This book is utter brilliance. It takes all the 'shit happens' in Freya's life and magnifies it.
It starts with boxing up belongings and moving house - an exercise that immediately resonates with me. Freya has been married 10 years, is 42, very tall and unhappy with herself. Having moved house and unpacked the boxes this book soon shows us 'life is not perfect'. She tends to her children's needs for the internet and television but the reader soon is introduced to 'Mildred' - the voice in her head who gives her lots of negative thoughts that she has to fight off. She has a fear or two and as I read I was worried Freya was heading for a nervous breakdown.
This story is about a large family, working parents, moving house, harbouring fears, keeping a lot of spinning plates in the air and living life in the fast lane. If this resonates with you, you will love it as Freya blindly tries to be superwoman, which many people sandwiched between growing children and elderly parents try to be, with some success to others but failing themselves.
I like the way the author takes another view of well known, well meaning sayings ie. 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade' and 'dance like nobody's watching.' Cathy Kelly certainly knows how to make her reader laugh and think deeply. She portrays our 'masks' as Freya puts on a brave face to her teenage daughter and hides her fears, but how not being real can go pear shaped.
Freya's internal voice gives her truths and reality. We so often say we are 'fine' when actually we carry a lot of worries, and the larger the family the more concerns we have. Freya's family is large and has many worries that keep her awake at night as well as a pressurized job. She juggles so many plates in the air and as the reader I felt her harbouring a fear and that something was going to have to give. It's an intense read. You will worry that a car crash is about to happen.
It was good to be affirmed that others 'talk to themselves in their heads'. Self talk can be annoying - a battle - or it can have a positive affect on mental health if one learns to silence or tame it. It is a subject not very often brought out into the open.
Freya eventually gives in to attending a support group where she talks it all out in the safety of being with others where their lives have been shattered by events too. Realisation of changing from hiding the 'not coping' to using it in a different way - slowing down, caring for others, smelling the roses and cooking to heal - all dawn on her as being her 'real self' and that hiding stuff equals hurting; being open and honest leads to healing.
The book is a keeper, a reminder that life is too short and precious to bear pain, grudges and negative outlooks. Five stars is not enough. It exceeds excellence. Go read it now.....
