I do quite like Salley Vickers – I haven’t read everything she has written, but the bits I have read I enjoyed. I borrowed a copy of this book from a friend.
Mrs Heatherington sets sail alone on a cruise, with hopes of new experience and replenished independence. Vic, the on-board entertainer, has an eye for lucrative freelance work, and sets his sights on the elderly lady, lonely and vulnerable, whose heart he thinks he can unlock as fast as her purse. In this witty and beautifully written new novel, Salley Vickers uncovers the poetry of self-discovery and the possibilities of change for us all.
I found it quite slow to get going and the bits on the cruise didn’t interest me much at all, but when Vi read her old notebooks and the narrative switched back to a time in the past I was intrigued. The writing is beautiful, the characters well-portrayed and realistic.
Unusually for me (I generally think novels need more editing) I thought some of the threads of the story could be fleshed out a bit more. Particularly the other couples on the cruise and Des/Dino.
Here are some other reviews …