion towards Edie and her will to help Edie progress past her disability that causes Maeve to never leave Morecambe and, though in these flashbacks it seems that Maeve almost begrudges her overall situation, it is present day Maeve who realises that she has lived a fulfilled life thanks to Edie and become a better person. Not only do these flashbacks help us to understand these characters who are no longer with us, but it helps us to understand how the character of Maeve has grown and developed since she as a teenager. Maeve uses these moments to clarify the truth that she has been avoiding all her life and develop even further in the present in order to accept who she has become and understand the changes that happened throughout her life and why. As it has become clear, Sweeney really does present all too realistic characters with flaws, aspirations, and personalities that fit in perfectly with each character. Even Edie, who it becomes clear will never achieve her dreams of being on stage and suffers many setbacks throughout her short life, is a character that I became invested in through Maeve’s relationship. Maeve never leaves Edie behind, including her in everything that she does, sharing her with everyone and proclaiming to everyone how good she is. Maeve teaches her to talk in foreign languages and knows just the right way to treat Edie to make her life comfortable and fulfilling as possible. I’ve said this word many times already, but Sweeney really does present a heartwarming novel with close friendships that make you feel a part of the family.”

mylovelybooknook

Created over 9 years ago

“Absolutely loved this!”

Shannon

Created over 9 years ago

“Owl song at Dawn follows Maeve, who in her latter years has turned her family home into a boarding house for disabled guests, holiday makers and performers. Her relationship with Steph and Len, who are under her care through volunteering at Sea View Lodge, helps juxtapose the actual focus of the novel and who the narrative is directed at, Maeve’s twin sister Edith. Here it shows how the world today is more accepting of difference then when Maeve was younger. The treatment Edie suffered echoes in flashbacks, demonstrating it was a reason for the breakdown of their family and has had lasting effects on Maeve. But another big motif of the novel is about wasted time and wrong decisions. It demonstrates that poor decisions made when you’re younger and/or more immature should not mean that you punish yourself forever. That with time you have to move on as well. The appearance of the character Vince allows Maeve to accept her past and move on in ways she never thought possible. The constant switching between past and present allows the reader to fully grasp Maeve’s situation and does so with clarity. It also shows how integral how people with disabilities are to society, their outlook on life is something everyone can gain from. The progress is cherished but Edie’s treatment in the 50s shows how acceptance was not always the case. A moving story that really will change perspectives, a heartwarming piece of work.”

About Emma Claire Sweeney

Emma Claire Sweeney has won Arts Council, Royal Literary Fund and Escalator Awards, and has been shortlisted for several others, including the Asham, and Fish.