How does it compare to audio works by the same author?
Not applicable
Advantages:
Enjoyable and easy to read .
Disadvantages:
None
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I was in a local charity shop dropping off a pile of books to have a tidy up and ended up getting this one as I had heard of the author but not tried any of her books before.
The story is about a young woman called Chloe who has recently lost her godmother, Jocelyn. Jocelyn left Chloe a letter which instructs her to give up her lousy job and awful boyfriend and go travelling around the United Kingdom. At first she doesn't know what to do but after having a good think and a chat with Mr & Mrs Andrews (a picture she owns, as did Jocelyn) she decides to go for it. Her first destination is to Wales to stay with one of Jocelyn's old friends, she then moves onto Ireland, then Scotland and finally back to England where the story ends. She moves onto each different destination at the end of each season and at each place learns more about herself, Jocelyn and men.
This is a very enjoyable book, although at first I was thinking "oh no, what kind of book is this" when I realised the main Character Chloe was having a conversation with a picture, but as this continues throughout the book I got used to it and you learnt more about how Chloe was feeling from her chats, and to honest most of us talk to ourselves sometimes! You really get to know Chloe, and watch her character develop as she goes on her journey, and although it is a predictable book and you know what is going to happen almost from the word go it is still a great story.
The author is very descriptive so the scenery in all the places Chloe visits is described wonderfully, I especially enjoyed it when she visited the Giants Causeway and although I have never been I could picture it.
Chloe is the main Character throughout and the story mainly follows her but from time to time it goes to a man called William who catches a glance of Chloe at the beginning of the book and is entranced by her. William is a Potter and it follows him as he finishes a long term romance that's gone stale and flourishes in business making his pottery. He also travels to Wales where his father lives in a nursing home and thinks he sees Chloe there and then they communicate in Ireland and Chloe buys some of his pots but they don't meet. I don't feel I am ruining the book for you if you choose to read it by telling you that nearer the end of the book their two stories entwine as you know they will and even the author states that you knew they would meet, but there is more to it. William is a very likeable character, who lives on the Cornish coastline with his goat. You also see him go on a journey and develop as a character as he builds relationships and grows to find peace with his father.
There are other characters that Chloe meets along the way and also the two friends who Chloe writes letters too who are living in Jocelyn's house, who add a humorous element to the book.
This is only the second book published (in 1997) by Freya North, and she has written 9 in total now. I would definitely get another of books as I really enjoyed this, It is an easy to read book, which you can pick up and put down whenever and still keep up with the storyline, following a young woman who learns about herself and other people.
I would recommend reading this if you like woman's fiction and it would be a great holiday book. Published by Arrow. 407 pages.
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