Take Me Home

Take Me Home by Karly Lane is definitely a feel-good novel, an ideal book to read during Lockdown in Melbourne (or any other time).

Elle has always had a close relationship with her grandmother and after her grandmother's death she recognised the need to fulfill her Gran's wishes to return her ashes to her former home in Scotland. Elle's parents are horified when they hear of her plan. Her mother is convinced that Elle is wasting her life when, unlike her sister and brothers, she did not finish her university course and had moved home to Jessup's Creek where she worked in the local supermarket. However, Elle decides that the trip to Scotland might help her to decide how she she really wants to live her life.

Elle and Gran had talked about exploring Scotland together but the plan did not eventuate. However a bucket list of places to visit had been prepared. The trip also provided the opportunity to meet family who still lived in Scotland. There was also a mystery to solve - Why did Gran and her father relocate to Australia? Elle hoped that a two week visit to Scotland would not only provide the time to explore the country that Gran had talked about but also provide the break for Elle to think more clearly about what she wanted to do. She loved to draw but had only done a short art course at a community centre. Anyway art would probably not be a reliable way to make a living, not in her mother's eyes anyway.

Once in Scotland Elle feels at home in the country and enjoys exploring, especially with her cousins. Gran had wanted her ashes scattered neat the ruins of an old castle that had featured in family stories. It is when looking for the location that meant so much to Gran that events occur that change Elle's life.

Having spent two weeks in Scotland in 2014 I can understand how Elle immediately felt that she belonged, especially having family connections with the country and having visited some of the locations mentioned in the book. 

Elle's aunt and cousins lived at Portsoy and a few days before I started reading the book, the mystery puzzle on Jigsaw Explorer featured a view of Portsoy harbour. I was obviously meant to read this book at this time.