| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
The Times
'Friendship and family relationships are central to this
well-observed and enjoyable novel.'
well-observed and enjoyable novel.'
Review
"'Delicious' Red 'This is the perfect summer novel - easy to read, but perceptive about the twists of fate that can change our lives' Glamour 'Long is as compulsively readable as ever' Time Out"
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wasn't sure what to expect from Queen Mum by Kate Long. I knew it dealt with the loss of a child, something I wouldn't normally find comfortable reading, and yet it drew me in and I have not been able to get it out of my head since.
I have a child (a child called Joe of similar age to the Joe in the book - which made it all the more poignant) and I had post-natal depression but unlike the previous reviewer I didn't find that this book made me feel worse.
Yes, at times it was so painful to read but Long captured the sadness of Joe's death so poignantly. I will always carry her character Ally's obversation about how she missed her son's hair the most, as she was always touching it.
But what I liked most about this book is that Ally goes on her own personal journey of discovery. She forgives herself, her family, her son, her friends. She learns to let go, and she realises that parenthood isn't always easy and children are damn hard work.
This has become one of my top five favourite reads.
I have a child (a child called Joe of similar age to the Joe in the book - which made it all the more poignant) and I had post-natal depression but unlike the previous reviewer I didn't find that this book made me feel worse.
Yes, at times it was so painful to read but Long captured the sadness of Joe's death so poignantly. I will always carry her character Ally's obversation about how she missed her son's hair the most, as she was always touching it.
But what I liked most about this book is that Ally goes on her own personal journey of discovery. She forgives herself, her family, her son, her friends. She learns to let go, and she realises that parenthood isn't always easy and children are damn hard work.
This has become one of my top five favourite reads.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The previous reviewer was right. Anyone reading this book expecting chick-lit may find themselves sorely disappointed. Where are the chablis filled nights? The Jimmy Choo shoes? the Hero who turns out to be rich and madly in love with the drink sodden, chocolate filled heroine? Let's face it, we could write the novel ourselves if that's what we wanted.
Luckily for readers, Kate Long lives in the real world, where real women have to suffer the loss of a child, whilst trying to exist in a world that expects so much of women. At the centre of the novel is Ally. A good working class girl who has moved to a more upmarket neighbourhood, Ally is obsessed with her beautiful, self-assured neighbour and friend, Juno. Juno seems to have it all. The handsome husband, the beautiful home, and a cultural life unlike any Ally has ever known. It's a credit to Kate Long's writing skills that pretentious Juno doesn't becomes insufferable, mainly because of the genuine kindness she shows her friend when Ally's infant son dies.
When Juno makes the rash decision to appear on 'Queen Mum', a programme not unlike Wife Swap, Ally is drawn into the glamour of it all, and even gets a spot on television when the replacement mum, Kim, invites her around, first for lunch and then, in a brilliant scene of manipulation and sheer cold-bloodedness, to save a dying bird. It's only when the programme airs that we realise that things in Juno's household are not as Ally believes, and that she and Juno are more alike than she ever imagined.
Kate Long has written a brilliant story about friendship, love, loss and the place of women in society. At times it's achingly sad. Sometimes Ally's grief over the loss of her little boy, Joe, was more than I could bear and reminded me of when I lost my mum. But Long knows what she's doing, and brings in enough humour to alleviate the periods of grief. Long also gives her readers credit for intelligence in not spelling out everything. She just tells the story and lets you make your own mind up about the balance of the power between Ally and Juno as it alters in the course of the story.
Luckily for readers, Kate Long lives in the real world, where real women have to suffer the loss of a child, whilst trying to exist in a world that expects so much of women. At the centre of the novel is Ally. A good working class girl who has moved to a more upmarket neighbourhood, Ally is obsessed with her beautiful, self-assured neighbour and friend, Juno. Juno seems to have it all. The handsome husband, the beautiful home, and a cultural life unlike any Ally has ever known. It's a credit to Kate Long's writing skills that pretentious Juno doesn't becomes insufferable, mainly because of the genuine kindness she shows her friend when Ally's infant son dies.
When Juno makes the rash decision to appear on 'Queen Mum', a programme not unlike Wife Swap, Ally is drawn into the glamour of it all, and even gets a spot on television when the replacement mum, Kim, invites her around, first for lunch and then, in a brilliant scene of manipulation and sheer cold-bloodedness, to save a dying bird. It's only when the programme airs that we realise that things in Juno's household are not as Ally believes, and that she and Juno are more alike than she ever imagined.
Kate Long has written a brilliant story about friendship, love, loss and the place of women in society. At times it's achingly sad. Sometimes Ally's grief over the loss of her little boy, Joe, was more than I could bear and reminded me of when I lost my mum. But Long knows what she's doing, and brings in enough humour to alleviate the periods of grief. Long also gives her readers credit for intelligence in not spelling out everything. She just tells the story and lets you make your own mind up about the balance of the power between Ally and Juno as it alters in the course of the story.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you've read Kate Long's other books (The Bad Mother's Handbook, Swallowing Grandma), you won't be disappointed by this one. It's her best yet. It's perceptive, funny and sad, with real, believable characters. Kate Long explores many themes in this book including grief, friendship and class; but the over-riding one is that of identity - how we edit our lives and our histories to present ourselves to the world. How well do we really know those closest to us? As the `Queen Mum' reality TV show transcripts gradually show a different side of Juno, Ally begins to be less dependent on her and finally starts to heal. The ending is immensely satisfying without being contrived, and throughout, the prose flows with Long's characteristic natural style.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Friends and neighbours
Ally's life is surface-perfect: she has a husband who loves her, a nice house, a good-looking teenage son, a comfortable lifestyle. Read more
Published 1 month ago by phoebes_mum
An absorbing read
I don't usually read chick lit and so this book, a birthday present, sat unread for quite a while. I wish I'd read it far sooner as it definitely wasn't chick lit. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2008 by Sharlie
The worst book I have ever read
If you are a Mum, or about to be a Mum do not read this.
If you have had post natal depression do not read this. You will feel worse. Read more
If you have had post natal depression do not read this. You will feel worse. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2007 by Lou Lou 44
Not Your Typical Chick Lit
While the story tries to be your typical Chick Lit book by incorporating a Reality TV show into the mix, the book is really about two familys. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2006 by Chick Lit World
More than meets the eye
This is't your typical 'chick-lit' book. Although it seems like all the characters are content leading quiet lives, behind closed doors there are secrets and lies. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2006 by A reader
Perfect For Summer
I've just finished reading this and couldn't put it down. The characters take on a life of their own and it's funny, sad and all the stuff you want in a novel rolled into one. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2006 by Penny Beavan
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
