Thursday 5 January 2012

Review - The Bridge Club by Patricia Sands

A delightful tale of friendship and love between an amazing group of women.

The Bridge Club is the story of eight women all with completely different outlooks, lifestyles and personalities, who meet to initially play Bridge on a monthly basis, despite what is going on in their lives.  Each of the women has their own difficulties to admit to both themselves and to the group, and together they go through lifes ups and downs with strong friendship binding them together. 

The story covers 4 decades and starts where the group get together at a time where they are all roughly 60, and they are all asked about when the club has helped them to get through a particular time in their life.  Each chapter is about one of the characters in the book. 

The final chapter, was one which covers a subject that I think most people dread - dementia - and it is covered with empathy and understanding.

As I was reading this book, I kept thinking about how much my Mom would have loved it.  It reminded me of the friendship that my Mom and her best friend (my Godmother) had shared for over 57 years, before my Mom lost her battle with cancer. 

It made me realise that whatever happens in your life, good and true friends are so important to help you get through the rollercoaster issues that life can throw at you.  Through the good times and the bad, true friends will be there for you through thick and thin, without judging you, whether they think you are right or wrong, they are just there for you, loyal to the end.  

I hope that I am lucky enough that the good and true friends I've made in my lifetime, will turn out to be as good as the friendships that I read about in this delightful book by Patricia.  I'm know I have a few that I can say definitely will.

This was a book which was emotional, at which I laughed and I cried.  It's a book that women of all ages I would think, would relate to.  The characters were well formed, and likeable.  The subjects that are covered are understandable and some controversial which make you question your own thoughts and beliefs but you can relate to each and every one of them entirely.

I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read, although I did feel a little exhausted as I'd lived through all the issues by the end!

Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada and has degrees from both the University of Waterloo and York University. With a happily blended family of seven adult children and, at last count, six grandchildren, life is full and time is short. Patricia has told stories all of her life through photography. She began to write a few years ago and she is currently working on her second novel. 
Patricia is an author with www.loveahappyending.com 
You can following Patricia on twitter www.twitter.com/@patricia_sands
Her website  is www.patriciasandsauthor.com
You can buy The Bridge Club via Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bridge-Club-Patricia-Sands/dp/1450241352/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325795696&sr=1-1

8 comments:

Carol said...

Sounds like an emotional read.

thanks for the review

carol

Anonymous said...

Dear Kim - Thanks for this review. There is nothing better for a writer than seeing that a reader "gets" what lies behind the story. It sounds like your mom and Godmother would have fit right in with the ladies of The Bridge Club!How lovely you remember their friendship in the way you do.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous review, Kim, I can't wait to read this myself! Thanks for bringing this to us... and well done Patricia on creating a fantastic read. Yay!

Anonymous said...

Another fabulous review, Kim, of another fabulous book.

It's lovely to hear how Patricia's book brought back fond memories of your mum.

CJ x

Linn B Halton said...

I love the new cover for the Kindle version.... and who wouldn't be fascinated to read such a powerful story. Great review Kim!

Vickie Adair said...

Really loved your blog review, Kim! This sounds like a book I need to buy; there's nothing quite so uplifting as a book about women's friendships that lasts through the decades!

Anonymous said...

This was a great review Kim. It sounds like Pailine has created a very moving tale. I will definitely have to read it.

Chris Longmuir said...

Loved the review, Kim. The book sounds great and although I usually read drker books I'm drawn to this one.