markzugelberg

I'm really not sure about this one. I've liked some Cathy Kelly books, but others I've thrown across the room for their simple, childish indulgence. This is the world where bad things happen but there's always a happy ending. This book touches on Issues (yes, I did capitalise that on purpose)- we read about infidelity, sexual abuse and alcoholism but it's all in rather a light manner. Why skim over so many 'Issues' without tackling them in the face? Another thing is the sex. We hear about women in their late 40s and 50s having sex. Yes, that's great to mention that sexual drive continues through the ages, but I really don't need that much detail please! Now that I've got off my high horse, I should discuss the plot. Well, there's Ingrid in her 50s who has a nasty shock. She recovers. There's Ingrid's daughter's friend, who is upset because she knows nothing about her mum. She recovers. Then there's Ingrid's husband's employee who has a difficult relationship with her mum- oddly enough, she recovers. And then there's the woman who knew Ingrid's daughter's friend's mum, Ingrid's husband's employee's mum and went out with Ingrid's husband. She helps them to recover. (These people who know or are related in Ingrid have names. I've just tried to know you the six degrees of separation of this book, which unfortunately doesn't really seem to gel the way Maeve Binchy does it.) I feel that as Ms Kelly gets older, she's raising the age of her characters. Nothing wrong with that. But unfortunately I think she will lose her younger readers- but gain their nanna. If you're under 40, please give some of her earlier works a go. They're a lot more fun. Otherwise, buy your nanna this one and you'll be loved forever.

2022-11-14 13:42