| Product: |
Marshmallows for Breakfast - Dorothy Koomson |
| Date: |
09/05/08 (111 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Suspense, emotional
Disadvantages: Ive finished it
Marshmallows for breakfast is the 3rd book I have read by Dorothy Koomson and it is her follow up novel to the successful My Best Friends Girl which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The main character in the story is Kendra Tamale and she has just returned to the UK from Australia. We find out from flashbacks and snippets of information that are fed to us throughout the book that something has happened to her out there and she left the country in a rush. Further to this, something else has happened earlier in her life in the UK and was her reason for moving to Australia in the first place. These secrets' become apparant at the end of the book.
Although these secrets and flashbacks are an integral part of the book and build up the suspense throughout the read, it runs alongside Kendras current life. When Kendra arrives back in the UK she rents a house from Kyle, a recently seperated dad of two. His children, Summer and Jaxon, soon latch on to Kendra and a friendship grows between the children and her and also with her landlord Kyle. She finds herself spending more and more of her time with them and they soon become almost a family.
Also playing a big part in the story is Kendras boss Gabrielle. She knew Kendra before she went to Australia and although her friend has not disclosed any information to her she knows that Kendra is suffering. Kyles wife Ashlyn left Kyle and the children in the middle of the night to deal with her issues, but now wants the children back to live with her. Kendra finds herself in the middle of the disputes, a situation she is not comfortable with.
It is clear that Kendra has suffered in her past and has difficulty dealing with her emotions. She fears the children at first but soon grows to love them.
I really enjoyed this book. The flashbooks built up gradually. Initially I assumed they all related to the same event but it eventually becomes clearer that two events have effected Kendras life. The way the author interwove these flashbacks into the story created suspense and made me want to keep reading to find out more. I liked Kendra. I did think she was a bit cold and cowardly at first, always running away. Not wanting to face up to situations. But once I found out more I started to appreciate why and empathise with her character. There are a couple of scenes towards the end of the book where she shows real guts and I admired that in her. I found myself actually crying as the book was nearing its conclusion. That doesnt happen to me that often! Honest!
Overall the main theme of the book seems to be about accepting events that have effected your life. Not blaming yourself for other peoples actions and moving on from situations you could not control. It emphasises how much time we sometimes need to be able to do this and how difficult it can be to put the past in the past and move on.
I appreciate the authors style of writing which has been consistent in all three novels I have read so far. She likes to separate the book into sections using headings and then further into chapters. The headings in this book were all various types of breakfast. The title of the book relates to the first day she spends with the children.
If you have read any of Dorothy Koomsons other novels and enjoyed them then I definately recommend this book. Even if you haven't it is an enthralling and thought provoking read.More information regarding the author can be found at www.dorothykoomson.co.uk. including small sections of her books. So if you are still unsure then maybe this will persuade you either way!
Im looking forward to getting my hands on The Cupid Effect next!
ISBN: 9780751537086
Pages: 440
Price: retail £6.99, Amazon new £4.19
Summary: Another heart wrenching read from Dorothy Koomson
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