Sunday 17 June 2012

Review - Every Step of the Way by Kit Domino

This wonderful book was shortlisted for the 2004 Harry Bowling Prize and it is completely and utterly easy to understand why.

Every Step of the Way transports you back in time to a life of teddy boys, and where rationing had recently ended.  A life where washing machines, televisions, central heating and even an inside toilet were things of luxury, certainly not common-place for an ordinary family in West London.  A life in which Beth Brixham lived, working and looking after the rest of her family and experiencing the killer smog in the 1950s.  She was a strong and plucky young girl who struggled to survive in a tough, male dominated world. 

I must admit that I had picked up this book to start reading and put it back down again a few times, as it was very different to the books I normally read, as I only really read books which are written in current times.  How very wrong I was!  Once I'd read the first couple of pages I was completely hooked and couldn't put it down. 

It was delightfully written, and taught me so much about how tough people were and about the way people lived back in those times which weren't actually that long ago.  It made me realise just how lucky we are, living in the here and now and how much we take things for granted.  It made me think about the life that my parents had lived and I know just how much my darling Mom would have loved this book if she had been around now to read it.  I really felt like I wanted to discuss it with her and ask her loads of questions about how she grew up.  Perhaps they have books in heaven - if so, I'd love you to read this Mom!  

Well crafted descriptions of both the settings and the characters in this novel truly made the story come to life and feel every emotion that Beth went through in her tough existence.  There were some very sad moments in this book, where Beth was so low that she really didn't know how to carry on, yet she pulled herself together and did what she thought was right to survive.  A truly amazing character that you wanted to reach out and give a hug to.   Kit writes in a way that flows so beautifully throughout the well written plot line that I was really quite disappointed when it came to an end.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, which took me right out of my comfort zone and I was absolutely delighted that it did!   

Kit Domino is a very talented lady who is not only an author and poet but also an amazing painter, and you can learn more about her writing and her art at her website www.kit-domino.com.  She is also a proof reader and editor - and obviously an expert at time management to fit all of this in!

You can follow Kit on Twitter.
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You can buy this book via Amazon by clicking here


9 comments:

Kit Domino said...

Thank you so much, Kim. What a thrill to read that not being a book you would normally pick up, how much you enjoyed it.

Linn B Halton and Lucy Coleman said...

Ah, what a lovely comment about books in heaven and your Mum, Kim! My Mum too would have loved this as I did when I read it. Kit is an amazing author and it was a deserving finalist. A book that really paints a picture...

Chris Longmuir said...

Lovely review. It brought back memories of outside toilets, scrubbing boards and all the labour intensive things of the fifties. Thank god things have moved on.

Sheryl Browne said...

What an excellent review! I, too, loved that beaufiful comment about books in heaven. I have this book, bought after reading one of Kit's evocative excerpts. Love it! :) xx

ThornBerry Publishing said...

Thank you Kim, for taking the time out to write such a lovely review of a genre you wouldn't normally consider. So pleased you enjoyed it. Love the concept of books in heaven.

Janice said...

Great review Kim! I have Every Step of the Way on my Kindle and it's next on my tbr list! I simply can't wait to read it.

Janice xx

Gilli Allan said...

Congratulations Kit. A fab review from Kim, one of my favourite reviewers.

Talking about outside loos, anyone remember Izal or Bronco toilet paper? So hard and totally unabsorbent. What was the point of that? As often as not people just strung up pages of news print.

Pauline Barclay said...

A fab review Kit, I have Every Step of the Way on my Kindle, so looking forward to reading it. Congrats to you!

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