We are all fine here

Andi Buchanan, an author whose work I highly respect, has facilitated a service called Mother Talk:

 “MotherTalk, Inc. is a service for writers who are also mothers, and who write the kinds of books that women who are mothers like to read. We connect writers with readers through several different kinds of viral PR: in-person literary salons, virtual book tours via blogs, and radio broadcasts/podcasts and targeted e-newsletter mailings.”

 It is a fabulous idea and one that I hope to use when my book is EVENTUALLY ready for publication in America and the rest of the world. (Working hard at it, promise)

 I am participating in the blog tour for a book by Mary Guterson, entitled “We are all fine here”.

 Now, as you know, I am very fond of women writers, not only because I love women and because I am a writer myself, but because I believe they write pretty damn well.  I suppose because I have also written a book, I always really want them to do well.  Some books I absolutely loved! Others were like heaven-sent survival guides.  And others I enjoyed as highly entertaining reads.

 So I approached this book with a great deal of enthusiasm. The reviews so far have been really good. These in particular caught my eye:

 “…….Guterson writes with breezy humour about the frustrations of suburban life and the stultifying sameness of long-term marriage” – The Miami Herald

 And

 “A brisk and irreverent romp through the panic fields of contemporary marriage.  Mary Guterson is wickedly, bruisingly funny…” – Robert Cohen

 And

 “Serves up hefty doses of acerbic wit” – USA Today

 Wouldn’t you want to read a book that had those kinds of reviews?  I certainly did.

 So, I started the book with my own particular ‘lenses’ – I wanted to like this book.  What I didn’t bargain on was that the story line would be focused around issues that I can’t view objectively – close, personal issues.

 Imagine if you will, the image of me sitting forward about to start reading the book. I am leaning into it, with a smile on my face, ready to love the book.

 And then the central character gets pregnant. Accidentally. An unwanted pregnancy. And she is not sure who the father is.  Now picture me leaning back, scowling at the book. It wasn’t just the fictional pregnancy; it was the whole assumption that that is the way things work. But again, my issues colouring my view on the world.

 But that is fine. I got through that. Mary writes extremely well, and her main character Julia is very real, very likable. And very funny. Sharp, dry wit.

 The story is a good one.  It touches on some pretty universal issues about relationships, marriage, love and the one that got away, and does so with wonderful dry wit.

 Unfortunately it uses a story line that involves pregnancy and loss.  Two issues that are too close to my heart not to colour my view on what I am reading.  I was totally unprepared for a scene where a fairly late loss is described and it took my breath away.  I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who has suffered a late loss.

 However, I would recommend the book to everyone else.  It really is a very entertaining read.  Mary has written an excellent first novel, I love the way she writes. She is the type of person I’d take with me on a Girls Night Out.  I look very forward to her next novel.

 Book details here.

 Buy the book here.

Comments

[Suzie-Q.]

Still dying to get my hands on a copy of your book, T. Any chance I can send you some $$ and you can send me a signed copy????
Or, perhaps there is something particularly American you would like that I could send you in return... ???