“Life’s for real an’ you got to get on with it.”Rosie Goodison is not one to shy away from life’s problems. Whether it’s finding work or challenging injustice, Rosie squares her shoulders, sets her chin high and faces it full on.Born at the end of the nineteenth century, in the rural south of England and sent into service aged just twelve, Rosie quickly discovers that many good people spend their … many good people spend their lives toiling for very little reward, whilst others ‘have it all’.
She decides it won’t be like that for her. Why can’t she ride in a car? Why can’t she work when she’s pregnant? Why can’t she live in a nice flat? Why can’t she be an artist’s model?
Whilst working as a housekeeper for two upper-class boys, Rosie starts to learn more and more about the world, gleaned from overheard conversations and newspapers left lying around. This triggers an ongoing thirst for knowledge, which shapes her views, informs her decisions and influences her future.
Rosie aspires to have a better life than that of her parents: better living conditions, better working conditions and pay, better education for her children, to be able to vote, to be able to control how many children she has…
Without realising it, this young woman is blazing a trail for all those who are to come after.
Whilst working in London, Rosie meets her sweetheart Jim, but the The Great War puts paid to their plans for the future, and matters worsen afterwards, as she, along with the rest of society, tries to deal with the horrors and losses.
This heart-warming story follows the events of the early twentieth century – the impact and horrors of WW1, the financial crisis and the rapid social and political changes that took place.
All that remains of Rosie now is a quartet of paintings in an art gallery. The artist, now famous but the model, unnamed and forgotten; nobody of consequence.
But everybody has a life story. Everybody leaves some kind of mark on this world.
Everybody’s somebody.
Praise for Everybody’s Somebody
‘…see history unfold through the fierce and caring eyes of a woman in love’ – Emily Murdoch
‘In Everybody’s Somebody, Rosie’s colourful life is captured in a series of paintings, with Beryl Kingston applying
the masterly brush strokes with her usual artistry and heart-warming style.’ Danielle Shaw, author of Love and Sacrifice
‘An interesting and informative historical novel with a fabulously feisty heroine. War, love, loss, class struggles, this great read has so much to offer!’ Faith Bleasdale, author of Pinstripes
Praise for Beryl Kingston
“Beryl Kingston understands how to weave dialogue, character, theme and a thumping love affair into unity” – The Sunday Times
‘A new novel by the warm and observant Beryl Kingston is not to be missed. Each one is special’ – Elizabeth Buchan, bestselling author of The New Mrs Clifton
Beryl Kingston was born in Tooting in 1931 and was evacuated during the war. She studied at King’s College London, qualified as a teacher and headed an English department. She was been a published author since 1980 and is a self-confessed ‘political animal’, taking part in street demonstrations and protests. She was also a beauty queen in 1947!more
What a lovely story, full of great period descriptions and facts of the era which was told in a compelling way to keep the reader’s attention. I really enjoyed it.
Everybody’s Somebody by Beryl Kingston is the story of Rosie Goodison. The book opens to students admiring paintings done by Gerard de Silva in an art gallery. The girls are drawn to four painting (one for each season) with one woman featured. There is no mention of the model’s name and the teacher states she is no one of consequence. Rosie Goodison is twelve years old and heading off to work at Arundel Castle as a nursery maid. Rosie is a determined, smart young woman. She questions the roles of woman and those of the working class. Rosie is soon unsatisfied with her work in the nursery and looks for a better position. Rosie is lucky when she obtains the position of housekeeper for Lady Eden’s two sons for the summer. It gives Rosie a chance to read the latest newspapers and hear the news regarding the war that is erupting throughout Europe. After the summer, Rosie decides to venture to London where she works at the RAC Club in Pall Mall. Rosie is exposed to new experiences thanks to her new friends and coworkers. She soon meets Jim Jackson, a dockworker. When conscription begins, Jim is called up and off to war. Rosie continues her work at the RAC Club where she meets the artist, Gerard de Silva. The war continues, and it takes its toll on everyone. When the war ends, Rosie is reunited with her love. But life is not easy, and they struggle to survive. Rosie is fortunate to get a job modeling for Gerard. Will Rosie achieve her dreams? How will her life turn out? Join Rosie on her journey in Everybody’s Somebody.
Everybody’s Somebody is nicely written, but I found the pace a little slow. It is a simple story about the life of Rosie Goodison. Rosie wishes for a better life. She does not understand the division of classes. Rosie is a determined, intelligent feisty woman who struggles to survive in an ever-changing world. Personally, I did not feel the author pushed the character as far as she could have. I wanted to see Rosie achieve so much more (the potential was there). I felt the author captured the era with the language, clothing and descriptions (good attention to detail). It is evident that Beryl Kingston did her research. I did feel the name dropping of famous people was forced (too many names). It did not feel natural (at least for this book). I was not fond of the alternating POV (it pulls me out of the story). The author should have stuck with Rosie’s point-of-view for the whole book. It was difficult to discern the dialect of the characters. I was baffled (at times) by what the characters were saying (and the words were not in the online dictionary). The ending felt unfinished. The story could have used more editing (for content, pace, length). I did like how the story went full circle (the paintings). Everybody’s Somebody is a sweet, yet predictable story. The story is told, but it was not given life. I just expected more from the description.