The Woman Who Walked Into Doors - Roddy Doyle

When the Guard came to the door to tell her, Mrs Spencer noticed that he was "only a young fella, skinny and with raw spots all over his neck….He couldn't have been more than twenty. He looked miserable." Mrs Spencer knew before the Guard spoke, what it was he came to tell. Oddly, we know as well…although he doesn't tell it. At least, Mrs Spencer - Paula - our story-teller - she doesn't tell it…not yet, not outright. Probably because a tale should be told from the beginning to the end, and you don't really do the end at the beginning. Then again, when you're telling it and it hurts so much ... more

The woman who walked into doors is a masterpiece that is the only word to describe it. The plot set in Dublin centres around a woman, Paula and her life from growing up to marriage and children. Paula has a happy childhood, but a miserable marriage. Here husband, Charlo beats her up, in disgusting ways, not just the odd slap, but real nasty violence, snapping fingers, pulling arms out of their sockets etc. This drives Paula into being an alcoholic, with no self-confidence and almost a recluse. Paula cannot admit to the beatings, she loves her husband how can this possibly happen! In her own ... more

Roddy Doyle is a fantastic author and his book 'The woman who walked into doors' was described by the Times as, ' his best work yet'. It is set in Dublin, Ireland and is about a lady called Paula Spencer who is badly bullied by her drunken husband, Charlo. The couple fell in love as soon as they set eyes on eachother but unfortunately, as Paula discovers, Charlo is a violent alcoholic, who abuses both her and the children. Even though he beats her until she cried, she still loves him and when he was shot in a gang shooting, Paula is left with their children. Roddy Doyle describes the emotions ... more

Having studied this text both at A-level and degree level, I feel safe to say that I know this book inside out now. But one thing that never fails to amaze me is that this sensitive and indepth novel about a woman's feelings was written by a man! The novel follows a woman's struggle to come to terms with living in an abusive relationship and the impact that has had on her self esteem and future. It is sensitively written, and looks at the problem a person faces when something like this has happened to them. I have to say that anyone who hasn't read it is definetely missing out and should get ... more