Books like Me. You. A Diary

This is a wonderful little book that I am sure will be on lots of people's Christmas list. I decided I needed some light relief so couldn't wait until then to read it. Dawn French sets herself a hard task as she is basically waxing lyrical on how a 'good life' can be lived and has to be amusing, profound, whilst avoiding being preachy or patronising. I think she succeeds. It almost comes under a self-help therapy genre with lots of thought provoking activities to do along the way. She splits life into the seasons starting summer at 25, autumn at 50 and winter at 75. The winter part is the least developed, I guess because she isn't there yet. It is a very very quick read (so you almost feel a bit cheated on splashing the cash), but one that could and should easily be returned to. It goes beyond being 'a pick me up' book, though is that, and moves into a measured reflection of life. As with her other books by Dawn French, and in the same way as you do when watching Victoria Wood on the tv, you finish the book wishing that she was a friend you could have a good old chinwag with.