Read this book in a day on holiday, really enjoyed it! (21. August 2008)

I think this book is really well written, without being plodding. I love the way she discribes people and places. The relationships with her children being so very different. How the way her mother treated her affected the way she treated her own daughter, holding her at arms length. Maybe you have to be a "certain age" to truly appreciate it? I loved the end, the "twist" and how it all turned out. Can't wait to see the film.

given up! (12. August 2008)

I have tried and tried to read this book - but a page turner it is not. Have I missed something! I think I may at last admit defeat and put it down. I just do not feel there is any story here and find it quite frankly a little bit boring. The last book I read had me glued by page 1. By page 50 on this I am still not convinced and by page 100 - I've given up! Sorry! Can anyone persuade me to read on?

The Odd Mystery of Pippa Lee (6. August 2008)

I had a major problem with Pippa Lee. I just didn't believe in her.

Having said that, I found her perfect life rather seductive; and her problems relating to her daughter, whilst completely adoring her son, seemed utterly convincing. But it was the middle section of the book -which goes back to her younger years- that I had trouble with. And the ending... Well... Hmm....

The bits of the book that impressed: Pippa's slow realization that she has been sleepwalking, such an uncanny hint of her own suppressed feelings. Pippa's neighbour Dot and Dot's inability to deal at all with her son.

While I risk spoiling the story (so look away now if you haven't read it) I didn't believe a woman who had had that kind of teenage years and early twenties could stuff it all down inside until she was fifty before it came bursting out again. Maybe I am missing some essential point about the human condition.

I think this is an enjoyable beach book but anyone who claims this is great literature... I am baffled.

Light and enjoyable (31. July 2008)

I was wavering between two and three stars for this, but decided on three as ultimately on finishing the novel I did look back and think I enjoyed it overall, even though at the start I wasn't sure about it.

The concept of looking back at the adventures and emotional turmoil of her younger days is what occupies the central section of the novel, where a first person narrative takes over as Pippa Lee takes us through her confused, drug-fuelled younger years, and yes she has had some out of the ordinary experiences which are intersting to read about, as is the relationship with her mother, which is then mirrored in her own troubled relationship with her own daughter, as opposed to the happy one she enjoys with her son.

This is bookmarked by opening and ending sections written in the third person and describing Pippa's life as it is now, having moved somewhat prematurely at 50 years of age to a retirement village to be with her elderly husband Herb. One particular resident of the village, and a troubled member of her family, will come along and cause Pippa to question where her life is now and to discover if there are still more surprising turns for her life to take.

Ultimately a short and interesting read with a clever structure and some worthwhile insights into relationships.

I've read worse (30. July 2008)

Not bad little story and quite touching and funny at the same time. The novel was well-written but I just didn't engage too well with Pippa and the plot was nothing special. Overall, I quite enjoyed this but wouldn't rave about it.