I must admit. This book was a little tough to finish. The idea to write an entire novel through instant messages, emails, and letters between characters is clever. Let them speak for themselves instead of narrating how everyone is acting and reacting through the “show don’t tell” method and other cues I keep learning about. Although, I think I would have had an easier time finishing it and enjoying it along the way if it was much shorter than 450 pages.

            The exchange I’ve chosen for this blog is between Rosie and her friend Ruby. If it had not been for Ruby, I probably would have stopped reading this book before reaching the halfway point. There were periods where Rosie became repetitive, and not in an enjoyable or humorous way. At the same time, it made sense given how her life was turning out every few years. Still, I found myself wondering what makes Rosie a bearable protagonist and heroine.

            Ruby, on the other hand, is the friend each of us needs in good times and bad. She points out our flaws in an honest, and sometimes sensitive, way and tells us to get over ourselves when we think the world has no one else to pick on. She also celebrates our triumphs when the occasion calls for it. In my humble opinion, Ruby makes Rosie bearable. She balances Rosie’s whining with sarcasm and tough love, something Rosie desperately needs on a regular basis.

            Anyway, here is an early exchange that kept me going when I almost gave up. Enjoy!

“Ruby: Gary has a girlfriend now.

Rosie: Gary?! Your baby Gary?!

Ruby: Well he’s 20 now but I can see how you could be confused, he’s yet to lose all that baby fat…like his mother.

Rosie: Oh stop it! Who’s the girl?

Ruby: Gemma is her name. To be honest, I think there’s something a bit wrong with her.

Rosie: In what way?

Ruby: In the way that she has deliberately chosen to go out with my son.

Rosie: Oh Ruby that’s awful! Gary is a nice boy.

Ruby: Nice my bum! I don’t know what she sees in him; all he does is occasionally make grunting sounds and point to thing. Usually at food, and then to his stomach. Any news with you?”

This is where Rosie goes into her news and Ruby, as usual, gives Rosie the reality checks Rosie never seems to figure out for herself. The exchange concludes as follows.

“Ruby: I’ve been married before and so has Teddy, we both don’t want to go through it again. I’ve been there, done that, while this is just the beginning for you.

Rosie: Anyway it doesn’t matter because I told him I wasn’t ready to move in with him right now. It’s a bad time, with me trying to settle down in the job and everything and Katie settling down in the flat. I need to allow a little more time to pass so that Katie can adjust to the whole situation. It’s been a huge change in her life---

Ruby: So you keep saying.

Rosie: What’s that supposed to mean?

Ruby: You’ve been in the flat for two years now, you’ve been in that job of yours for a few weeks now, I’ve seen Katie and she’s fine Rosie, she’s very happy. She’s adjusted to this “huge change,” I think that maybe it’s you who needs to adjust.

Rosie: Adjust to what?

Ruby: Alex is married now Rosie. Move on and make yourself happy!”

This exchange is one example of the regular dialog between the two friends. Rosie continues to be clueless while Ruby continues to be surprised at how clueless Rosie is but continues to dole out much needed advice, sarcasm, reality checks, and support. Ruby is far from perfect and that is what makes her a likeable character. She can step out of her own problems and help Rosie with hers. I don’t think I saw Rosie do the same for Ruby, or anyone else in her life.

The only time I think Rosie was truly selfless in the book, without having to be convinced or advised into it, was when she took care of her mom after her dad passed away. I think that is what turned me off from Rosie most of the time and tempted me to stop reading. Rosie “talked” selfishness and selflessness depending on the situation but didn’t “walk” much of anything. She did not possess the self-confidence to get over her fears and go after something.

That may be why I found her unrelatable. Because the story was told through dialog, the significance of events in the characters’ lives was minimized because they became objects of ridicule or obsession for those discussing them. Perhaps there is such a thing as too much dialog? Anyway, I am late in this month’s blog because I struggled to figure out how to write it given the book I had just read. Nevertheless, here it is. I still enjoyed the story, but perhaps not every line.