The Way from Here by Jane TurnerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Not quite what I thought it would be.
Kate is having a bit of a mid-life crisis. After surrendering her intentions to become an immigration lawyer for the more child-friendly job of processing claims which allowed her to work part-time, she has brought up two daughters Poppy and Ella who are now both at university. Her husband Tim works in London and only comes home to Bath at weekends, when he seems to spend the entire time cycling or sleeping.
While dropping her youngest daughter off at university Kate sees a rowing eight on the river which evokes memories of her time at Cambridge. Determined to make a positive change, Kate decides to join the local rowing club, despite not having rowed for probably thirty years.
While Kate loves the rowing, she finds the other members of the ladies rowing team to be cliquey and unfriendly, other than one woman, Beth who coxes the team. Tired of being frozen out from the team, despite being better than many of the other ladies, Kate tries to set up a senior ladies team, by recruiting former rowers from the club.
I know absolutely nothing about rowing, and TBH I don't think I know much more after reading this book -not because the book is superficial, but because it is so technical and detailed. However, I really enjoyed it anyway (a bit like I enjoy the rugby or baseball romances, you don't have to understand to enjoy it, but I suspect that a real rower would find it authentic).
This is very much about women of a certain age (and I am one myself), finding new confidence and belief in themselves, standing up for their rights and showing everyone else how blimmin' amazing we can be, despite coping with sexism, ageism, indifference, classism and illness.
Really enjoyed this.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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