The Room UpstairsEver since they built the road through her family's farm, separating the big yellow house from the pastures of Sybil's youth, nothing has been the same. At least the house remains, full of her memories, which wander through the rooms like ghosts. When Jess moves to America to marry Laurie in a whirlwind romance, she soon learns that his Grandmother and her creaky old house come with him. Stubborn, ailing and no longer able to look after herself, Sybil must rely on this British girl who has come to steal her beloved grandson from her. The echoing spectres of dead loved ones follow Sybil as she travels farther along the road to senility, but will those same echoes drive Jess towards madness? In Sybil, Monica Dickens has produced a character rich in determination, dark humour, and resilience. First published in 1966, The Room Upstairs is a portrait of a woman's fight with time, who refuses to be forgotten, and who refuses to forget. |
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afraid answer asked baby began believe better bird breath brought called Camden cats chair child coming dark dead dear doctor don’t door Dorothy Dorothy’s dress everything eyes face father feel felt finger floor front gave ghost girl glass gone Gramma hair half hand happened head hear heard It’s Jess keep kitchen knew laughed Laurie leave light listen live looked married Mary Melia mind Mont Montgomery mother mouth moved never night nurse old lady once pills poor pulled pushed remember road Roger round seemed seen side sister sitting smile sometimes stairs stand stay stood stopped Sybil talk tell things thought told took tree trying turned upstairs voice waiting walked window woman