NEW RELEASE
The Making of Us - Lisa Jewell (2011)
Daniel's dying in a hospice and being kept company by his friend Maggie. In his last days he reveals his deepest secret about his children he's never met. Lydia has the amazing London mansion, the millions to spend, but she's desperately lonely. Dean is struggling with life, thinking that even his new baby knows he's a loser. Robyn is pretty, intelligent and following in her father's footsteps to medical school. But all three are desperately unhappy, feeling something is missing in life. And then they meet each other and begin to understand their place in the world. This is a brilliant and beautifully written book, with a strong, engaging story. It has a great mix of tragedy, happiness and humour. It is written from the different characters' perspectives giving you a great insight into each character. It's a real page-turner, so make sure you clear your schedule when you start reading! (AB)
Lisa Jewell's The Making of Us is centred around a group of people united by a life-changing decision. The summary says: "In a hospice in Bury St Edmunds, a man called Daniel is slowly fading away. His friend Maggie sits with him every day; she holds his hand and she listens to the story of his life, to his regrets and to his secrets. And then he tells her about the children he has never met and never will. He talks of them wistfully. His legacy, he calls them. Lydia, Dean and Robyn don't know each other. Yet. And they are all facing difficult changes. Lydia is still wearing the scars from her traumatic childhood and although she is wealthy and successful, her life is lonely and disjointed. Dean is a young man, burdened with unexpected responsibility, whose life is going nowhere. And Robyn wants to be a doctor, just like her father - a man she's never met. But is her whole life built on an illusion? Three people leading three very different lives. All lost. All looking for something. But when they slowly find their way into each other's lives, everything starts to change." The Making of Us is out in April.