This book came at a good time for me as I needed something that was easy to read and not very complicated after a couple of weeks of personal trauma. It's a book about friendship and family, and Nina Stibbe has an amusing way with words so that helps make it a pleasant read.
Susan and Norma have been friends for years but its an odd sort of relationship where neither seems entirely satisfied with the other. Norma is an academic woman and they met at university, but Susan dropped out without finishing her course after she found she was pregnant and decided to marry Roy. Norma was very much against this choice as she felt that Susan was throwing her life away, but they remained in contact despite their disagreements.
After she has had the baby, Susan asks Norma to be godmother to her daughter Honey, but Norma refuses as she doesn't want to be bothered with children, and this becomes another bone of contention that Susan can never entirely forget. At times they have very little contact with one another, and Norma makes big life decisions for herself without mentioning her plans to Susan. At times you do wonder why they consider themselves friends at all.
Roy is quietly getting on with his life, although Susan finds she has some issues with him too, as she doesn't feel he gives her enough credit for dealing with life's challenges without much fuss. She makes numerous efforts to try and draw some praise out of him, but he never takes the bait, and Susan sees this as a fault on his part.
Eventually, fate brings about life changing events and Susan begins to see people for who they really are, and thank goodness for that. I don't think this book will every set the world on fire, but its amusing and if you need a little lift then this can do the job.
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