Mammy Walsh’s A-Z of the Walsh Family By Marian Keyes
Goodreads Blurb:It’s the perfect re-introduction to the Walsh family, featured in Marian’s bestselling novels about the Walsh sisters, Watermelon, Rachel’s Holiday, Angels, Anybody Out There and The Mystery of Mercy Close.
Goodreads Review: A very funny book set in what I can only presume is an alternative universe for the Walsh Family. And I shall dub this ‘verse the “Moses-verse”.
Goodreads Blurb: Mary, the bookish ugly duckling of Pride and Prejudice’s five Bennet sisters, emerges from the shadows and transforms into a desired woman with choices of her own.
Bubbles doesn’t have good self-esteem. She judges herself harshly for any self-serving thought.
Excerpt: And then I have another terrible thought: I really hope I don’t get him as a partner in pas de deux. I need to catch up. I can’t be helping someone else, though I would sort of love to help him, to be the one to do that. See what an utterly confused and selfish person I am?
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
Yes, famous people often work at the castle. There’s actress Amalphia Treadwell, dancer Aleksandr Zolotov, and the most famous of all, too wondrous to ever be described, Crispin Truelove.
Excerpt: I stop. I can hear my heart beating in the quiet that follows my speech. Why didn’t I stop earlier? They didn’t need me to say all that. I didn’t need me to say all that.
“Bravo.” The voice is quiet which is odd because I’m sure it was Crispin Truelove’s voice which usually carries into every corner of the castle and surrounding area with no mechanical help.
It was him. He steps forward into the light, just in front of the stage. “Very well done, Serena. Could you now go and sit on that rock for us?”
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
Of course, though, as is often the way with my stories, things are not quite what they seem.
Excerpt: “Hi, I’m Aiden,” he says. He’s American. He holds out his hand.
I, apparently having magically floated across the floor to him, take his hand and shake it.
Shiny-tree boy, American Aiden, speaks again: “I’m Crispin Truelove’s love child and your new classmate.” He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it.
And now, like Henry, I’m in love too.
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
Everyone’s most disliked teacher is Aileen who takes the second years for morning ballet.
Excerpt: “Serena,” continues Aileen, “you need to neaten up your appearance considerably. These rat tails are completely unacceptable in my class.” And then she touches one of my – carefully teased out to look pretty – bits of loose hair. She pokes it like it’s something dirty and nasty, and tears spring to my eyes. I realise it’s pathetic, the tears, but her words have made me feel small and stupid and—
“What did you just say to Bubbles?” demands Alexander, wearing his usual trackies. I’ve never once seen him in tights. Well maybe once. On TV last year, I think. Having a costume fitted, I think.
“Did you just pull her hair?” adds Clinton, glaring at Aileen.
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
Unlike Ariel, Bubbles doesn’t have the healthiest relationship with food. She believes she needs to be thinner than she is, and favours salads for meals. When she’s feeling rebellious, she tends towards chocolate and sugar, as she will do after this scene:
I choose one of his own words as an answer to all these commands. I say it repeatedly, mindlessly, with no expression in my voice.
No cake: “Absolutely.”
No boys: “Absolutely.”
Last year, our morning class teacher Guy (Australian) told us that British people are incapable of saying the word ‘absolutely’ without sounding sarcastic. It’s true. Try it. Or imagine it being said in a British accent. So I’m not really lying. I’m just being sarcastic.
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
Bubbles wants everything to be boring this year at the castle to help her stay well-balanced and calm.
Excerpt: It’s going to be the most boring year of my life. I’m very determined about that. You know, it’s not going to be like last year. This time there’ll be no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No hospital stays. No meltdowns. There’s nothing to see here! Move it along!
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
Near the beginning of the story, Bubbles would say Aiden is her favourite person, the new student at the school. As to who it really is, the reader will see that expressed in various ways throughout the story, and they may work it out before Bubbles herself.
Excerpt: Okay. I like this. I know that this is so that she and I can talk in private. Like the besties we are. But the moment we are out of earshot of the great hall and into the kitchen passageway, she starts giving me a hard time.
“Don’t you go fancying him,” she says.
“I don’t fancy him.”
“You do.”
I shrug. It’s probably not a good idea to state that this goes beyond fancying and that I’ve actually fallen in love with Aiden. Love at first sight. Instalove.
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
Her favourite family members would be her little sister, Jasmine, and her mum. She’s close with both of them.
Excerpt: I hold the posh black handbag in my hands as I sit on the bed. In my room. In the castle. Getting ready for Alexander’s party. Trying not to cry.
I don’t know how my mum did it, you see. She has no money of her own. I didn’t think she had anyway. She must have had some squirrelled away. And she spent it on me.
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
The Wee Writing Lassie 