I haven't read this yet ... anyone who wants it should PM me, as it's right at the bottom of my TBR list

My dear husband read this one: at certain times during the book, he could not put it down. Without spoiling the story, the woman is an alcoholic, involved in a violent marriage.

DH recommends it, because whilst it was poignant, it was a quick read.

It's still on my TBR list for the time being ...

This was a dark little read.

My husband recommended it - I was surprised to hear that he had enjoyed it. So I thought I'd read it.

The vulnerability of Paula Spencer runs throughout the book - I was hurting as I read it. I certainly did not enjoy it, but was struck by it as if watching a film.

I will not re-read this book so it's available, if anyone wants it. I probably will not forget it in a hurry.

6 January 2003: Update to this journal entry

This has now gone off as a bookring to the following:

1. Alison - UK
2. Tanabata - UK
3. Rachels Ratty - UK
4. tiggsybabes -UK
5. Dizzy Dormouse - UK
6. Weebly - UK
7. Robbietsmum - UK
8. Tanis - UK
9. ShelaghG - UK
10. tabyorky
11. skribble
12. paperclip - received 24 July, 2004

Updated 12 May 2005:
At this stage the bookring seems to have stalled. I have obtained a replacement copy and continued it, so that the following readers will not be disappointed. They have waited long enough, so I felt it was the least I could do for them.

13. cambridgelass
14. Winterson

In addition, as a result of a renewed invitation to join:

15. wilksie
16. PinkManager (Athens)
17. sunflowergirl

The journal entries for the replacement copy will be found at

journal entry

Gosh, this arrived quickly! Thanks, chrisp93, I'm hoping to spend some quality time reading over Xmas so will get on to this as soon as.

This isn't a book that you will enjoy - but for anyone who has ever wondered why women stay in abusive relationships it is essential reading. It took me a long time to warm to the main character, Paula, because she comes across as being really detached and emotionless, but the further you get into the book the more you understand why she is like she is, and the last few chapters had me very close to tears - rather embarrassing considering I was reading it on the tube.

This book was especially poignant as I have survived a violent relationship myself, although thankfully it was never as dreadful as Paula's experience. A couple of paragraphs really rang true and brought back some dreadful memories - in one way it really upset me to read this and be reminded, but on the other hand it gave me the opportunity to reflect on my "escape" and realise how far I have changed and found myself again - I was fairly broken and battered emotionally and it's been a long hard slog but well worth the effort.

All in all this is a fascinating, horrifying, thought-provoking book and thankyou chrisp93, for giving me the chance to read it - it's one of those books that I doubt I would have picked up myself.

Sending this book on (finally!) to tanabata.

Thanks chelseagirl, the book has arrived safely with me and I'll get a start on it soon.

As chelseagirl said, it's not really a book to enjoy but at the same time it was quite an engrossing read. Some parts actually made me cringe, the writing style made it all seem very real. Luckily I have never been in a situation like that but it's a very thought-provoking book.
Thanks Chrisp93 for sharing it with us.

Posted to rachels-ratty this afternoon.

Ta muchly! The Royal Mail was pretty efficient hey? Shall get started on it when I've finished 'How to be Good' - another bookring I'm half way through lol

(edited 13/02/04)

This has to be one of the most thought-provoking books I have ever read, that's certainly true for the last couple of years anyway.

It's extremely well written, which makes the character of Paula seem all too real. The emotional detachment and disjointed style is compelling and makes it unputdownable.

It's NOT a happy go lucky sort of a book, but it's essential reading BECAUSE of the subject matter. It shows the sort of situations the human spirit CAN survive.

Onwards....

Received as a ring. I'm on my honeymoon in 9 days, so if no-one objects, I'll read it when I get back. I want to take happy books away with me & am far too stressed currently to read anything like this.

Very well written. I thoroughly enjoyed this & look forward to reading more of Roddy Doyle's books. I could have read this on honeymoon as it wasn't as bad as I expected & I read it in a few days. Will contact the next person for their address & post off ASAP.

Released on Friday, April 02, 2004 at Chapeltown Post Office in Sheffield, England United Kingdom.

Being posted to Dizzy Dormouse today :) Enjoy :)

Arrived this morning. - Tiggs my saviour!

At last something to stave off the cabin-fever while recouping!

More later......

Really Good read. Amazing how he manages to get inside the female psyche so well. - I'd love to act in something with him/one of his works - would be great!

WHo was next in the ring? - Please PM me with your address

Recieved today - many thanks dizzy I am affraid I hadn't seen your appeal for an address until now! I will be reading this after I have finished I is for Innocent, should be 2-3 days at most before I can start it.

I am starting this today. I am going straight from Lucky by Alice Sebold, a true tory of a woman surviving rape, to this. I need a nice light read to follow I think, thank goodness a good sci-fi from Orson Scott Card has arrived for me to read next!

I have just finished the book. I didn;t like the writing style. After the smooth read of Alice Sebold's Lucky this felt like it was the rammblings of a drunk person, which I suppose was the idea, but it jumped around alot and I didn't like the way speech was written, with the - . Having said all that it was also quite a compelling read and once I got into my stride hard to put down.

Here's my third Bookring arriving today. I'm on a roll at the moment in reading (okay I admit I've been reading all the thin and teen books on my TBR mountain to get it lower!). My MT TBR collapsed the other night, quite literally so I was doing very well getting it down but it's gone back up by 5 in 2 days!
I have only read Paddy Clarke by Roddy Doyle, and loved it so I wanted to read this. Thanks Gooner. I shouldn't be too long. What with bad Hayfever and heat, I am an indoors girl this month.

I don't think I enjoyed this book, as I felt frustrated at Paula most of the time. However, I couldn't stop reading this yesterday. I just sat and read till I finished it so it must have been compulsive. Like some other readers, I found it hard to warm to Paula until I read the latter sections just summing up her marriage. I felt like crying, between this and two episodes of ER last night I was blubbing at bedtime! Hubby says i have to read "nice" books and not have double doses of Carter and Abby in future.

I was amazed this was written by a man who seemed to reallly get into this woman's head. The narrative was completely real, hard to accept at times, but real. I could hear the conversations between the sisters and hear the arguments. I have to say I did still feel angry she stayed with Charlo letting her children see her in those situations. I know i haven't been there, but I know women who have, and they have frustrated me in their acceptance. But I haven't been there.

The end part of the book helped me understand Paula's actions throughout. It left me feeling quite guilty and upset, but yet pleased at her final actions. It was a very good read, too real at times, and I'm glad I've shared this. Off to Tanis now.

Sorry it has taken me a while to journal this. I moved house last weekend so I'm still living in a flat full of boxes.

Just started reading this on the train this morning. Will write more when I have finished it but I am really enjoying it so far.

This arrived safely a couple of days ago and I put it to one side to journal later and completely forgot about it. Sorry tanis, I hope I didn't worry you.

My goodness, what a book! This book is a powerful and moving read. It's not a book you could describe as enjoyable but it's gripping and I think it should be complusory reading for everyone as the issues it addresses are so important. I'm always wary on books written by men from a woman's perspective, they so often miss the mark however, I think Roddy Doyle must have been a woman in a previous life, his characters are spot on.

The book is written by Paula a still-young widow recounting her marriage to Charlo, the love of her life. Paula is an alcoholic and tells us that she had thrown Charlo out a year before he died. She mentions casually the domestic violence in her marriage but doesn't go into any great detail, she glosses over it. She spends much of the book reminiscing about her childhood and her courtship. It becomes clear that Paula herself is only just allowing herself to see her marriage for the abusive sham it was. Towards the end she starts to tell us about the violence inflicted on her by her husband. As I read this section of the book I started to feel battered by the story she was telling, it was relentless, page after page. I started to dread turning the page because I knew that there would be more of the same; maybe not in the first paragraph or even the second or third but I knew it was going to come. Roddy Doyle's book, in a way, makes us experience what it is like to be a battered wife. He batters us with his words, describing the unrelenting violence that is Paula's life with Charlo, he wears us down with it. We could put the book down and walk away but we don't. He takes us to the edge of depair and then brings us back and fills us with hope. For this is a story about hope too. Paula does survive her marriage to Charlo and is learning to face her past and her present. I ended this book believing that Paula was on the road to recovery.

I shall be sending this to tabyork this week.

Received in the post today. Will put in my tbr pile and pass on to the next person as soon as possible.

Started reading this book.

Really enjoyed this book as it's a book a lot of people can relate to. It's a sad book of what she had to go through with her husband.

Posted book to Skribble.

Received this morning thank you!
I hope to get started on it within the week.

As others have said there's something about this book that compels you to keep reading even though you know it's not going to be pretty.

I can't say that I liked Paula but she did seem extremely real, a very rounded character which for me, made the book work. I quite enjoyed the reading about her younger life when she met Charlo. But in the later sections of the book I found the violence unrelenting and difficult to read.

I think the book does give an insight into why women stay in abusive relationships. What is nice is that Paula doesn't overstate or apologise she simply explains how it was.

Have PM'd Paperclip to get her address, but it might be a week or so before I am able to send it on.

With a new job and lovely lunch hours in the park, hopefully I get started on this one soon!