Review: Maureen's back!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 29, 2012
When I first met Maureen in Jonathan Hill's short story collectionECLECTIC: Ten Very Different Tales, I ran as fast as possible. But no matter how hard I tried to get away from this walking disaster zone of a woman, she proved impossible to avoid!This is not only a very amusing story, it also properly establishes Maureen as one of those fictional characters who you feel could carry an entire series. There's a touch of Mr Bean in the way bizarre and cringe-inducing situations seem to spontaneously occur around her, no matter how well-meaning she may be.There's a lot to enjoy in this story, not least the concise but evocative descriptions of Venice. Amongst the comedy and drama are some moments where I got a real feel for a place I've never been to, providing a beautiful background to Maureen's escapades.A great light-hearted read, and I'm looking forward to more of the same. I'm personally hoping for 'Maureen in Manhattan' one day!