Carnival

"Carnival" by Compton MacKenzie is a story that begins with Jenny Raeburn's birth one autumn in London and follows her life growing up in a working-class family. The story looks at the ups and downs of her family relationships, especially between her mother, Florence, and her father, Charlie, who is often away, and the impact of her strict aunts. The book starts with Jenny's birth on a quiet October evening, showing her mother's mixed feelings about being a mom, her life at home, and what people expect from her. Florence thinks about her marriage to Charlie, her dreams that didn't come true, and the hard parts of being a mother, but Jenny's arrival brings hope while also making her worry about what's to come. With beautiful writing, Mackenzie creates a picture of their simple home and the importance of family traditions, setting the scene for Jenny's journey to find herself and deal with the pressures of society as she gets older.