Review: Laughter and sadness - the secret life of Maureen
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 20, 2013
Maureen's back! Run away! Hide anything she might break! But this time, that might include your heart.I'm already a big fan of the character Maureen thanks to her previous two stories, and A Letter for Maureen is of the same high standard. The difference is that alongside the expected comedy, there's some pathos as we get a glimpse of Maureen's past. Jonathan Hill's writing skills prove up to the challenge of combining two different styles without diluting either one. The genuine sadness and tragedy in this story is handled well, and doesn't become over-emotional or hard to read.That's not to say there's any shortage of the usual laugh-out-loud moments, as Maureen blunders her way through all sorts of shenanigans, often of her own making! The scenes at the book club were a special highlight, as well as the brilliant raid on a nursing home. Despite Maureen getting herself into some surreal scrapes, I found them all too easy to visualise.This is really better than a 4-star story, but I'm holding my highest praise back as I sense Maureen has even more amazing tales in her. Personally I'm hoping for 'Maureen in Manhattan'!