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clairereviews's review
5.0
Review: Dear Beneficiary by Janet Kelly Publication Date: 19th March 2015
Publisher: Cutting Edge Press
ISBN: 978-1908122872
Source: Author provided ARC
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
Cynthia Hartworth is a feisty 60-year-old who, despite strong convictions that she has everything in her life under control, discovers the modern world isn’t always as it seems. Widowed in her late 50s after a lifetime of dutiful, but dull, marriage, she decides that life is for living and she takes on a number of activities with enthusiasm and energy—to the distress and discomfort of her family.
She embarks on a passionate affair with Darius, a 38-year-old Nigerian man she met at driving school, and is subsequently heartbroken when he has to return to Nigeria to tend to his sick parents, ending their relationship. Cynthia’s grandson, Tom, helps her connect to the Internet in her bid to try and contact Darius.
When she receives an email message asking for her bank details to help a friend who needs medical help, she assumes Darius is asking for her support. Because of her naivety and stoic resistance to warnings that she needs to be careful about communicating via email, she ends up traveling to Nigeria where she meets some very interesting people—including her kidnapper; the crass and vulgar Tracey, with whom she develops an unlikely friendship; and finally her former lover.
My Review:
A well written and highly entertaining debut that's a real page turner. Lively and providing lots of laugh-out-loud moments, I warmed to Cynthia immediately and followed her journey with glee. Janet Kelly's beautifully descriptive prose brought her to life so well, I felt like I knew her.
An inspiration, perhaps, for the older lady to reach for more than just the mundane life.
**I received an ARC of this book from the author, in return for my honest review**
A special thank you to Janet Kelly:
Oh Janet, thank you so much for being kind enough to send me one of the first review copies of your debut novel. It's such a lively, entertaining book and I absolutely devoured it!
Publisher: Cutting Edge Press
ISBN: 978-1908122872
Source: Author provided ARC
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
Cynthia Hartworth is a feisty 60-year-old who, despite strong convictions that she has everything in her life under control, discovers the modern world isn’t always as it seems. Widowed in her late 50s after a lifetime of dutiful, but dull, marriage, she decides that life is for living and she takes on a number of activities with enthusiasm and energy—to the distress and discomfort of her family.
She embarks on a passionate affair with Darius, a 38-year-old Nigerian man she met at driving school, and is subsequently heartbroken when he has to return to Nigeria to tend to his sick parents, ending their relationship. Cynthia’s grandson, Tom, helps her connect to the Internet in her bid to try and contact Darius.
When she receives an email message asking for her bank details to help a friend who needs medical help, she assumes Darius is asking for her support. Because of her naivety and stoic resistance to warnings that she needs to be careful about communicating via email, she ends up traveling to Nigeria where she meets some very interesting people—including her kidnapper; the crass and vulgar Tracey, with whom she develops an unlikely friendship; and finally her former lover.
My Review:
A well written and highly entertaining debut that's a real page turner. Lively and providing lots of laugh-out-loud moments, I warmed to Cynthia immediately and followed her journey with glee. Janet Kelly's beautifully descriptive prose brought her to life so well, I felt like I knew her.
An inspiration, perhaps, for the older lady to reach for more than just the mundane life.
**I received an ARC of this book from the author, in return for my honest review**
A special thank you to Janet Kelly:
Oh Janet, thank you so much for being kind enough to send me one of the first review copies of your debut novel. It's such a lively, entertaining book and I absolutely devoured it!
aly36's review
4.0
This book is a very interesting look at a life after 60. A women that finds another love but is taken advantage of in a scam. She thinks it is all for her lover but in reality it is far worse. The book was so times funny and other times I was frustrated with the character in this book. I enjoyed I different type of book than I normally read. You should check it out! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
kiwimrsmac's review
5.0
For a book about a retired older woman, it was way more raunchy than I was anticipating! But that honestly made it more enjoyable to read. The juxtaposition of an older woman with an exciting active love life embarking on a crazy adventure kept me on the edge of my seat. Anything that could go wrong, did, and I spent the whole book wondering what on earth was going to happen next.
The book left me caring about the characters, even the criminals. Nothing like an embroidering Nigerian kidnapper to tug at your heartstrings!
The blurb of "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel meets Last Tango in Halifax" was pretty much what persuaded me to buy it, and I wasn't let down.
Loved it. An easy fun read for any woman.
The book left me caring about the characters, even the criminals. Nothing like an embroidering Nigerian kidnapper to tug at your heartstrings!
The blurb of "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel meets Last Tango in Halifax" was pretty much what persuaded me to buy it, and I wasn't let down.
Loved it. An easy fun read for any woman.
jackielaw's review
3.0
Dear Beneficiary, by Janet Kelly, is a modern farce about a woman of a certain age. The protagonist, Cynthia, had been ‘diligently married’ for forty years and is now rather enjoying widowhood. A brief affair with a much younger Nigerian man showed her that sex could be enjoyed, a revelation to this very proper housewife from Surrey. Although she was saddened when he had to return to his country it was also something of a relief as keeping him a secret from her family had been tricky at times, once involving several hours spent in a wardrobe.
She decided that to engage in modern life she should get on line so turned to her grandson for help. Excited by ‘the prospect of his certainly solvent if not well-off relative being encouraged to buy the latest technology’ she soon found herself the owner of a top of the range PC and smart phone, neither of which she can operate.
Almost immediately she is taken in by a Nigerian 419 scam which empties her bank account. Convinced that the money has been used legitimately by her former lover she ignores her bank manager’s attempts to help and decides to travel to Lagos to sort the matter out for herself, with unfortunate results.
The strength of this story lies in the author’s ability to show Cynthia’s many sides.
In some ways she is the foolish old woman that her family see her as with her inability to drive safely or operate technology but a stubborn refusal to recognise her limitations. She understands how she is seen by her children so often chooses not to tell them what is happening in her life.
She is vain and arrogant, expressing disdain for those her own age with their hobbies and sagging bodies. She is happy to believe her hairdresser when she exclaims at how young Cynthia looks, feeling smug about her skincare routine and regular swims. She preens herself and seeks compliments, feeling annoyed when others regard her as old.
Despite her aging, middle class conceits Cynthia is still an individual and wishes to make use of her remaining years. Having escaped the dullness of her married life and discovered that sex can be enjoyed she wishes to seek out lovers, accepting advances as the starving may accept food.
Cynthia is determined not to grow old without a fight and this determination comes to the fore when, in the direst of circumstances, she is required to plan a daring escape. Convinced of her own superiority she is surprised to discover that her companion, who she regards as brash and vulgar, has her own hidden strengths. Together they form an unlikely alliance.
The characterisations in this book are amusing with enough wit and wisdom to entertain. Ludicrous though some of the situations seem (as they should in a farce) I suspect that readers may be inspired to consider their aging relatives and friends anew.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the author.
She decided that to engage in modern life she should get on line so turned to her grandson for help. Excited by ‘the prospect of his certainly solvent if not well-off relative being encouraged to buy the latest technology’ she soon found herself the owner of a top of the range PC and smart phone, neither of which she can operate.
Almost immediately she is taken in by a Nigerian 419 scam which empties her bank account. Convinced that the money has been used legitimately by her former lover she ignores her bank manager’s attempts to help and decides to travel to Lagos to sort the matter out for herself, with unfortunate results.
The strength of this story lies in the author’s ability to show Cynthia’s many sides.
In some ways she is the foolish old woman that her family see her as with her inability to drive safely or operate technology but a stubborn refusal to recognise her limitations. She understands how she is seen by her children so often chooses not to tell them what is happening in her life.
She is vain and arrogant, expressing disdain for those her own age with their hobbies and sagging bodies. She is happy to believe her hairdresser when she exclaims at how young Cynthia looks, feeling smug about her skincare routine and regular swims. She preens herself and seeks compliments, feeling annoyed when others regard her as old.
Despite her aging, middle class conceits Cynthia is still an individual and wishes to make use of her remaining years. Having escaped the dullness of her married life and discovered that sex can be enjoyed she wishes to seek out lovers, accepting advances as the starving may accept food.
Cynthia is determined not to grow old without a fight and this determination comes to the fore when, in the direst of circumstances, she is required to plan a daring escape. Convinced of her own superiority she is surprised to discover that her companion, who she regards as brash and vulgar, has her own hidden strengths. Together they form an unlikely alliance.
The characterisations in this book are amusing with enough wit and wisdom to entertain. Ludicrous though some of the situations seem (as they should in a farce) I suspect that readers may be inspired to consider their aging relatives and friends anew.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the author.
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