The Book Depository Only by Caroline Baum
112 ratings
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Price: £14.99
Brand: The Book Depository
Description: Only : Paperback : Allen & Unwin : 9781760293970 : 1760293970 : 01 Apr 2018 : Caroline Baum's fascinating and moving memoir about being an only child in a very unusual family. The Book Depository Only by Caroline Baum - shop the best deal online on thebookbug.co.uk
Category: Books
Merchant: The Book Depository
Product ID: 9781760293970
MPN: 1760293970
GTIN: 9781760293970
Author: lizziec
Rating: 5
Review: I was interested in reading this for two reasons, I am a great admirer of Caroline and I am an only child. Whilst my childhood was at the complete end of the universe to Caroline's there were so many passages that I felt she was writing about me. It is an honest account of Caroline's life without any sugar coating or underlying anger. It is a sophisticated and beautiful read. I was so sorry the book ended, I just wanted to keep reading.
Author: Fibee
Rating: 2
Review: I read this book as part of our book club and it certainly delivered a lively conversation. The biggest issue that we all had with this memoir was the author herself - she simply isn't likable. It's a brave thing to put yourself on the line when you are not a very nice person - as it really opens yourself up to criticism and we felt that this was a very narcissistic person who probably wouldn't handle criticism very well. The story itself is however interesting and I did feel that in the hands of a different author or written under the guise of fiction - it could have been great. It starts off well with some well injected humour but after that if feels like it has been written in snatches and not really as one entire book. It also feels like it has been written for the author to assuage her own guilt and that is probably where it should have ended - written but never published. I heard the author interviewed by Richard Fidler and have also had the opportunity to hear her on her tour to promote the book. She presents well and it is unfortunate that the humour she exudes in person does not translate to the book as it might mitigate some of her less likable qualities. She says the book is "a litererary memoir" and I will concur that it is written well but not really at the level of most literary books I have read. If you are looking for a book to read with a group this is an interesting one as I think most people will have a view and you will have a lively discussion at the end. In that context I can recommend it as I think we all like to pick apart the faults in people and she seems to have many and has opened herself up to this - quite brave really !
