Book Review-Jules Smith's Sophie's Throughway

Thank You to Troubador Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of Jules Smith's novel, Sophie's Throughway, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Sophie Rhodes is leading a very stressful life. Her oldest child, Brendon is on the cusp of finishing high school, if he doesn't get kicked out first. Brendon has been diagnosed with both Aspergers and Pathological Demand Avoidance. His behavior is unpredictable and difficult to control, often dangerous. Sophie fears that her younger child, Bryony, could be in danger when Brendon lashes out, or at the very least, isn't getting the attention that she needs. Sophie's husband Karl is fed up and bails on the family. Can Sophie hold down her job, manage life as a single-mother, and get Brendon to graduate, before she has a nervous break down?

LIKE- The set up with the family dynamic is strong and compelling. It's easy to feel for the Rhodes family as they struggle to deal with Brendon's mental imbalance. Bryony, the child stuck in the middle of all of this madness might be the most sympathetic character. I think it would have been even more compelling, if the story had included her POV and not just Sophie's. 

DISLIKE- Although technically all of the story elements were there, Sophie's Throughway fell flat. Although I have empathy for Sophie's situation, she's not a compelling lead character. A majority of the story, she is passive, it carries on for so long, that when she finally takes action, I'm not moved. It's tough to keep interest when the main character is a doormat.

Another problem is the plot. There is a side story involving Sophie's love life. She's flirting with a mysterious stranger on "Words with Friends" and she becomes involved with her soon-to-be-former boss. The love story is secondary to the family drama, but the problem is it's never fully developed and then it fizzles. It's not satisfying. The story ends on a upbeat, but it doesn't make me feel like issues have been resolved. This story is slice-of-life, but it doesn't quite work as such.

My anticipations were off. In the beginning, I thought Sophie's Throughway would take a much darker twist, as there was a build surrounding Brendon's violent tendencies. This is the whole, "if you show a gun on stage, it better go off" principal. The idea was introduced, but never developed. The tone is actually more chick-lit, and in-line with the book cover art.

RECOMMEND- No. I think that Jules Smith is a good writer, but Sophie's Throughway is not a good novel. It's messy and underwhelming. The only people that I'd recommend it to are parents/siblings/et, of children with Aspergers, as they might find it relatable. 

Book Review - Russell George's Footsteps in Summer

Like Russell George, my husband and I made the epic journey from John O'Groats to Land's End. Unlike George, we didn't walk it. We enjoyed the trip from the comfort of our car. I saw this book offered on NetGalley and it peaked my interest. Thank you to Troubadour Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to review Footsteps in Summer.

PLOT - A recently retired Russell George, decided to attempt the famous 950 mile walk from John O' Groats in Scotland to Land's End in England. Although he did some distance training to prep for the solo journey, he did not consider himself an athlete and had never attempted a long distance walk. He did the walk to raise awareness for Cancer Research UK, wearing a tee-shirt from the organization and carrying a sign of explanation on his backpack. George used his own funds for the trip and rather than camping, he opted to book hotels/inns for each night. He spent a great deal of time in the preplanning stage, picking the best places to stay and the best equipment. He was happy to have only needed his rain gear a few times, although sometimes the heat was unbearable! The walk took him two months and he was frequently joined by friends and family for portions of the trip. In the end, George raised eighteen thousand pounds for Cancer Research UK, which was eight thousand over his goal.

LIKED - The book is written like a travel diary, giving day-by-day accounts of the trip. I liked how George frequently added detailed Historical information about the towns that he was visiting. It made me aware of places in the UK that I will now want to visit in the future, many of them off the beaten path. It's easy to get excited for George, as he attempts this incredibly long walk to raise money for charity. I enjoyed hearing about the strangers that helped him out. It's a feel good story. On a personal note, since we visited many of the same places, it was fun for me to remember my own trip to the same towns. If this books makes you inspired to go to John O'Groats ( and you should), The Anchorage B&B was awesome and run by the nicest family!

DISLIKED - The travel diary style was frequently tedious to read, especially as George recounts every meal and every beer in every pub. It's like when a friend tells you about their vacation and makes you sit through every photo in their album. I think this could have been eased, if George had a little more finesse with the writing. I never felt like George was ever in serious trouble or even had a bad day. George was a very upbeat and positive person. This lack of drama also added to the tedium. The minor problems, like not being able to get lunch or issues with his shoes, were glossed over. I suspect that he was keeping it upbeat since he was promoting the charity and also because he had met so many kind people on the road who might read this book. Although, it would have been a more entertaining read, if he had encountered some real issues.

RECOMMEND - I'd recommend Footsteps in Summer, if you're a long distance walker or if you're considering attempting a similar walk. You also might enjoy it, if you're from the parts of the UK where George traveled. To most readers, even ones who like travel writing, I'm not sure that this book should be at the top of your list. I think George has a fascinating story, but it's probably one that would be better told in person ( a condensed version), rather than reading it in a book.