No More Meadows

7/10

Hysterical, incisive, and capable of satirising the most ordinary of scenarios.

I really enjoyed this very funny book. First, it ropes you in with its comedy and then begins to play with your emotions. Towards the beginning, I was interested in learning more about the mysterious Jerry, who turns out to be a bit of a disappointment. I will confess, I had a theory he was going to reappear later in the text which never happened. When dating Vinson, I enjoyed hearing about their adventures around London and I can’t believe the author killed off Aunt Josephine AND Tommie. It was jarring! The scenes that offered a glimpse inside Christine and Vin’s marriage felt real and it was engrossing to follow their highs and lows. “She was growing to believe that marriage went in cycles, with short seasons of coolness and warmth alternating rapidly, and that it would be as foolish to think that marriage could be all warmth as to think that the year could be all summer”. For instance, the passion that arose from jealousy and their bonding over their mutual annoyance and frustration of Vin’s mother felt believable. So, too, did the plotlines concerning the vacuum cleaner purchase and that about Christine hiding her mistake with immigration. From these, sweet and romantic moments arose. “He kissed her. He was sweet and tender and she felt very close to him. It was worth fainting in the Immigration Office to bring them together in one of these brief idylls when she felt that marriage to him was all she wanted in the world”. One part of the text reminded me of the differences in John and your approaches to dealing with Granny. “Matthew treated Mrs Gaegler less politely and was more successful with her. He treated her like an inconvenient child, and merely laughed at her when she was difficult. He did not look as if he took anything seriously.”