The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes - Ruth Hogan

Description

Once a spirited, independent woman with a rebellious streak, Masha's life has been forever changed by a tragic event twelve years ago. Unable to let go of her grief, she finds comfort in her faithful canine companion Haizum, and peace in the quiet lanes of her town's lido.

Then a chance encounter with two extraordinary women - the fabulous and wise Kitty Muriel, a convent girl turned magician's wife turned seventy-something roller disco 
fanatic, and the mysterious Sally Red Shoes, a bag lady with a prodigious voice - opens up a new world of possibilities, and the chance to start living again. But just as Masha dares to imagine the future, her past comes roaring back ...

Review

I didn't read Ruth Hogan's previous book so I came new to this author. The book started out a little confusingly with the introduction of two characters, how or why will they be connected? Then we fast forward to the same characters in the present day.

I did love the lyrical writing and the quirky characters, but somewhere about a third of the way through I didn't know why I was reading the book What was the story - what was the purpose of it all. I decided to stick with it - but only just.

I'd like to say it got better, but apart from glimpses of a story I began to get bored with it all. There was some light at the end of the tunnel when Kitty Muriel makes an entrance but that was short lived.

Then I thought I began to guess the story - but it seemed a little fantastical so I decided I was just trying to enliven a dull read.

I don't do spoilers so I can only say that the writing is beautiful and evocative, but pedestrian. Nothing really happens for most of the book - yes it is every day life but I want more from a book than that. There is grief - but really the book just goes on for so long I even began to lose sympathy at times.

At the end of the book I felt cheated and let down. I could not share a moment with the main character that surely the book had been building towards, I felt like I stuck with it and the book just closed down on me not letting be privy to the real story.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC to review.