Thursdays in the Park by Hilary Boyd

I’m fast coming to the realization that, at least this year, I may not write even short book notes about all the books I’ve read. It’s still possible, but not probable. You may have noticed that I have been posting a little more often. Last month Margaret began working part-time. It is wonderful for her and for Hazel Nina. She works only three days a week. One of those days is Saturday which is a lovely daddy - daughter day. And the other two days, we take care of Hazel. This is quite a change from four days a week. That left us three days to clean the house and do other various chores and visit with Campbell Walker. Now there are five days, and though it is still busy I am beginning to find my way back to blogging - both writing mine and visiting yours. Being just up the road, we still see Hazel very often, which is so wonderful. And we have been seeing Campbell and his new brother, Indy Thomas as much as possible. 

I so appreciate the support and loyalty of my dear readers. You’ve stopped by and left me notes, even though I have so rarely had the time to visit you over the past year or so. Thank you very much.

Without further ado, I’m going to write a bit about a book I just finished today. 

Thursdays in the Park   

by Hilary Boyd

fiction 2011

finished 8/10/15

I’ve been wracking my brain trying to remember who first told me about this book. I do know that I ordered it as a used copy from England, and have had it a few years. 

I really enjoyed it. I haven’t read any modern English fiction for quite a while. This one featured someone around my age, which was a treat. It is a romance of sorts, but also quite a realistic view of family life and a long marriage. Jeanie's husband George is quite controlling, and it isn’t in her nature to really protest. She kind of slips through life according to his plans. He isn’t really horrible, though I wouldn’t have stayed with him a minute! On Thursdays she brings her little granddaughter to the park, and happens to meet a grandfather with his grandson. They all get along famously, and Jeanie begins to have feelings towards Ray that she hasn’t felt for her husband in a long time, if ever. And they are reciprocated. But falling in love in one’s sixties is not quite as clearcut as earlier in life when there is no family involved. Jeanie has a daughter with whom she is very close, and a son-in-law who mostly drives her crazy, and her beloved granddaughter, Ellie. Hilary Boyd’s descriptions of the way Jeanie feels toward this little girl were my favorite parts of the book because they express exactly how I feel about my three darlings. When she first meets Ray, he says:

‘Odd thing, grandchildren,’ the man said, gazing after the boy. ‘I didn’t think it would be such a big deal. But I find he means everything to me.’

‘I know… I know what you mean,’ she found herself replying, because she too had been overwhelmed by her feelings for her granddaughter since the first moment she’d held Ellie in her arms. It had literally been love at first sight. … ‘It’s a bit like a drug,’ she went on. ‘If I don’t see her for a couple of days I get withdrawal symptoms.’ She laughed, shy suddenly, in a very British way, about the strength of her feelings. Because she hadn’t been one of those mothers who pester their offspring to make them a grandmother.

The writing is good and the book flows making the reader not want to put it down. It isn’t always bright and breezy but it is so true, so honest about family relationships and individual situations. I really found it quite wonderful and heartily recommend it.