Well, we are recovered from more travel than we usually do and now I can read again. Yea! I started with the new Roddy Doyle book. Also went to vote early and made another slow cooker meal for Crocktober - click HERE for Thieves Stew..
From my fall reading list I have managed to fit in Roddy Doyle's latest book The Woman Behind the Door. Our main character is Paula Spencer and one I am familiar with. My introduction to Paula and her story was in the 90's with in The Woman Who Walked into Doors. She was a young 39 year old reminiscing about her childhood (which was good) and dealing with her marrige to an alcoholic, becoming one herself.
Then ten years later the book Paula Spencer was published. Continuing her story Paula is a widow, dealing with her new sobriety but also the PTSD of beatings and a horrible marriage.
This may well be Paula's final chapter (no pun intended) as we now see her as a sober 66 year old. I loved the language and how you could grasp the raw emotions in some scenes, especially between Paula and her daughter Nicola. Not a cozy, feel good novel but a powerful look at a life with broken dreams, surviving it all and the impact it made on her daughter growing up.
The only two complaints I have is the way the conversations were not written with quotes or the typical identifier on the speaker. It wasn't hard to keep up with but that's my preference. The other is the excessive detail in some scenes about the ordinary things like making tea, etc.
3.5 stars
Other books by Irish author Doyle which I have enjoyed are Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and A Star Called Henry.
Sharing with Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon. and Joy's Book Blog for Britsh Isles Friday.
You've given me an idea for the crock pot, which I haven't used recently. I may use just broth instead of the cream of mushroom soup and see how that works. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteHarvee, please let me know how it turns out with broth only. I didn't mind the soup and it made it creamy.
DeleteThis sounds like an emotionally heavy but interesting read. What a wonderful, informative review. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJodie, thanks so much!
DeleteThat's so interesting that there are three books to cover a fictional character's life at three pivotal ages. I've been listening to memoirs in the last couple of years and there's something really interesting about the way that people reflect on their lives.
ReplyDeleteJoy, it is indeed like a memoir yet fictional. It's cool to read about her daughter's point of view growing up as she is now grown and married. She didn't realize how often her mother protected her when she was a child.
DeleteInteresting! Not an author I've come across yet... I'll have to keep an eye out. :)
ReplyDeleteNicky, some of his books are great, Irish literature usually has a sad story embedded though.
DeleteI just finished Crying in H Mart, and that's it for memoirs for the time being. Interesting having three to cover her life, but maybe fiction, not memoirs.
ReplyDeleteClaudia, I had not heard of Crying in H Mart. Will check it and see if it's one I want to read. I see you all are reading some great books for Cook the Books upcoming!
DeleteI don't remember ever reading anything by Roddy Doyle. I'll check his books out.
ReplyDeleteVicki, as with Irish literature there are always sad twists. He's a good author.
DeleteI haven't read anything by this author, but his name sounds so familiar. I looked up his bibliography and he wrote The Commitments, which is what the movie was based on!
ReplyDeleteLes, the Commitments was a cool movie! I have read quite a bit by him and just now realized there are follow up books on a Star called Henry. I will tackle those next year!
DeleteI'm always on the lookout for novels with characters "of a certain age," and this latest one sounds excellent. This series reminds me a bit of Elizabeth Strout and her look at characters over time. Thank you for sharing this series with us, Tina.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm glad you are rested up from your trip enough to be able to read again.
Deb, I also like reading about women's perspective and lives when they are older...probably because I can relate now I am in my late 60's. That's right, Elizabeth Strout does that and I had read Olive Kitterage and liked it. I could follow the progession of characters through time.
DeleteOh, I am so happy to read again!
I didn't realize that there were sequels to Walked Into Doors!!
ReplyDeleteJackie, I just realized there are sequels to A Called Henry! Now I want those books too.
DeleteMy son is the only one who uses the crockpot. He had been living in the Colombia for awhile and makes some really good Colombian soups in there. I love that you've read books that cover Paula Spencer's life over time. I often wish that all of my romance books did that. Especially my Amish romance. I just want to hear about their entire fictional lives.
ReplyDeleteCarla, I feel the same about some characters and would love following their lives. I bet Columbian soups are great!
DeleteI read the first one for Irish Lit Month and immediately ordered the sequel from an Amazon retailer. Months later, I'm still waiting for it. Amazon says there's nothing they can do to make the reseller give me a refund, but luckily I never pay more than $5 for a used book and in this case I'm only out $3 and some change. I didn't know there was a third book, so now I've really got some catching up to do!
ReplyDeleteJinjer, maybe your library can get it, if not on their shelf then interlibrary loan. I might buy the A Star Called henry trilogy by this author as I read the first one and didn't know there were two more. It's double points for Kindle book purchases today so I might drop the money for all three.
DeleteI'd liked to read Doyle sometime but excessive details on such things as making tea can be a bit slow. But glad for Paula that she's sober and not being hurt anymore. I can imagine it took a heavy toll though. I plan to start reading MBF tomorrow ... and we can start discussing after a few days. I'll probably read around 50 pages at first but go at your own pace. I have your email. Yay.
ReplyDeleteSusan, Today is the start of my reading on MBF as well and that sounds like a good pace for me. Can't wait to tuck into it.
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