Queenie of Norwich: A compelling tale based on the true story of one woman's quest to beat the odds.

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And since I have not yet read Americanah, I’d say another fair comparison might be a little Eleanor Oliphant . . . . I also must say, publishers - DON'T COMPARE THIS TO BRIDGET JONES. This is so not like Bridgette Jones, other than a young girl living in London and dating. Queenie is so much more. If you think you are going to find a Bridgette Jones here, skip this one. Romantic comedy this is NOT. Let me make sure y’all have some things straight before we get started. I am not a 20-something. I am not single. I am not British nor am I of Jamaican descent. And yet somehow when it came to this book . . . .

This book is not only a typical love life story of a Jamaican English woman’s in mid-twenties. It’s about discovery of your own potential, learning what you want from the life, respecting yourself! It’s about friendship! It’s about forgiveness! It’s about family! Author and musician LK (Laura) Wilde was born in Norwich, but spent her teenage years living on a Northumbrian island. She left the island to study Music, and after a few years of wandering settled in Cornwall with her husband, where she raises her two crazy, delightful boys. Queenie had little self respect when it comes to men and this was tough to watch — I wanted her to want more for herself and even in the challenging circumstances she was in, given her upbringing and financial situation, it didn’t feel like she always did. It was difficult to sympathize with her at times when she continued to make poor decisions, again and again. At one point she mentions her friends being tired of her and her problems and I thought, well how could they not be? Darcy is the only work friend who is not awful and yet we get no character development for her. She is simply a non-problematic foil for Queenie.Because, mercifully and to my neverending gratitude, this story wasn’t as much “laugh at this ridiculous and inept protagonist.” It took itself seriously. Spanning the first half of the 20th century, Queenie's story is one of heartbreak and triumph, love and loss and the power of family. Everyone in her life cares about her so much. Even, like, her boss. And whose boss cares about them?! This is capitalism we’re talking about. Despite the vile way her mother had treated her, Queenie returned to care for her parent who had fallen ill and given birth to another child, her brother Fred. Queenie is both easy to read (its writing style is very accessible) and also hard to read (Queenie puts herself in just horrendous situations). There is some humor, and good British humor that appeals to me on many levels, and only that humor saves this novel from being a complete pit of misery.

Queenie has really a bad year but it’s not about her broken heart after her breakup or time out with her longtime boyfriend Tom. This is such a beginning of domino falling! Laura said: “It would have been really difficult for her to return home to Norwich. She always said the fair was one of the happiest times in her life.

He put a hand on my thigh and moved it higher, digging his nails into my skin. That'll be a pair of tights gone. By turning her great-grandmother's life into a novel, LK Wilde has given Queenie immortality and a place in the hearts of many, many readers. What a character! Outgoing, a born leader, a showman (or show off), being sold to a travelling fair at the age of 6 turned out to be the best thing for our young heroine. First as Ellen, then Nell, then Queenie, our protagonist adapts and proves she is well able to take care of herself even in some very nasty situations. Yet there is a softness about her, a gentleness seen through her love for her siblings, and especially sister Florrie, which brings her close to us and makes us want the very best for her. There's pathos here, including in the plight of the mother, so often seen in those times, as well as in other tragedies that befall Queenie. But it's never sentimental and there's plenty of humour too. side note: my husband thought I meant Americana, as in the musical genre, and was massively and hilariously confused when I tried to describe how it wasn't like that at all.) Queenie Read- the research for this part of the book was largely based on family recollections of Queenie and the stories she had told. I found numerous newspaper articles reporting raids on betting shops, and these provided a window into the world Queenie was living in! No, this isn't another Bridget Jones's Diary, but then we're not living in the 90s anymore either. Queenie is bolder, more complicated, more diverse and - ultimately - more feminist. And I see nothing to complain about in that.

With the first draft finished, I gave it to a few family members to read… the general consensus was that it was far too grim! I needed to present the harshness of Queenie’s early life in a way that didn’t make people feel queasy. I’m aware that the initial chapters of the book are still a bit bleak at times, but trust me, you need to thank my mum because it could have been far worse! 😉 The whatsapp group chat with the friends I found worked really well in how it moved the plot along and got us to know more about Queenie and her friends. I think this was my favorite part of the book if I am being honest. I love how real those chat felt, how hilarious they were at times and as a millennial, that part of the book really resonated with me. Queenie of Norwich is an addictive read, hard to put down, but it also brings to life much of the social history of Norwich in the early 20th century. Scroll down to read the author’s blog about this book.The Norwich Yards were known for their smell. A rat-infested labyrinth of over 650 courtyards and narrow alleyways, the poorly built dwellings were thrown up in the 1800s, crammed in behind ancient buildings fronting the street. With no sewers or running water, life was hard and people were desperate. Desperate enough to sell their children.