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Picking Up the Pieces
Liz, Bernie and Elsa have been friends since their days at St. Cecelia’s school. Their lives took very different paths but they all have found happiness in their own fashion. Liz is an independent career woman; Bernie a good Catholic mum with four sons and Elsa is supported by her wealthy ex-husband. Then, in the space of a few short weeks, everything they have taken for granted is swept away. Money, jobs and partners are all gone. How will they manage when their worlds are crumbling about their ears? Together Liz, Bernie and Elsa have to find novel ways of avoiding disaster. Picking up the Pieces is about friendship, cake and the mutual support that only lifelong friends can provide.
292 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 10, 2017
Picking Up The Pieces has been a lovely read.
Liz, Bernie and Elsa are in their fifties and have been friends forever. They are all very different characters, but very close and always there for each other. When they all find their once happy and settled lives falling apart around them, they know they can still rely on each other.
I love that the story starts with the three of them having afternoon tea at an expensive hotel together, before their lives change forever.
Liz has been teaching for 30 years and her current year 10's are a difficult bunch. They have no interest in learning and for some of them their only aim is to make Liz's life as miserable as possible. When one girl accuses her of head-butting her, Liz is suspended whilst the situation is investigated. It is a lie, of course, but the head teacher has never liked Liz and does nothing to support her. She is frustrated at the injustice of it all, but has no choice but to ride it out until she is proved innocent. I felt so sorry for Liz. To spend your life dedicated to trying to improve the prospects of the children you're teaching, only to have it all thrown back in your face by a spiteful teenager must be devastating.
Bernie is a good catholic wife and mother. She works part-time, but otherwise is cooking, cleaning and generally running around after her family. That is until her husband leaves her for a younger woman. Bernie's story is one we've all heard of many times. Teenage sweethearts marry young as they find themselves expecting a child, then years later, one or other of them find themselves wondering what they might have missed out on being 'tied down' so early on in their lives. Again I really felt for Bernie. A dedicated wife and mother left to fend for herself and her boys. I know I wouldn't cope well in her situation.
Elsa has lived the life of luxury, thanks to her wealthy ex-husband, but is soon to be homeless and penniless as her husband is set to lose everything. She is left with no choice but to stand on her own two feet, but who is going to employ a woman her age who has never had to work before? This is when she puts her head together with Liz's and Bernie's to try to come up with a business plan they can make a success of together. I felt less sorry for Elsa, but I liked her character all the same. It would be a shock to find yourself having to pawn jewellery to pay utility bills when you've never wanted for anything before in your life.
This is a lovely story of friendship which I am sure many readers will relate to. With very real characters, who I easily warmed to, I soon found myself immersed in their story, almost as if I was a fourth friend sharing their troubles with them and cheering them on as they moved on to happier times and a successful future ahead of them.
A big thank you to Misha Herwin for my paperback review copy. I am more than happy to recommend.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
Liz, Bernie and Elsa are in their fifties and have been friends forever. They are all very different characters, but very close and always there for each other. When they all find their once happy and settled lives falling apart around them, they know they can still rely on each other.
I love that the story starts with the three of them having afternoon tea at an expensive hotel together, before their lives change forever.
Liz has been teaching for 30 years and her current year 10's are a difficult bunch. They have no interest in learning and for some of them their only aim is to make Liz's life as miserable as possible. When one girl accuses her of head-butting her, Liz is suspended whilst the situation is investigated. It is a lie, of course, but the head teacher has never liked Liz and does nothing to support her. She is frustrated at the injustice of it all, but has no choice but to ride it out until she is proved innocent. I felt so sorry for Liz. To spend your life dedicated to trying to improve the prospects of the children you're teaching, only to have it all thrown back in your face by a spiteful teenager must be devastating.
Bernie is a good catholic wife and mother. She works part-time, but otherwise is cooking, cleaning and generally running around after her family. That is until her husband leaves her for a younger woman. Bernie's story is one we've all heard of many times. Teenage sweethearts marry young as they find themselves expecting a child, then years later, one or other of them find themselves wondering what they might have missed out on being 'tied down' so early on in their lives. Again I really felt for Bernie. A dedicated wife and mother left to fend for herself and her boys. I know I wouldn't cope well in her situation.
Elsa has lived the life of luxury, thanks to her wealthy ex-husband, but is soon to be homeless and penniless as her husband is set to lose everything. She is left with no choice but to stand on her own two feet, but who is going to employ a woman her age who has never had to work before? This is when she puts her head together with Liz's and Bernie's to try to come up with a business plan they can make a success of together. I felt less sorry for Elsa, but I liked her character all the same. It would be a shock to find yourself having to pawn jewellery to pay utility bills when you've never wanted for anything before in your life.
This is a lovely story of friendship which I am sure many readers will relate to. With very real characters, who I easily warmed to, I soon found myself immersed in their story, almost as if I was a fourth friend sharing their troubles with them and cheering them on as they moved on to happier times and a successful future ahead of them.
A big thank you to Misha Herwin for my paperback review copy. I am more than happy to recommend.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
June 10, 2016
This is an interesting book that charts 18 months in lives of three very normal but very different women in Bristol. I started off disliking the character of Elsa and liking Bernie and by the final few chapters my thinking had reversed. Liz is the character for me that held the book together and she's so well written and her ending for me was the best; not the resolution of her personal dilemma but the appearance of her daughter.
I've read quite a few of Ms Herwin's books and think she has such a charmed way of writing, she can make so much of a simple situation but coming at it from another angle. For example this sentence is so well crafted: 'But she couldn't concentrate. Every time she opened a book, the words danced on the page. Like beads in a child's kaleidoscope they rearranged themselves.'
It's definitely a book aimed towards the female market and that's okay but it's not frothy and floaty like some chick-lit, and any red-bloodied male could get into thsi and maybe take something from it.
I wasn't too keen on the religious references and that's my only reason for the 4 stars rather than 5 and that's just down to personal taste.
My favourite line in the book was: Her control pants were digging in something cruel' how many women will associate with that line. It's a perfect example of an experienced author connecting with her intended readership.
I've read quite a few of Ms Herwin's books and think she has such a charmed way of writing, she can make so much of a simple situation but coming at it from another angle. For example this sentence is so well crafted: 'But she couldn't concentrate. Every time she opened a book, the words danced on the page. Like beads in a child's kaleidoscope they rearranged themselves.'
It's definitely a book aimed towards the female market and that's okay but it's not frothy and floaty like some chick-lit, and any red-bloodied male could get into thsi and maybe take something from it.
I wasn't too keen on the religious references and that's my only reason for the 4 stars rather than 5 and that's just down to personal taste.
My favourite line in the book was: Her control pants were digging in something cruel' how many women will associate with that line. It's a perfect example of an experienced author connecting with her intended readership.
August 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this book, although not in the same age range as the main characters I can totally sympathise and empathise with their situations. Following the three friends and their lives I was most sympathetic to Liz, possibly as she is a teacher and having worked in secondary schools myself I understand the horrible things that can happen. However, I do think that anyone reading the book would easily connect with one of the characters.
The read is very easy, it's pacy and really hard to put down!
The read is very easy, it's pacy and really hard to put down!
April 16, 2021
I enjoy reading books by new authors and Misha Herwin’s work is fresh to me. Once started, I found this a quick enjoyable read. The three main characters are rounded and memorable and there is significant development with their lives by the end. Whilst I would have loved more angst/suffering for the women, the plot is well structured. The narrative voice is excellent and dialogue perfectly pitched. If you like well written chick-lit books with memorable characters, then this one is definitely recommended.
August 30, 2016
Liz, Elsa and Bernie where inseparable as school friends but have gone on to lead very different lives and reached their middle years more of less content with their various lots. Liz as a teacher, Elsa as a society queen and Bernie the good catholic mother to a tribe of sons. Then, as life does, all three find their worlds collapsing around their ears at the same time. The three women find the only people they can rely on are each other.
Saying what their problems are and how they go about fixing them would be a huge spoiler. All you need know is that the focus of this book is about friendships and lasting bonds that hardship can forge.
A good read!
Saying what their problems are and how they go about fixing them would be a huge spoiler. All you need know is that the focus of this book is about friendships and lasting bonds that hardship can forge.
A good read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews