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Pondweed
Two sixty-something childhood sweethearts take a trip via pints, ponds and pitstops to find their future on a road very less travelled from Stoke-on-Trent to Wales.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 30, 2020
I read this very quickly much quicker than Selwyn and Ginny’s journey from Stoke to Wales. This is the third book of Lisa’s that I’ve read, and they continue to grow in richness and depth, much like the contents of one of Selwyn’s pond experiments. If you haven’t read Sitting Ducks or It’s All Gone Dark Over Bill’s Mother’s House, you really should.
Pondweed concerns itself with Ginny and Selwyn an unusual couple who were neighbours in their teens and have met again in their late 60’s and early 70’s with Selwyn being the slightly older and supposedly wiser of the two. Ginny is our unreliable narrator who steers us through the present via the past and who has a larder full of secrets that are gradually revealed along their journey.
Pondweed starts when Selwyn arrives home early from work and instructs Ginny to pack her bags as they’re going on holiday to Wales. Try as she might she cannot get the reason for this impromptu break or their final destination. This book is all about language, the words the characters use and the economy and finesse with which Blower uses them to convey a situation or a character. At one-point Selwyn and Ginny stay in a grim room at a pub called The Swan with Two Necks,
“The room is dissatisfying and small. The door opens onto the double bed with its feeble white duvet, and there’s a window above the bed, with curtains that don’t meet in the middle.”
Brief, concise and crisp – much crisper than the sheets on the bed.
Throughout the book, we are treated to quotes from Selwyn Robby’s The Great Necessity of Ponds. I found these quotes interesting for several reasons. Firstly, I’d just dug, lined and filled a pond in my garden so any tips are greatly received but more importantly it was a glimpse at Selwyn’s inner life and his lifelong passion, and they often reflected what was going on in the book. This quote from the beginning of The Tenth Day chapter could equally relate to Ginny and Selwyn’s journey and relationship,
“Water beetles can fly, and they readily leave the pond, usually at night, to indulge in long flights in search of possibility. During the course, they occasionally mistake the wet road for a stretch of water and come to grief.”
At the beginning, I found myself siding with Ginny dragged away from home with no real explanation, chance encounter after chance encounter leading her to correctly assume there’s a method in Selwyn’s madness, but as their journey progressed it was Selwyn I started to side with as Ginny projected her distrust upon Selwyn’s actions.
There’s lots to love in this book. The two main characters are expertly realised as is Ginny’s mother, Meg and the mysterious Bluebird as well as the caravan with its optics and fish in the glass pedestal of a washbasin which, with its shedding of letters and weird plumping is almost another character in its own right. The convoluted car journey mirrors Ginny and Selwyn’s romance, of sorts, and is realised with craft and precision. I loved losing myself in this book with its attention to character and place, real characters and real places, and I’m sure you will do too.
Pondweed concerns itself with Ginny and Selwyn an unusual couple who were neighbours in their teens and have met again in their late 60’s and early 70’s with Selwyn being the slightly older and supposedly wiser of the two. Ginny is our unreliable narrator who steers us through the present via the past and who has a larder full of secrets that are gradually revealed along their journey.
Pondweed starts when Selwyn arrives home early from work and instructs Ginny to pack her bags as they’re going on holiday to Wales. Try as she might she cannot get the reason for this impromptu break or their final destination. This book is all about language, the words the characters use and the economy and finesse with which Blower uses them to convey a situation or a character. At one-point Selwyn and Ginny stay in a grim room at a pub called The Swan with Two Necks,
“The room is dissatisfying and small. The door opens onto the double bed with its feeble white duvet, and there’s a window above the bed, with curtains that don’t meet in the middle.”
Brief, concise and crisp – much crisper than the sheets on the bed.
Throughout the book, we are treated to quotes from Selwyn Robby’s The Great Necessity of Ponds. I found these quotes interesting for several reasons. Firstly, I’d just dug, lined and filled a pond in my garden so any tips are greatly received but more importantly it was a glimpse at Selwyn’s inner life and his lifelong passion, and they often reflected what was going on in the book. This quote from the beginning of The Tenth Day chapter could equally relate to Ginny and Selwyn’s journey and relationship,
“Water beetles can fly, and they readily leave the pond, usually at night, to indulge in long flights in search of possibility. During the course, they occasionally mistake the wet road for a stretch of water and come to grief.”
At the beginning, I found myself siding with Ginny dragged away from home with no real explanation, chance encounter after chance encounter leading her to correctly assume there’s a method in Selwyn’s madness, but as their journey progressed it was Selwyn I started to side with as Ginny projected her distrust upon Selwyn’s actions.
There’s lots to love in this book. The two main characters are expertly realised as is Ginny’s mother, Meg and the mysterious Bluebird as well as the caravan with its optics and fish in the glass pedestal of a washbasin which, with its shedding of letters and weird plumping is almost another character in its own right. The convoluted car journey mirrors Ginny and Selwyn’s romance, of sorts, and is realised with craft and precision. I loved losing myself in this book with its attention to character and place, real characters and real places, and I’m sure you will do too.
July 24, 2020
Loved Lisa’s short stories in ‘Its gone dark over Bill’s Mother’s’. Pond Weed proves she has the ability to do the same intriguing story line in a full novel. Simple ordinary folk tell their life stories in a page turning narrative full of surprises.
A joy to read.
A joy to read.
June 21, 2021
Pondweed - Lisa Blower
‘Do you never listen to a word I say?’ He gives me a look that would curdle milk.’
Selwyn Robby, pond supplies salesman, arrives home with the Aquatics caravan and says to his ‘like-wife’ Ginny Dare - get in we’re going to Wales. No explanation, nothing. I’d have a bit of a meltdown if that was me so Ginny duly does and more so when she discovers he’s lost all his retirement fund to the pond company…frankly I’d have gone ballistic. Selwyn appears to have taken the caravan as recompense.
Off they set on a road trip, a love story in the slow lane on a journey of self discovery.
Oh my word Selwyn, at the start I just wanted to punch him, rude, annoying, bossy, pushy, I didn’t like him much. Ginny is super frustrated but equally to blame I think as they don’t talk to each other and this is the root of a lot of their problems.
Ginny narrates the story via the past - initially I couldn’t get to grips with Selwyn, but as the story progressed I began to feel a bit sorry for him as he is constantly under the cosh from Ginny, who seems up for a bit of a constant fight!
Slowly the reasons why he is doing as he does unfurl and begin to make sense.
‘He blames the pondweed.’
It’s lovely to read the stops and starts, the misunderstandings and the real characters of this story. It is exasperating and charming in equal measure and I was chuckling in places.
These are two people who loved and were apart, were meant to be together but they don’t know how to be together. They are trying to figure out the reasons for a tragedy, looking to their roots, and regrets, trading in bickering insults. Gradually on this trip, through meeting people and many weird and funny situations they learn about each other, the lives they led apart and what brought them back to each other.
A gentle love story with added caravans, of two ordinary people, learning to love each other. Sweet, funny, poignant and surprising.
[AD-PR PRODUCT]
Thanks to Ed. PR for my copy of this book
‘Do you never listen to a word I say?’ He gives me a look that would curdle milk.’
Selwyn Robby, pond supplies salesman, arrives home with the Aquatics caravan and says to his ‘like-wife’ Ginny Dare - get in we’re going to Wales. No explanation, nothing. I’d have a bit of a meltdown if that was me so Ginny duly does and more so when she discovers he’s lost all his retirement fund to the pond company…frankly I’d have gone ballistic. Selwyn appears to have taken the caravan as recompense.
Off they set on a road trip, a love story in the slow lane on a journey of self discovery.
Oh my word Selwyn, at the start I just wanted to punch him, rude, annoying, bossy, pushy, I didn’t like him much. Ginny is super frustrated but equally to blame I think as they don’t talk to each other and this is the root of a lot of their problems.
Ginny narrates the story via the past - initially I couldn’t get to grips with Selwyn, but as the story progressed I began to feel a bit sorry for him as he is constantly under the cosh from Ginny, who seems up for a bit of a constant fight!
Slowly the reasons why he is doing as he does unfurl and begin to make sense.
‘He blames the pondweed.’
It’s lovely to read the stops and starts, the misunderstandings and the real characters of this story. It is exasperating and charming in equal measure and I was chuckling in places.
These are two people who loved and were apart, were meant to be together but they don’t know how to be together. They are trying to figure out the reasons for a tragedy, looking to their roots, and regrets, trading in bickering insults. Gradually on this trip, through meeting people and many weird and funny situations they learn about each other, the lives they led apart and what brought them back to each other.
A gentle love story with added caravans, of two ordinary people, learning to love each other. Sweet, funny, poignant and surprising.
[AD-PR PRODUCT]
Thanks to Ed. PR for my copy of this book
July 14, 2021
🌟3.5 🌟
Initially it was the cover of this book that caught my eye and left me wanting to know more. Pondweed follows Selwyn and Ginny on a journey and we are straight into this journey from the first few pages. One day, Selywn unexpectedly arrives home with the Acquatics exhibition caravan from his work and announces to Ginny that she should quickly pack her things and get in the car. There's no explanation forthcoming, just that they are off on holiday.
What has happened for Selywn to be in possession of the caravan?
Selwyn and Ginny are an unusual couple, neighbours as trend and then meeting again in later life. I also found them a frustrating couple too.
There is little communication between the laid and what is said between them is full of misunderstanding, misinterpretation and miscommunication. This is the premise for the couple's relationship journey, told as Ginny being the narrator. It's certainly complicated and tangled very much like Pondweed itself!
I found this a really enjoyable read. Communication is definitely the key!
Initially it was the cover of this book that caught my eye and left me wanting to know more. Pondweed follows Selwyn and Ginny on a journey and we are straight into this journey from the first few pages. One day, Selywn unexpectedly arrives home with the Acquatics exhibition caravan from his work and announces to Ginny that she should quickly pack her things and get in the car. There's no explanation forthcoming, just that they are off on holiday.
What has happened for Selywn to be in possession of the caravan?
Selwyn and Ginny are an unusual couple, neighbours as trend and then meeting again in later life. I also found them a frustrating couple too.
There is little communication between the laid and what is said between them is full of misunderstanding, misinterpretation and miscommunication. This is the premise for the couple's relationship journey, told as Ginny being the narrator. It's certainly complicated and tangled very much like Pondweed itself!
I found this a really enjoyable read. Communication is definitely the key!
July 14, 2021
🌟3.5 🌟
Initially it was the cover of this book that caught my eye and left me wanting to know more. Pondweed follows Selwyn and Ginny on a journey and we are straight into this journey from the first few pages. One day, Selywn unexpectedly arrives home with the Acquatics exhibition caravan from his work and announces to Ginny that she should quickly pack her things and get in the car. There's no explanation forthcoming, just that they are off on holiday.
What has happened for Selywn to be in possession of the caravan?
Selwyn and Ginny are a. Undual couple, neighbours as trend and then meeting again in later life. I also found them a frustrating couple too.
There is little communication between the laid and what is said between them is full of misunderstanding, misinterpretation and miscommunication. This is the premise for the couple's relationship journey, told as Ginny being the narrator. It's certainly complicated and tangled very much like Pondweed itself!
I found this a really enjoyable read. Communication is definitely the key!
Initially it was the cover of this book that caught my eye and left me wanting to know more. Pondweed follows Selwyn and Ginny on a journey and we are straight into this journey from the first few pages. One day, Selywn unexpectedly arrives home with the Acquatics exhibition caravan from his work and announces to Ginny that she should quickly pack her things and get in the car. There's no explanation forthcoming, just that they are off on holiday.
What has happened for Selywn to be in possession of the caravan?
Selwyn and Ginny are a. Undual couple, neighbours as trend and then meeting again in later life. I also found them a frustrating couple too.
There is little communication between the laid and what is said between them is full of misunderstanding, misinterpretation and miscommunication. This is the premise for the couple's relationship journey, told as Ginny being the narrator. It's certainly complicated and tangled very much like Pondweed itself!
I found this a really enjoyable read. Communication is definitely the key!
August 23, 2020
'Pond Weed' follows two childhood sweethearts - Ginny and Selwyn- on a road trip from Stoke-on-Trent to Wales, after Selywn turns up at their house with a stolen company caravan. It's a strange set up but Blower wastes no time jumping into the story. However I found that it quickly lost momentum - a journey that should take a couple of hours takes over a week, with a number of unexplained detours and unanswered questions. I found Selywn such an infuriating character that, if I were Ginny, I would have barrel rolled so quickly out of that caravan. I only made it half way through the book and it seems like Selwyn does redeem himself by the end, but I didn't feel compelled to finish it.
July 15, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for letting me take part in the blog tour!
Pondweed follows Selwyn Robby and his ‘like-wife’ Ginny Dare, as they take a spontaneous trip to Wales at Selwyn’s request.
On the road trip the newly co-habiting 60-somethings will have the chance to learn more about each other and it soon turns into a surprising journey of self-discovery.
This book was a nice lighthearted summer read which started off quite slow, but definitely gained momentum towards the end and made me want to know about the ‘secrets’ that this couple are keeping from each other. They are brought together by the many events that happen on their road trip, which makes them reflect upon what made them drift apart all those years ago.
I’d recommend this to people who are looking for a romance story with a difference!
Pondweed by Lisa Blower is out now, published by Myriad Editions in paperback priced at £8.99
Pondweed follows Selwyn Robby and his ‘like-wife’ Ginny Dare, as they take a spontaneous trip to Wales at Selwyn’s request.
On the road trip the newly co-habiting 60-somethings will have the chance to learn more about each other and it soon turns into a surprising journey of self-discovery.
This book was a nice lighthearted summer read which started off quite slow, but definitely gained momentum towards the end and made me want to know about the ‘secrets’ that this couple are keeping from each other. They are brought together by the many events that happen on their road trip, which makes them reflect upon what made them drift apart all those years ago.
I’d recommend this to people who are looking for a romance story with a difference!
Pondweed by Lisa Blower is out now, published by Myriad Editions in paperback priced at £8.99
May 16, 2021
Great book. Great writing with wonderful turns of phrase throughout. I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters and the bizarre plot. Lots of Laugh out loud moments against grittier sad reflective thoughts about relationships and the nature of happiness.
July 3, 2020
3.5 🌟
Review soon
Review soon
December 1, 2021
A strange book about some very odd people. I had a hard time finishing it and didn't find any reward in having done so.
April 5, 2023
I can see why it's highly rated but for me.... Didn't appeal. Didn't finish it.
October 27, 2023
Fabulous writing, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed the journey more if Selwyn had at least given us a hint of what he was up to in the setup stages.
May 23, 2021
I bought this for the Stoke-on-Trent setting but I devoured it because of the writing. Thoroughly recommend.
June 25, 2020
Slippery, subterranean and tenacious: like its namesake, I found this novel difficult to get to grips with. It reveals itself gradually, sometimes confusingly - even misleadingly - and yet, if you can stick with it, the storyline eventually coalesces.
The two main characters are Selwyn - a pond salesman who’s just been done dirty by his business partner - and Ginny, a former shoe fitter. (The professions of both characters have symbolic meaning in the plot, and in Selwyn’s case, provides the entire thematic structure of the book.) Selwyn and Ginny are somewhere between late middle age and early old age, just on the verge of retirement. They live in Stoke-on-Trent, where they were briefly neighbours as teens - both of them only children living with single mothers. After fifty years, their paths have crossed again. Ginny is now living with Selwyn, although so far she has resisted his marriage proposals.
As the book begins, Selwyn has learned that his business partner has gambled and lost the £30,000 stake in the ‘Toogood Aquatics’ business which was supposed to be his pension. As retaliation, Selwyn has made off with a caravan, various pond equipment and an assortment of fish. Without advance warning or explanation, he tells Ginny they are off on a ‘road trip’ to Wales.
On this road trip, as with the characters’ lives, there are many false starts, diversions and unfortunate incidents along the way. Communication between Selwyn and Ginny is fraught with misunderstandings and freighted with the past. Only gradually, for both Ginny - who narrates the story - and the reader, do Selwyn’s actions and side trips start making any sense.
It’s a very unromantic sort of romance, punctuated with lots of pub meals and frustrating, puzzling encounters. The characters obviously share some sort of bond, but most of the time it seems too tenuous to hold. The narration is a series of miscommunications. And yet, by the end, I felt entangled in Ginny and Selwyn’s story - so strangely exotic and mundane.
Thanks to Myriad Editions for my free copy of this book.
The two main characters are Selwyn - a pond salesman who’s just been done dirty by his business partner - and Ginny, a former shoe fitter. (The professions of both characters have symbolic meaning in the plot, and in Selwyn’s case, provides the entire thematic structure of the book.) Selwyn and Ginny are somewhere between late middle age and early old age, just on the verge of retirement. They live in Stoke-on-Trent, where they were briefly neighbours as teens - both of them only children living with single mothers. After fifty years, their paths have crossed again. Ginny is now living with Selwyn, although so far she has resisted his marriage proposals.
As the book begins, Selwyn has learned that his business partner has gambled and lost the £30,000 stake in the ‘Toogood Aquatics’ business which was supposed to be his pension. As retaliation, Selwyn has made off with a caravan, various pond equipment and an assortment of fish. Without advance warning or explanation, he tells Ginny they are off on a ‘road trip’ to Wales.
On this road trip, as with the characters’ lives, there are many false starts, diversions and unfortunate incidents along the way. Communication between Selwyn and Ginny is fraught with misunderstandings and freighted with the past. Only gradually, for both Ginny - who narrates the story - and the reader, do Selwyn’s actions and side trips start making any sense.
It’s a very unromantic sort of romance, punctuated with lots of pub meals and frustrating, puzzling encounters. The characters obviously share some sort of bond, but most of the time it seems too tenuous to hold. The narration is a series of miscommunications. And yet, by the end, I felt entangled in Ginny and Selwyn’s story - so strangely exotic and mundane.
Thanks to Myriad Editions for my free copy of this book.
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