Life Skills

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Low on realism and excitement, high on predictability - Rated
If you're reading a lightweight `30-something woman doesn't know where she's going in life' novel, you generally know what to expect. The plots are usually predictable, and not what keeps you interested; it's how the author and the characters get to the inevitable ending that counts. Judy Astley is a great example of an author who knows how to turn a predictable plot into a charming read through strong characterisation and sharp dialogue. On the evidence of Life Skills, Katie Fforde isn't. From the first page the reader can see what will happen on the last, and none of the characters or situations are interesting enough to make you care what happens in between. Realism also appears to be sadly absent from the book too. Lead character Julia begins the book as a country estate agent - yet cannot drive. A recurring theme is the truth behind why Julia was sacked, but the real mystery seems to be how she got the job in the first place. Unfortunately by the time everything is tied up in a neat little package in the end, one crucial element to any novel - the reader's interest - has long since evaporated.

Could have been funny but didn't quite make it - Rated
Oh dear! If only the characters had been believable this could have been such a lovely story.

Katie, the central female character, decides to chuck in her job and ditch her fiancée to go in search of pastures new. Looking for a complete change she applies for and gets the position of cook onboard a hotel canal boat.

Running the boat is a poor little rich girl called Suzy who really doesn't know her windlass from her gunwales. Together the two girls somehow manage to make a go of the business and everything's pretty much hunky dory.

The problem is, this is supposed to be funny but isn't. There are a few scenes that could have been hilarious if they'd been better written but most were very clichéd - I felt I'd read them before and not only once, either.

Katie, once a high-flying estate agent somehow knew enough about cooking to cater for 8 people to hotel standing and yet she cannot drive. How often do you come across an estate agent that doesn't drive? Very odd!

I've no idea what drives Oscar, the ex, to keep coming back for me and as for Fergus, a man who Julia seems to despise for no good reason, how he puts up with our so-called heroine is nothing short of a mystery to me. The poor guy must be a glutton for punishment, that's all I can say.

This is a light-hearted read that you'll easily finish in a day or two so is suitable for travelling or beach literature. Just don't expect it to be a laugh-a-minute and remember that the characters are as fictional as they can get.

definitely not one of her best - Rated
This book follows the usual Katie ground of (normally thirty something) heroine having a life change for one reason or the other and breaking new ground and like all her books is a pleasant read but, and this is a big but, there is one major problem in this book for me - that Julia's life change to working on the canal boat is prompted by a male junior being promoted over her and given charge of the department she's created, which is just about as open and shut a case of blatent sexual discrimination as you can get. So instead of flouncing out and handing in her resignation why doesn't she threaten to sue her boss? As it stands it just wasn't credible, even if she was unloading an unwanted fiance at the same time. Also not credible is her not being able to drive when she works for a country estate agent - it's an essential requirement for the job and it honestly isn't likely thaat she'd be relying on taxis. otherwise this was a pleasant enough read, though i did find Julia generally a bit irritating and wondered why Fergus put up with her. Living Dangerously and Wild Designs are still Katie's best - if you haven't read them yet, do it now.

Great Introduction to Katie Fforde - Rated
Picked this book up in a Wal-Mart in Northwest Michigan, of all places, not knowing it was Brit chick fiction, as I call it. I was immediately captivated, and stayed up all night to finish it! "Life Skills" made me want to be on the boat with Julia, maneuvering the canals and putting up with the weirdo guests. The author writes so well, I found myself seriously wishing the tale would never end. I'm hooked on Katie's fiction now! My latest trip to London in February 2002, I bought all her paperbacks! Sadly, I breezed through them like a hot knife through butter and am anxiously awaiting her next. This little gem, though, was a splendid introduction to Katie Fforde's seemingly effortless writing. Lots of fun!

Not the best Fforde, but still 5 stars - Rated
Katie Fforde turns a great tale - there's not a bad book in her bunch. However, Julia isn't as loveable as Fforde's other heriones. And that's OK, I suppose. You do wonder why Fergus persists to the end, how he could see the good that was buried under the surliness. While I didn't click as much with Julia as I have with other Fforde characters, I simply loved Fergus and once again the cast of supporting characters is a riot. And the whole idea of canal boats is so interesting to me as an American - sounds like to fun! Nobody turns a tale like Katie Fforde - be sure to check out her other books, especially Wild Designs and Living Dangerously. I can hardly wait for May 2001, another one is on the way!