Any book by Amanda Prowse is going to be a hit with me. I’ve read quite a few now, and although I naturally prefer some to others, she never disappoints.
Her latest, Waiting to Begin, has to be one of my favourites.
I don’t want to give too much away about the plot. The blurb will give you enough of an idea if this is the type of book that would be of interest. But I will say that the double time line brings an extra dimension to the story. Anyone above the age of forty will sigh nostalgically as they read about the main character, Bessie, during the sections of the book that narrate her life as a mid-teen.
The Ordinary is extraordinary in the hands of a skilled writer
Like Amanda’s other books, the subject matter is, to some extent, ordinary. There are no aliens, kidnappings or assasinations. The principal characters in her body of work are largely women, who are carrying a weight around with them. A weight of regret, fear, unrequited love, bereavement, secrecy, or any number of emotional handicaps. Like many of her books, Waiting to Begin touches on several subjects which hopefully most women will not have dealt with. But they are things that might have crossed our minds. They are problems that, even if not relating directly to us, could have happened to friends, or could have featured in our nightmares when our imaginations have played out worst-case scenarios.
For me, this is the joy of Amanda’s writing. It’s an odd sensation whereby I get an insight into a character’s inner life and think, ‘I know just how she feels.’ Somehow, their emotional lives spark feelings and memories. They have a familiarity which can leave you bemused. Their stories may be far removed from anything in your own life, but the visceral response to their problems can take you by surprise. It’s damned clever writing.
Main characters are not always entirely likeable – as in real life
I’ve read a few reviews where readers have mentioned that they didn’t like Bessie. Each to their own. I would agree that as an adult, Bessie sometimes came over as very selfish and a bit whiney. But the point is, it’s her journey, her fear of the past and the terrible losses that she has had to face that make her likeable. I was rooting for her and hoped that she would see the effect she was having on those around her.
One of the most powerful scenes I think was the wounding words that were said to her by a boy on the fateful night of her sixteenth birthday. Unfortunately, back in the day, young women could be shamed for their behavior as a matter of course. I hope that in the same situation now, a sixteen-year-old girl would feel more empowered and be less prepared to accept the abuse that Bessie did. And far less inclined to believe it.
So please, add Waiting to Begin to your TBR pile. Oh, and prepare for some late nights while you promise yourself just one more chapter…
© Liv Andrews 2021