The Dress Circle

Bobs and Ba live in happy prosperity. They began with nothing, but now they have a successful chain of car repair yards. Bobs has even bought a racehorse! But on a Caribbean holiday to celebrate Bobs' fiftieth birthday, it becomes clear he is a man with things on his mind.

Has he found a younger woman? The receipt in his pocket from Sasha Lingerie is pretty damning. And what's the terrible secret in the cupboard behind his pool table?

As the gossip starts at the golf club and the kids stop calling, Ba's life is turned upside down. What's more, her daughter Melody is getting married and everyone's nerves are in shreds. It takes events beyond their control to show Bobs and Ba just what their marriage is made of.

My Thoughts:

This is the show more second time I have read this book, both times being for book group. I found this book really funny just as funny second time around as I did the first. It does have serious undertones along with the laughs.

The story is told from the narrative of Barbara. I found her very chatty and felt like I was right next to her in the kitchen having a cuppa and a biscuit. She has a lot going on in her normal everyday life. Suddenly her grand daughter is struck ill with leukaemia and then to top it all off she finds out her husband Bobs is a cross dresser.

This book for me was about putting things in priority. Barbara seemed to cope very well and did put her grand daughter first and worried about Bobs later. I personally don’t know what I would have done if it had been my husband.

The book I felt was very down to earth with realistic characters. It also had a local interest for me as it was set in the West Midlands with places mentioned which I know very well.

A very pleasing read and I would recommend it for a laugh, but it does have some sad moments. show less

A light hearted look at a family who appear smug until everything changes. Ba lives with Bobs with plenty of money and they are happy until Bobs tells Ba his secret. Plenty of social commentary from a narrator, Ba, who cares greatly what everyone thinks. Not a deep book but fun and mostly light.

A social satire about a working class couple undergoing mid-life crises. Bobs and Ba are settled into their middle age and enjoying their first grand-child. They're comfortably off thanks to their successful chain of car repair yards, and having fun sharing ownership of a racehorse with their best friends. Bobs has just turned 50, and their other child is leaving the nest to get married. Then Ba finds a receipt for some lingerie in one of Bob's pockets … and this starts a whole chain of events and misunderstandings going which will test not just their own relationship to the utmost, but the rest of their family's and friends too. This novel manages to blend pure comedy and pure drama in perfect balance; you're moved yet chuckle show more consistently the whole way through. Highly recommended (as are Laurie Graham's previous novels to this one). show less

A wonderful funny book which does have some sad bits. I do love this authors books......this is one of her early ones.
Back Cover Blurb:
Bobs and Ba live in happy prosperity. They have children, grandchildren and a chain of car repair yards. But on a Caribbean holiday to celebrate Bobs' fiftieth birthday, it becomes clear he is a man with things on his mind.
Has he found a younger woman? Has he bought another useless race horse? And what's the terrible secret in the cupboard behind his pool talbe?
As the gossip starts at the golf club and the kids stop calling, Ba's life is turned upside down. It takes events beyond their control to show Bobs and Ba just what their marriage is made of. That's the thing about courage. Sometimes it shows up show more in the funniest places. show less