Title: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
1st snippet, from the prologue:
It is interesting to note that there are two groups of people who are rarely, if ever, suspected of murder. These groups are elderly women and little girls.
2nd snippet, 69% of the preview:
School is an arduous thing. Sure, there are a few who sail through it like a yacht on the breeze, untouched by its breathless cruelty, but the vast majority would agree that its ghastly.
Summary: Elise Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old. She wasn't always Elise. Once she was Mad Mabel Waller, the youngest person in Australia to be convicted of murder. Was she really mad or was she just misunderstood? Finally she is tells her story to correct the record.
My thoughts: A month ago I attended a birthday party for a friend who was turning 70. Her friends and family came together to celebrate her big day. I only knew a few people at the event so I ended up in a small group with people I didn't know when it was time to play the guessing game. As we sat together we started visiting and as per usual the topic turned to books. One of the gals talked about her favorite recent reads -- Mad Mabel. To my memory she talked about how funny and complex the book was. When it came time to select a new book for our club, several gals suggested Mad Mabel and that conversation came back to me. I looked forward to reading a funny, complex novel.
When I finally started listening to the audiobook I found myself waiting for "funny." The book's summary led me to believe it would happen: "Sharp, surprising, and wickedly funny, this is the unforgettable story of a woman who’s spent a lifetime being underestimated—and is about to prove everyone wrong. Again." Maybe I don't have a good sense of humor. The story is certainly complex but not funny to me. Maybe there were a few funny moments but by-in-large, not funny. When Elise finally gets the chance she tells a story of a tragic and neglected childhood. In the second snippet we learn about what her life was like a school -- tortuous. Then she would go home and the neglect would begin. Her story was really heartbreaking.
I thought that Sally Hepworth did a good job threading the needle, though. The story really wasn't super maudlin. I only cried a tiny bit. But by the end of the book I found myself cheering for Elise and her new life as a neighbor and a friend. It was a very tender ending.
I'll be interested to hear what the other gals in my book club think -- funny or not funny. I'll let you know.
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Welcome to a combined Book Beginnings on Friday and Friday56 with a new name Friday Book Snippets. I am co-hosting this weekly blogging event with Olivia at Bemused & Bookish. You can link up at either of our sites but be sure to still visit and comment on other participant's blogs to increase our community.
Directions: Share two snippets (a sentence or short paragraph) from a) the book's opening and b) page 56 (or another page) from the book you are currently reading. No spoilers, please.
Click on the "OH-NO" message and it will take you to the linkup this week. I'll find you there.
LinkUp:
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