Hens Dancing

Diary of a Brit, a la Bridget Jones, but this narrator is a recently divorced mum of three, living in the country. It's a cute story, but lacks much of a plot, just meandering through her year. The shortfall of this type of novel is that you have to patch together the story from the bits and pieces that the narrator gives you. It wouldn't be logical for her to give sweeping descriptions of her home for example, or detailed narrative of her past, because one doesn't write that in a journal. I had a hard time building an image of what her little mini-farm looks like, for instance, with little bits & pieces revealed as she works on different parts.

Venetia (aforementioned narrator) is a bit of a mess, having kicked out her philandering show more husband while pregnant with their third child, and now trying to raise her children alone and work as a freelance writer. Much of this work bit was very vague -- mentioned here and there, mostly as she failed to get anything done. Her cast of characters includes a very eccentric, but dependable mother, a rather shiftless younger brother, and various friends making appearances periodically. One friend, Lila, is a pretentious hippie with pathetic parenting skills, and I really couldn't understand why Venetia would want to be friends with her. Her not-very-obvious love interest is a carpenter who redoes her bathroom then sticks around, making himself part of the family and getting jealous any time another man shows any interest in Venetia. He's likeable, but the relationship is just very strange. Considering that the description of [b:Summertime|445901|Summertime|Raffaella Barker|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174847834s/445901.jpg|1395827] describes him as her boyfriend, I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that they apparently get together at the end of the book.

My main point is that this book was just vague. It was an enjoyable, light trip through her year, with various hilarious situations arising. However, and perhaps this is a result of all the wine and other alcohol drunk through out the year, most of it has a blurry feeling. show less

Interesting story about a woman raising three children alone. She faces various struggles day by day and it is written almost in a diary way. I can totally relate to this woman. It is clear she struggles but also fiercely loves her children. Should she get involved with this David? The reader ends up hoping she will but you don't really end up knowing quite what will happen.

If it wasn't for the nostalgia factor (teddy bear bungee jumping, fake arms stuck out of mailboxes), the wooden prose and impossible lifestyle would have had me tossing the book before I got half way through.

If Bridget Jones was a little more mature and domestic, she'd be Venetia Summers. I really enjoyed this book, for the funny little Britishisms I had to look up, and for Venetia's home and garden, which I covet.

This is my comfort book, light and easy to read but often poignant. If I am having a hard time it is something I pick up as a bit of distraction and escapism.