Two Times Twenty by Bethan Darwin

Two Times Twenty by Bethan Darwin
Buy Two Times Twenty by Bethan Darwin at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: General Fiction
Reviewer: Louise Laurie
Summary: The big event is approaching fast for the main character, Anna - her fortieth birthday. Darwin takes us back over Anna's life with all its ups and downs, good times and bad times, in the company of her family and friends.
Buy? Maybe	Borrow? Maybe
Pages: 288	Date: October 2010
Publisher: Honno
ISBN: 978-1906784232
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You can tell from the beginning of this novel that you're in Wales. The young Anna (as we travel back in time) is meeting what will be long-term friends, Bob and Jane. We find Anna rather proudly introducing her two young sons and Bob butting in with Duw, good-sized boys for their age ... Make good rugby players one day. But the Welsh location and all things Welsh is given a subtle touch.

The first couple of chapters are all about Anna and her family. One person appears to be missing from this happy domestic scene though. She's living a normal life, doing a normal job and residing in a normal house. She's a tad dull and Darwin gives us an awful lot of domestic detail which pads out the story. Anna's daily routine, what the children like for breakfast etc. Cosy reading up to a point, I suppose. And the dull Anna can also add 'frumpy' to her personal profile as all her friends are far more glamorous and interesting than she is. For example, one is a capable Nigella-Goddess-type while at the same time cheerily coping with a disabled husband. Another is a hot-shot lawyer living the fast life in London. But the pull of her Welsh roots is strong. She's always back at home for something or other.

In amongst all of this descriptive text there's a nice thread of gentle humour. Knock-about verbal banter amongst the girls. Even although now they are middle-aged. Ironically, the main character made the least favourable impression on me. I much preferred feisty Glynis, the lawyer. She was given some terrific lines by Darwin. Sharp and witty.

Alongside Anna's excitement of arranging everything for her big, special day, the reader is taken right back in time. To when, as an innocent teenager set to go to university, she meets up with Mack, the love of her life. Darwin does a good job with Mack. He's gorgeous. But I kept wondering what he saw in the rather plain, gauche Anna. All the local girls fancy him like mad and all the Welsh mothers want to lock up their daughters. Anna's life changes dramatically. But, for the better? Well, that's for you to decide. I've already made my mind up.

A lot of time is spent on the teen years. The angst of first love and the awkwardness of that 'first time'. The plot rolls along on a gentle simmer. And if you enjoy a nice, gentle read then you'll enjoy this book. I suppose at the end of the day, it's all about the choices we make in life. Being brave to make the right ones, hopefully. We're accompanying Anna on her life journey from around the age of twenty to the big 4 - 0 (hence the title of the book). I'm sure many readers will identify with characters in this story. I enjoyed it, but I like characters and the plot a little punchier, a little less predictable. I also feel that Darwin could have been a little braver and given her readers a more pronounced flavour of Wales.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

If this book appeals we can recommend The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Two Times Twenty by Bethan Darwin at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Two Times Twenty by Bethan Darwin at Amazon.com.

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