The Birds, the Bees and Other Secrets

The novel begins with Cass visiting her mother in hospital and then looks back over the journey of Cassandra, then age thirteen, through her life in the sixties with her unconventional mother, who enjoys inviting many strange characters (including “Call me Bill”) to live in her home as she is very much a people person and loves to be surrounded by them. An unfortunate event at home encourages Cassandra’s mum to choose to send her to boarding school, which is the last place Cass wants to be. We follow their relationship into Cassandra’s adulthood when Cassandra chooses to become a nurse and follow the very sad and the funny happenings along the way.

This was a beautifully written book and I delighted at the relationship between show more mother and daughter and in places the novel was extremely amusing, but in others it was so very sad. I found the first half of the book very absorbing and didn’t want to leave it. I enjoyed the second half of the book too, although felt it was a little stretched out in places, but certainly not enough to deter. I was sad to leave the characters at the end of the book, including all the dogs. All in all I loved the book and would recommend it to those that love an emotional story surrounding relationships and some of the difficulties experienced by differing personalities, especially between mothers and daughters.

Review here:
http://bookannelid.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-birds-the-bees-and-other-secrets... show less

Growing up in the sixties, Cassandra has a rather unorthodox home life. Her mother is a single parent, falling in and out of various jobs, and sharing her home with many interesting characters. She has a tendency to treat Cassandra as a friend, rather than a daughter, and yet their relationship is generally a happy one, always full of love.

Cassandra has to deal with an episode of abuse, that stays with her as she grows, and also being sent to boarding school. This is somewhere that she initially does not want to go to, yet grows to enjoy it’s security. The story continues throughout her differing careers, and the relationship she finally settles into.

The story is told as Cassandra sits besides her mother, who is dying from cancer, as show more she reflects back on the life they’ve shared. Their relationship is a heart warming one, whilst remaining realistic.

This is a delightful book, combining some emotional issues with humorous comments and moments. It’s easy to read, and kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what would come next. The various characters are well written, and have stayed with me. As well as exploring various relationships, especially the one between Cassandra and her mother, it also explores the effect that different experiences can have throughout life, be them minor or major. show less

Pretty good but lacked reality. Somehow did not matter how much was put into the story, it still lacked grit.

Pretty good but lacked reality. Somehow did not matter how much was put into the story, it still lacked grit.