A Parallel Life

by Ruth Hamilton

The members of the eccentric Compton-Milnes household act more like strangers than family. Despite having multiple sclerosis, the elder matriarch, Hermione, controls the household and insists on a Tuesday morning family breakfast. Her son, Gus, a reclusive but brilliant professor, and daughter-in-law Lisa, a foolishly promiscuous cosmetic surgery addict, remain married, but without much of a relationship. Their two grown children, Ben and Harriet, are also under the same roof, yet miles apart from the rest of the family. Ben’s OCD keeps him from facing the world, while his sister Harriet sacrifices her own desires in order to take care of him.
 
Lisa’s series of poorly chosen affairs finally catches up to her when she accidentally becomes friends with her latest lover’s wife. When he turns on her, the family is forced to pull together for the very first time if they are to survive with any degree of sanity.

Genres: Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Ruth Hamilton was one of North West England's most popular writers. She was the bestselling author of twenty-five novels, including Spinning Jenny, The Bells of Scotland Road, Mulligan's Yard, Mersey View and That Liverpool Girl. She was born in Bolton, which is the setting for many of her novels, and spent most of her life in Lancashire.

(source: http://www.panmacmillan.com/author/ru...)

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This started out a little slow for me but ended up really good. I'm glad I stuck with it. :)

[Anissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot going on in this story.

Hermione as the head of the household, Harriet with her new love and her concern for her brother.

Lisa with her affair, her relationship with her boyfriends wife and her renewal of motherhood.

Gus with his secret child and his detachment from everyone.

I did enjoy the book, but I would have preferred a little less activity and more details on the scenarios left.

[Paula Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found that the author spent so much time setting up the characters and story line and then fell short. It just wrapped up too quickly without really giving the reader enough to make the characters and the readers that was deserved

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining cast of characters in a semi-dysfunctional family trying to do the right thing.

[Dilys Myhill · Rating 2 out of 5]

slow but readable.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed listening to this in the car, made me laugh