Saturday 28 February 2015

A review of Cathy's Clown by Pam Howes - Five*

Blurb: 

When seventeen-year-old Cathy Lomax falls from a table at a Walker Brothers concert, into the arms of biker Gianni Kandola, the safe, secure future she'd planned for herself is about to change. The couple fall in love and Cathy's long-harbored dreams of becoming a nurse are no longer the most important thing in her life. Gianni's estranged father is the owner of Kandola's Fair and a Wall of Death rider. Gianni hopes one day to follow in his father's footsteps, but first bridges need to be built and family relationships are put to the test. Maria, the Gypsy fortune teller, foresees danger for Cathy and warns Gianni, who misreads the signs… A sixties tale of love against all the odds.




Review:

I enjoyed this book - loved the setting in the 60's. Brought back some wonderful memories. The characters were all well defined and the stepfather particularly vile.

The story revolves around Cathy and Gianni and their relationship. The book couldn't be set at any other time either - any young woman wanting to train as a nurse would have to leave immediately if they fell pregnant or married, there are unplanned pregnancies, the Pill is still only for married women, police belittling female crime victims, and the dilemma of a young woman wanting a career rather than marrying and relying on her husband. This is very understandable when we see her mother and stepfather's relationship. 

Motorbike riders without helmets sent shivers up my spine!

Pam doesn't hold back on graphic detail and there are some shocking descriptions which are definitely not for the faint-hearted! The events leading to the end of the book were unexpected. I was completely wrong footed and I love it when a book can do that!

I look forward to the second book in the series.

Amazon UK: Cathy's Clown

 

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