1st Wednesday Book Group

 

At their August the 1st Wednesday Group discussed Kathy Lette’s Book

 

The Boy Who Fell to Earth

boy fell

Summary

Meet Merlin. He’s Lucy’s bright, beautiful son — who just happens to be autistic. Since Merlin’s father left them in the lurch shortly after his diagnosis, Lucy has made Merlin the centre of her world. Struggling with the joys and tribulations of raising her eccentrically adorable yet challenging child, (if only Merlin came with operating instructions) Lucy doesn’t have room for any other man in her life. By the time Merlin turns ten, Lucy is seriously worried that the Pope might start ringing her up for tips on celibacy, so resolves to dip a poorly pedicured toe back into the world of dating.

Thanks to Merlin’s candour and quirkiness, things don’t go quite to plan… Then, just when Lucy’s resigned to a life of singledom once more, Archie — the most imperfectly perfect man for her and her son — lands on her doorstep. But then, so does Merlin’s father, begging for forgiveness and a second chance. Does Lucy need a real father for Merlin — or a real partner for herself?

Groups Comments

  • A book with humour but the humour was laboured.
  • Lette trivialised a series subject.
  • Very humourous in parts, but insulting to the subject.
  • Glorified ‘Chicklit’. Lette doesn’t write serious books so this is typical of her style.
  • Interesting to follow her efforts to find suitable schooling for Merlin.
  • Didn’t finish the book, too many gags; became to monotonous.
  • Thought it was going to be about her own experience, about which she has written very well. This book was disappointing.
  • Enjoyed her sense of humour and the early part of the book but haven’t finished it.
  • The constant wise cracks were too much, however her pain in trying to help her son came through.
  • All of Lette’s characters are quite flawed. Her discriptions of them were very humourous.