Misadventures by Sylvia Smith
Part memoir, part comic monologue, this is an ensemble of mishaps and anecdotes that, taken together, reveals the ups and downs of one woman's life. Relentlessly self-deprecating, Sylvia Smith's diary at first seems to relay the humdrum, everydayness of living, yet it steadily gains momentum as a darker undertone gathers force. Interspersed between humorous tales of first-date disasters and "get-rich-quick" schemes gone awry, the reader is thrown off-balance by the loss of sexual innocence and a pervading sense of loneliness. As Sylvia stumbles from one temporary job to another, and through a variety of furnished flats, her deadpan delivery is shot through with moments of sandpaper-dry wit.
This is the nicest, wisest and funniest book I have read for agesI sat up till 1.30am and read it all the way through, giggling happily. -- Helen Fielding, author of Bridget Jones' Diary
it's a curiously refreshing twist on the memoir * * Time Out * *
Sometimes sad, often funny, sometimes merely staggering in its banality - moreover, unquestionably well-written - the one think this book never feels is 'ordinary'. * * New Statesman * *
tipped to become this year's bestseller. * * The Week * *
it's a curiously refreshing twist on the memoir * * Time Out * *
Sometimes sad, often funny, sometimes merely staggering in its banality - moreover, unquestionably well-written - the one think this book never feels is 'ordinary'. * * New Statesman * *
tipped to become this year's bestseller. * * The Week * *
Born in East London to working-class parents as the Second World War was drawing to a close, SYLVIA SMITH ducked out of a career in hairdressing at the last minute to begin a life of office work. She is unmarried with no children. A driving licence and a school swimming certificate are her only qualifications, although she is also quite good at dressmaking. Misadventures is her first book. She lives in London
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781841952079 |
| ISBN 10 | 1841952079 |
| Title | Misadventures |
| Author | Sylvia Smith |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Canongate Books |
| Year published | 2001-10-26 |
| Number of pages | 256 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |