The Woman who Went to Bed for a Year

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Whilst the novel had the potential to be a poignant reflection of the domestic reality for many couples once their children fly the nest, Townsend falls short of such an expose.

She suffered from diabetes for many years, as a result of which she was registered blind in 2001, and had woven this theme into her work. Having heard from many people that Sue Townsend was a great author and the Adrian Mole books were fantastic, I thought this book looked good and I would give it a read. This story is interspersed with updates from the twins’ lives, which mainly sees them being plagued by the farcical character of Poppy – a compulsive liar who brings devastation wherever she goes – as well as failing to adapt to university life due to their social ineptitude.

While the whole novel is far-fetched, this element asks the reader to suspend more disbelief than is reasonable and is just a bit of nonsense too far. Alexander the dreadlocked white-van man arrives to help Eva dispose of all her clothes and possessions and bring her tea and toast. The last one was Eva’s private strike, cos for one whole year she did nothing but lying in bed 24 hours a day. At the start of the novel Leicester housewife, Eva Beaver, stands in her kitchen and evaluates her life now that her teenage twins have spread their wings and flown off for the heady thrills of Leeds University’s Maths Department.

The second half, however, where Eva Beaver, a ‘beautiful’ (we are told) middle-aged woman has, by now, voluntarily retreated to the confines (and safety? I hated the plot, the main character, the sheer unbelievable events, that weren't even funny in their lunacy (eg. We honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' continuous connection to Country, waters, skies and communities. Há quem faça greve ao trabalho, há quem faça greve da fome e haverá certamente quem se entregue a múltiplas outras formas de greve que agora não me ocorrem; Eva Beaver fez greve à vida! The overall message that came across was that we all hold on to things (careless insults, preconceptions, embarrassing memories, feelings of inadequacy) that we should have left behind years ago and yet, conversely/perversely, we fail to retain things which we should hold dear (compliments, friendships, self esteem/respect and kindness).So N M Kelby's novel is told in a series of flashbacks, each attached to a recipe which memorialises the peaks and troughs of his life: the Siege of Paris, the meals he cooked for royalty, his affair with Sarah Bernhardt.

I kind of had in mind "The woman who walked into doors" or a "Rachael's holiday" - a story to unfold. And which of us, in a moment of feeling insufficiently cherished, harassed by pedestrian responsibilities and bewildered by the world's demands, has not felt that the most sensible option would be to take to our bed? Also I can't comprehend why some of the male characters, like Alexander and the young policeman, fall madly in love with a stranger in a bed. Adrian Mole may have been a bestseller, but this book probably wouldn’t have ever been published if it wasn’t for Townsend’s previous success.

Although the novel starts off extremely promising – inviting genuine guffaws of laughter at points – it rapidly goes downhill after the first twelve or so chapters. The latter is based on another of her books, in which the Royal Family become deposed and take up residence on a council estate in Leicester. With a teeming cast (and there are several more characters who come and go with a certain randomness) and an inviolable organising principle – Eva will not leave her bed, come what may – Townsend was unlikely to run short of comic opportunities.

Would recommended to anybody who feels they deserve a break from real life, only to immerse themselves in the lives of those more unfortunate. Her most recent novel, The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year, was published in 2012 by Michael Joseph and was a giant success, selling over half a million copies to date in the UK alone. and the novel does feel a little over long on occasion – it is generally strong throughout and overall satisfying. Eva’s mother, Ruby, is unable to help Brian with his tea because she is holding a perm party with her friends and half an hour away from having her solution rinsed off.This is a colourful story with an almost bewildering array of supporting characters outside of the immediate family circle, who appear and disappear at a rapid pace. Poderá apetecer-nos abaná-la, sacudi-la, berrar-lhe aos ouvidos, despejar-lhe um balde de água fria, . Eva’s stepmother, Yvonne, and mother, Ruby, both wait on her hand and foot, entertaining her desire to stay in bed by bringing her food and keeping her company.