The Spare Room
It’s review o’clock!
First of all— just to put this out there— I love Rosie Butler! Oh my god! Seeing her character come to life is a thing of joy, I love her becoming. From the beginning of the book, I knew she had a backbone in her but to see the poignant development of it is so significant to me. I feel deeply connected to her and it doesn't even matter that I have not much in common with this character, but I could just feel her deeply. Which brings me to my…
Second of all!!! Laura Starkey is a terrific writer. What?! I am still screaming in my head. She took me along all the way through, I felt a part of the book. I felt like I know all the characters deeply (I might end up using this word too much, forgive me in advance). Have an author ever made you hear a character's voice? I could hear the titillating voice of Rhianne as she sang joyfully to her captivating audience. Every characters in this book felt real to me, I felt like I could walk down the street and come across any of them.
Third of all, James is an oloriburuku (it’s a Nigerian language for unfortunate) human being. I really can’t believe the audacity of some men! The bloody audacity!! I don’t want to spend too much time talking about him because I don’t think he deserves it. He’s a total twat, but he also helped me in seeing the mental workings of men like this, which makes understanding them easier— which is, there’s no understanding such men, just throw them away in the canal and let the tide wash them off. Just to give you a glimpse of how total a rubbish James is, look below
Again, I can only accredit this to the brilliancy of the author. She was so intentional in showing us who her characters are, she explained it so well and even using simple words that there’s no way the readers won’t think they know them personally.
Fourth of all, the Butler family (aside our favorite heroine of course) are one giant selfish excuse of human existence. I was so glad the author didn’t brush off their behavior towards Rosie as "one of those things" that happens with family. Glad that Rosie could tell her mother a respectful "fuck you". personally I don’t care much for the mother apology, it didn’t really cover it all, but Rosie is a sweet gal. No one in that family deserves her.
Fifth of all… okay, let me stop with that. I can go on and on with all the of all this book has got to offer, it's just that it's been so so long a book I randomly selected to read brought this feeling out of me. I mean, I'm writing a review for goodness sake! This is a first for me for a fiction book.
You really have to read this book, it got all the feels. It is the first time in my life I wasn't interested in the male's POV, I was so invested in Rosie, in what she feels, thinks, wants, sees. I was so interested in her. I don't want to talk about Aled because I feel I will gush too much and reveal too much, but that's one fine specimen of a character.
What I love most about the story of Aled and Rosie is how the writer build up their romance, no rushing. It’s not the usual story of uncontrollable lust people in the same confined space would have for each other. I really love that about the book.
This book will give you some lightning up if you’re feeling low (which I was before picking up the book), make you fall in love with yourself if you’re having self-doubt and also help you appreciate the people in your life who appreciate and loves you.
I could remember thinking to myself while reading this book that I wish I could see it on TV, but then I thought again that maybe not. I don’t think they will do justice to this book, the scriptwriters might feel the need to cut out some scenes and characters, but I want to see them all! Every scenes and characters are what made the book slaps!
Laura Starkey is now added to the list of my favorite authors and I will be reading every book she's created (creating) out of that superb head of hers.
This book is a slow read (for me), but it will surely warm its way into your heart, just be patient with it and go with the flow. A total 5 star rating!
