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Reader Reviews | |
Review by Chrissi (181009) Rating (8/10) Review
by Chrissi Her children have left home and her husband is likened to part of the furniture. She has tried to vary her routine but has never stuck with it; higher education was put on hold to be available to look after the grandchildren, and her taxi driving job was taken from her when the local taxi companies were taken over in a turf war. Jane goes to the gym and utilises her physical fitness to be able to pull herself across the kitchen counter without putting her feet on the newly washed floor. The initial description of Jane's life will surprise people familiar with Mr B's more contentious opening salvoes, but it is intriguing, you cannot help but wonder where he is going with it, and get going it certainly does. You know those stories in the news where a little person lifts a car to rescue a child, performing a feat that under normal circumstances would be impossible? Jane sees her granddaughter being abducted and goes after the man, placing herself in harms way to save the little girl. Afterwards, she receives a telephone call on a mobile she finds in her handbag (which she does not own) telling her that she has to get to a certain place in France in order to prevent any more danger befalling her family. So she goes, just leaves, never mind that the police are waiting to speak to her about the abduction attempt, never mind that she has no passport, tickets or anything, she is single minded in her quest and from then on, it is rather more buckle-up than blue-rinse. I can see why some people might not enjoy this book as much as some of his other work, as it is a departure, more of a wish-fulfilment exercise. Jane will be familiar to many people, either in your own mirror or someone close to you, the reflection bits are poignant, describing as they do, the difference between how she feels and the external shell. I was quite struck by the deft handling of the description of the reflection, as Jane gets used to seeing a person in the mirror, one day she is gone, replaced by an older person, and just as she had gotten used to that one… you know what I mean. To see her learning and growing as a person (advanced weaponry notwithstanding) keeps you rooting for her.
I am unsure, though, whether she is a valid character to revisit;
her tale is action packed, and you will be rooting for Jane all
the way, however, this story is nicely rounded and finished off
well. Jane's future is a happy one with the possibilities ahead
and it would be a shame to force the poor girl out of retirement
– she is a granny after all. |
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