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Reviewed by Stephanie Dagg for Readers' Favorite
"A Diary with a Difference" by Martin Line is an interesting juxtaposition of two diaries - a contemporary one by Judith Thomas, a slightly reserved 20-year-old with a keen eye for political comment, and the 17th century account by Jane McCarthy, one of Judith’s forbears, which tells of witchcraft and how her cousin was tried as a witch in hysterical times. Both are interesting writers who capture details and the atmosphere of their times convincingly. As Judith digs deeper she finds a lot of connections with Judith and discovers some powers she never knew she had. A further connection between them is the farmhouse where both historic and modern action take place. Both diarists face challenges and become stronger as a result as they strive to achieve the goals that circumstances dictate that they set for themselves.
Martin Line handles the two time-lines well. The narrative shuttles easily between the two without appearing to be contrived or clumsy. He times the jumps expertly too, keeping us intensely interested in both stories and driven to keep reading. He creates complex, realistic characters that we can relate to and sympathise with during their struggles. Line’s writing style makes the story seem effortless and smooth but there are very strong undercurrents to this novel. The atmosphere is implied indirectly by the two narrators with incredible effect. We learn a lot about history and culture without realising it and absorb the worlds that are created for us. This is a beautifully written, thought-provoking book.
