by Cath Barton
Cover art by Jennie Rawlings
Published by Louise Walters Books
It would be correct to say this is a story of a couple's marriage spanning several decades but it really is so much more.
Another gem from independent publisher Louise Walters Books that definitely needs to go on your reading list.
It's a novella with a lot of story packed in, leading us through the lives of Ted & Rene. We see what seems to be a strong marriage but what's hiding behind the tradition, squeaky clean house, paisley-pattern carpet & promptly cooked meals? We see their navigation through life, experiencing the pendulum swinging between what's expected & what they really yearn for, as individuals, over the years.
A selection of others weave their brief threads through the story as parallel characters adding extra elements to Rene & Ted's lives in the coastal town of Morecambe, Lancashire. Northern characteristics punctuate the emotional & personal landscape of life with a Morcambe & Wise statue being a recurring physical feature.
This is a very enjoyable read taking us from 2009 through to the new Millenium. You get to feel the main characters' emotions, experience sadness but also share moments of joy with them. Simplicity meets life's complexities wrapped in love & reality.
Nobody's perfect.
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