The Woman Who Went To Bed For A Year
by Sue Townsend
As I am currently experiencing a bit of enforced bed rest, this seemed an apt book to read!
It is billed as ‘laugh out loud’ and ‘wonderfully funny’. According to the back of the book Jeremy Paxman said “The publishers could offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t laugh and be sure they wouldn’t have to write a single cheque” – I am not so sure that I agree. It is certainly sharp and well-observed, with humorous descriptions in places, but is it a comedy? I think not.
Beautifully and intelligently written as you would expect from Sue Townsend, it is in places briefly uplifting yet on the whole seemed to be a slightly melancholy, cautionary tale which serves as a reminder that we are all the same underneath all of our learnings and affectations and that we all seek that one person who understands us and accepts us for who we really are.
The overall message that came across was that we all hold on to things (careless insults, preconceptions, embarrassing memories, feelings of inadequacy) that we should have left behind years ago and yet, conversely/perversely, we fail to retain things which we should hold dear (compliments, friendships, self esteem/respect and kindness).
Read and Rated 