A humorous read set in Dublin, Southern Ireland and centering around a family called the Gogartys. There is the grandmother Millie, who seems to spend her whole day shoplifting and other small crimes, teenager Aideen (and her twin sister Nuala who seems to play a very small part in the story) and her younger brother Ciaran. Millie's stepson Kevin, is at his wits end with the family. He is the house husband and seems to have the world on his shoulders with regard to the family and all their little or big foibles and extra troubles with his wife Grace. When Aideen is sent to a boarding school from Monday to Friday she thinks her world has come to an end, but will it be enough to curb her unruly behaviour or will she return home just the same, or even worse? As you read on you have a feeling it will be the latter. Millie is also on a mission to wreck everything around her, what with the shoplifting and crashing her car, Kevin is at his wits end with her and doesn't know how to keep her under control.
This is a debut novel by Rebecca Hardiman, following this very "odd ball" family. The family connection between grandmother and granddaughter make this story very readable. Some bits I just didn't know what to make of it and some parts I found hilarious, I expect everyone has someone like a member of this family in their family or someone they know where they live, so I think it will appeal to many readers of different ages. It did take me a while to get engrossed into this book but when I did, I enjoyed reading it. The funny bits and more serious bits adding to the storyline and I guess everyone has good and bad eggs in their family to identify with.
This is a debut novel by Rebecca Hardiman, following this very "odd ball" family. The family connection between grandmother and granddaughter make this story very readable. Some bits I just didn't know what to make of it and some parts I found hilarious, I expect everyone has someone like a member of this family in their family or someone they know where they live, so I think it will appeal to many readers of different ages. It did take me a while to get engrossed into this book but when I did, I enjoyed reading it. The funny bits and more serious bits adding to the storyline and I guess everyone has good and bad eggs in their family to identify with.