Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Brilliantly evocative novel, 12 Sep 2008
This is my first Isla Dewar novel and I am delighted to have discovered her and to see that she has plenty more novels to enjoy. She has created a wonderful character in Rowan, who is forced to return home to her Scottish village in rather unusual circumstances. Her hunger for travel and discovery fight with the safety and comfort of being back home among old friends and familiar hillsides. Rowan is a real woman and the descriptons of her life and surroundings are wonderful, bringing her to life and taking you to that Scottish village with ease. I cannot recommend this highly enough. A wonderful antidote to 'chick lit'!

Good, good, good... Read this!, 09 Nov 1999
Yet again, Isla Dewar has achieved the feat of writing a novel which is eminently readable, without ever losing a depth of understanding of the human condition.

If you want a book which doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life, but manages to confront them head on, and still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is for you. All her writing is excellent, and quite reminiscent, in tone, of Armistead Maupin, although set in markedly different surroundings.

One of those books that enters the "best ever read" category, 10 Nov 1998
The sometimes happy/sometimes sorrowful but never self-pitying, adventurous/everyday life of an aspiring should-be/wanna-be traveller who finds that you grow up wanting to never be like your mother when there really may be no happier ending. The author finds herself and others around her in a lighthearted/humourous/serious story about one twentysomething who "gets it" in the end.

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Brilliantly evocative novel, 12 Sep 2008
This is my first Isla Dewar novel and I am delighted to have discovered her and to see that she has plenty more novels to enjoy. She has created a wonderful character in Rowan, who is forced to return home to her Scottish village in rather unusual circumstances. Her hunger for travel and discovery fight with the safety and comfort of being back home among old friends and familiar hillsides. Rowan is a real woman and the descriptons of her life and surroundings are wonderful, bringing her to life and taking you to that Scottish village with ease. I cannot recommend this highly enough. A wonderful antidote to 'chick lit'!

Good, good, good... Read this!, 09 Nov 1999
Yet again, Isla Dewar has achieved the feat of writing a novel which is eminently readable, without ever losing a depth of understanding of the human condition.

If you want a book which doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life, but manages to confront them head on, and still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is for you. All her writing is excellent, and quite reminiscent, in tone, of Armistead Maupin, although set in markedly different surroundings.

One of those books that enters the "best ever read" category, 10 Nov 1998
The sometimes happy/sometimes sorrowful but never self-pitying, adventurous/everyday life of an aspiring should-be/wanna-be traveller who finds that you grow up wanting to never be like your mother when there really may be no happier ending. The author finds herself and others around her in a lighthearted/humourous/serious story about one twentysomething who "gets it" in the end.

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ, 22 Aug 2000
This is my first Isla Dewar book I've read and it certainly will not be my last. If you want a book which makes you laugh, then this is it. I could rave on all day, but I won't. Go and read it and you'll know exactly what I mean.

A fantastic read -you will laugh out loud, 10 Sep 1999
This book easily qualifies as the funniest read of my year. Dewar weaves a fantastic yarn from the small town antics of the residents of small costal village Mareth. Magda herself is rude, brash, insecure and amusing in the extreme. You will laugh out loud reading this book.....best not read on public transport!

Slow build, but a wonderful read, 07 Aug 1999
It took me a couple of times to get into this book, but once I did I was completely hooked. Isla's characters have such wonderful clay feet. I haven't laughed so much in ages, at her descriptions of Magda and her fellow Marethites(so embarrassing on the train, but I couldn't stop!) and their "ordinary" lives. Buy it and enjoy reading again.

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Brilliantly evocative novel, 12 Sep 2008
This is my first Isla Dewar novel and I am delighted to have discovered her and to see that she has plenty more novels to enjoy. She has created a wonderful character in Rowan, who is forced to return home to her Scottish village in rather unusual circumstances. Her hunger for travel and discovery fight with the safety and comfort of being back home among old friends and familiar hillsides. Rowan is a real woman and the descriptons of her life and surroundings are wonderful, bringing her to life and taking you to that Scottish village with ease. I cannot recommend this highly enough. A wonderful antidote to 'chick lit'!

Good, good, good... Read this!, 09 Nov 1999
Yet again, Isla Dewar has achieved the feat of writing a novel which is eminently readable, without ever losing a depth of understanding of the human condition.

If you want a book which doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life, but manages to confront them head on, and still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is for you. All her writing is excellent, and quite reminiscent, in tone, of Armistead Maupin, although set in markedly different surroundings.

One of those books that enters the "best ever read" category, 10 Nov 1998
The sometimes happy/sometimes sorrowful but never self-pitying, adventurous/everyday life of an aspiring should-be/wanna-be traveller who finds that you grow up wanting to never be like your mother when there really may be no happier ending. The author finds herself and others around her in a lighthearted/humourous/serious story about one twentysomething who "gets it" in the end.

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ, 22 Aug 2000
This is my first Isla Dewar book I've read and it certainly will not be my last. If you want a book which makes you laugh, then this is it. I could rave on all day, but I won't. Go and read it and you'll know exactly what I mean.

A fantastic read -you will laugh out loud, 10 Sep 1999
This book easily qualifies as the funniest read of my year. Dewar weaves a fantastic yarn from the small town antics of the residents of small costal village Mareth. Magda herself is rude, brash, insecure and amusing in the extreme. You will laugh out loud reading this book.....best not read on public transport!

Slow build, but a wonderful read, 07 Aug 1999
It took me a couple of times to get into this book, but once I did I was completely hooked. Isla's characters have such wonderful clay feet. I haven't laughed so much in ages, at her descriptions of Magda and her fellow Marethites(so embarrassing on the train, but I couldn't stop!) and their "ordinary" lives. Buy it and enjoy reading again.

very different, 31 Aug 2007
I've read all of Isla Dewar's books and have loved every one of them. I hadn't expected this to be a short book with large print for people who aren't used to or don't want to read normal lengthed novels. Having said that, it is a nice story.

Cherry Sundae Company, 03 Jun 2006
This is a short story which I found to be a real page turner.

It is based around the characters of Katy and her friend Tina who's attempts to do a little bit of good seem to lead them into more trouble. Even for a short story I felt the characters could have been elaborated on a bit more as they don't have a great deal of depth to them. However I still found it a really good read.

I think this would appeal to both teenage and older readers.
One dissapointment was the way the book ended, it made me want to know more about what would happen next; a sequel or longer version would have been interesting, but then I guess that's the mark of a good book!

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Brilliantly evocative novel, 12 Sep 2008
This is my first Isla Dewar novel and I am delighted to have discovered her and to see that she has plenty more novels to enjoy. She has created a wonderful character in Rowan, who is forced to return home to her Scottish village in rather unusual circumstances. Her hunger for travel and discovery fight with the safety and comfort of being back home among old friends and familiar hillsides. Rowan is a real woman and the descriptons of her life and surroundings are wonderful, bringing her to life and taking you to that Scottish village with ease. I cannot recommend this highly enough. A wonderful antidote to 'chick lit'!

Good, good, good... Read this!, 09 Nov 1999
Yet again, Isla Dewar has achieved the feat of writing a novel which is eminently readable, without ever losing a depth of understanding of the human condition.

If you want a book which doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life, but manages to confront them head on, and still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is for you. All her writing is excellent, and quite reminiscent, in tone, of Armistead Maupin, although set in markedly different surroundings.

One of those books that enters the "best ever read" category, 10 Nov 1998
The sometimes happy/sometimes sorrowful but never self-pitying, adventurous/everyday life of an aspiring should-be/wanna-be traveller who finds that you grow up wanting to never be like your mother when there really may be no happier ending. The author finds herself and others around her in a lighthearted/humourous/serious story about one twentysomething who "gets it" in the end.

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ, 22 Aug 2000
This is my first Isla Dewar book I've read and it certainly will not be my last. If you want a book which makes you laugh, then this is it. I could rave on all day, but I won't. Go and read it and you'll know exactly what I mean.

A fantastic read -you will laugh out loud, 10 Sep 1999
This book easily qualifies as the funniest read of my year. Dewar weaves a fantastic yarn from the small town antics of the residents of small costal village Mareth. Magda herself is rude, brash, insecure and amusing in the extreme. You will laugh out loud reading this book.....best not read on public transport!

Slow build, but a wonderful read, 07 Aug 1999
It took me a couple of times to get into this book, but once I did I was completely hooked. Isla's characters have such wonderful clay feet. I haven't laughed so much in ages, at her descriptions of Magda and her fellow Marethites(so embarrassing on the train, but I couldn't stop!) and their "ordinary" lives. Buy it and enjoy reading again.

very different, 31 Aug 2007
I've read all of Isla Dewar's books and have loved every one of them. I hadn't expected this to be a short book with large print for people who aren't used to or don't want to read normal lengthed novels. Having said that, it is a nice story.

Cherry Sundae Company, 03 Jun 2006
This is a short story which I found to be a real page turner.

It is based around the characters of Katy and her friend Tina who's attempts to do a little bit of good seem to lead them into more trouble. Even for a short story I felt the characters could have been elaborated on a bit more as they don't have a great deal of depth to them. However I still found it a really good read.

I think this would appeal to both teenage and older readers.
One dissapointment was the way the book ended, it made me want to know more about what would happen next; a sequel or longer version would have been interesting, but then I guess that's the mark of a good book!

Great characters, not so great plot...., 07 May 2008
I had heard of Isla Dewar but had never got round to reading any of her novels until I came across this one which initially grabbed my interest as it is based in and around Edinburgh.
I enjoyed it from the first page due to the strong characters. It soon becomes clear that the female characters are dealt with in much more depth than the male ones, although it's possible this was intentional.
This author seems to be very skilled in observing the little intricacies of family life and most readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters aswell as see other members of their family reflected throughout the story.
However, I didn't feel there was much of a plot, and the themes promised much at the beginning but perhaps failed to deliver complete satisfaction as the book drew to a close. As is often the case, I felt that the ending hadn't been planned from the start - it felt like it just kind of evolved in a bit of a rush. Not very much REALLY changed within the family over the course of the year in which the story was set - it was just another year but with a lot of insight and analysis into the minds of the family members.
Personally I wasn't keen on the Rita Boothe aspect either - she kept 'popping up' to support the other characters but couldn't be described as a 'main' character herself as she was pretty 2-dimensional in my opinion.
All in all I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the mechanics of what happens within family relationships once the children have flown the nest.

A comfortable read that makes you feel like part of the family, 23 Mar 2008
Despite the fact that the description focuses on Lily, this book doesn't really have a main character - or a plot for that matter - rather it is a year in the life of a family, told from the point of view of each and every family member - as they go through normal life events.

It's heart warming, it's friendly, it's comfortable - and it's oh so true to life that you'll find yourself smiling as you realise that you do these things too.

If you are part of a family, you've ever gone to bed on an argument, or looked at another person and assumed their life was better than yours - then you need to go and buy a copy of this book today.

Wonderful read, 21 Dec 2006
This novel was amazing. It encapsulated family life so perfectly I feel I want to share it with everyone who has experience of family relationships. The narrative - third person - flits from one family member/character to another and through this the dynamics of relationships are created as each character is given a voice. The novel deals with four generations plus in laws and friends and shows how fragile these relationships can be particularly when misunderstandings occur. Yet the family is also strong and although they wound each other - often unintentionally - the bond keeps them together. This novel is a lesson in tolerance and understanding; it's about human relationships and being human (at times I felt like I was looking at myself), it also contains a comic element that made me laugh to myself at times. I loved this and it made me feel more sympathetic towards my own family members especially as it is so easy to make assumptions based on face value observations.


This is good, but not her best, 24 Jan 2006
Isla Dewar is at her best when writing with one main character. then, her story-telling is superb: witty and perceptive and absorbing amusing. Secrets of a Family Album is about a family, and although the story eventually becomes as absorbing as her earlier books, Dewar flounders badly at the start, when introducing the half dozen characters central to the tale. However, although the opening chapters each read like the start of an individual novel, persevere: eventually all will converge.
This is the story of a family going through change: of the effects on the whole of individual members shrugging off or attempting to shrug off the role bestowed on them by the family.
As always, Dewar combines keen insight with gentle humour as she unravels the complexities of day to day life. It's a good read, but would have worked better as a tapestry of interwoven short stories.

PLEASANT, UNASSUMING WRITING., 18 Sep 2005
This is a the type of book which is really a good idea to take on holiday, or to read when you've been doing too much and you need a rest. And yet, it's not horrible chick lit or anything shallow like that. It has a very valid comment to make which is that on the surface, most families look as though they are tightly knit and happy, and it's only when you get to know them better that you realise that all is not as good as it looks. This is a very obvious theme, and it's been dealt with by many writers but Isla Dewar brings a nice freshness to the story and we get to know the characters well and enjoy them.
The family type symbols - sandwiches, remote controls, picnics etc, which play a part are prosaic but then much of life is like that and it's not the great earth-shattering events which change people's attitudes, it's the small things which 'fire one's irresolute clay'.
This is a good solid book, which is fun.....

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Brilliantly evocative novel, 12 Sep 2008
This is my first Isla Dewar novel and I am delighted to have discovered her and to see that she has plenty more novels to enjoy. She has created a wonderful character in Rowan, who is forced to return home to her Scottish village in rather unusual circumstances. Her hunger for travel and discovery fight with the safety and comfort of being back home among old friends and familiar hillsides. Rowan is a real woman and the descriptons of her life and surroundings are wonderful, bringing her to life and taking you to that Scottish village with ease. I cannot recommend this highly enough. A wonderful antidote to 'chick lit'!

Good, good, good... Read this!, 09 Nov 1999
Yet again, Isla Dewar has achieved the feat of writing a novel which is eminently readable, without ever losing a depth of understanding of the human condition.

If you want a book which doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life, but manages to confront them head on, and still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is for you. All her writing is excellent, and quite reminiscent, in tone, of Armistead Maupin, although set in markedly different surroundings.

One of those books that enters the "best ever read" category, 10 Nov 1998
The sometimes happy/sometimes sorrowful but never self-pitying, adventurous/everyday life of an aspiring should-be/wanna-be traveller who finds that you grow up wanting to never be like your mother when there really may be no happier ending. The author finds herself and others around her in a lighthearted/humourous/serious story about one twentysomething who "gets it" in the end.

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ, 22 Aug 2000
This is my first Isla Dewar book I've read and it certainly will not be my last. If you want a book which makes you laugh, then this is it. I could rave on all day, but I won't. Go and read it and you'll know exactly what I mean.

A fantastic read -you will laugh out loud, 10 Sep 1999
This book easily qualifies as the funniest read of my year. Dewar weaves a fantastic yarn from the small town antics of the residents of small costal village Mareth. Magda herself is rude, brash, insecure and amusing in the extreme. You will laugh out loud reading this book.....best not read on public transport!

Slow build, but a wonderful read, 07 Aug 1999
It took me a couple of times to get into this book, but once I did I was completely hooked. Isla's characters have such wonderful clay feet. I haven't laughed so much in ages, at her descriptions of Magda and her fellow Marethites(so embarrassing on the train, but I couldn't stop!) and their "ordinary" lives. Buy it and enjoy reading again.

very different, 31 Aug 2007
I've read all of Isla Dewar's books and have loved every one of them. I hadn't expected this to be a short book with large print for people who aren't used to or don't want to read normal lengthed novels. Having said that, it is a nice story.

Cherry Sundae Company, 03 Jun 2006
This is a short story which I found to be a real page turner.

It is based around the characters of Katy and her friend Tina who's attempts to do a little bit of good seem to lead them into more trouble. Even for a short story I felt the characters could have been elaborated on a bit more as they don't have a great deal of depth to them. However I still found it a really good read.

I think this would appeal to both teenage and older readers.
One dissapointment was the way the book ended, it made me want to know more about what would happen next; a sequel or longer version would have been interesting, but then I guess that's the mark of a good book!

Great characters, not so great plot...., 07 May 2008
I had heard of Isla Dewar but had never got round to reading any of her novels until I came across this one which initially grabbed my interest as it is based in and around Edinburgh.
I enjoyed it from the first page due to the strong characters. It soon becomes clear that the female characters are dealt with in much more depth than the male ones, although it's possible this was intentional.
This author seems to be very skilled in observing the little intricacies of family life and most readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters aswell as see other members of their family reflected throughout the story.
However, I didn't feel there was much of a plot, and the themes promised much at the beginning but perhaps failed to deliver complete satisfaction as the book drew to a close. As is often the case, I felt that the ending hadn't been planned from the start - it felt like it just kind of evolved in a bit of a rush. Not very much REALLY changed within the family over the course of the year in which the story was set - it was just another year but with a lot of insight and analysis into the minds of the family members.
Personally I wasn't keen on the Rita Boothe aspect either - she kept 'popping up' to support the other characters but couldn't be described as a 'main' character herself as she was pretty 2-dimensional in my opinion.
All in all I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the mechanics of what happens within family relationships once the children have flown the nest.

A comfortable read that makes you feel like part of the family, 23 Mar 2008
Despite the fact that the description focuses on Lily, this book doesn't really have a main character - or a plot for that matter - rather it is a year in the life of a family, told from the point of view of each and every family member - as they go through normal life events.

It's heart warming, it's friendly, it's comfortable - and it's oh so true to life that you'll find yourself smiling as you realise that you do these things too.

If you are part of a family, you've ever gone to bed on an argument, or looked at another person and assumed their life was better than yours - then you need to go and buy a copy of this book today.

Wonderful read, 21 Dec 2006
This novel was amazing. It encapsulated family life so perfectly I feel I want to share it with everyone who has experience of family relationships. The narrative - third person - flits from one family member/character to another and through this the dynamics of relationships are created as each character is given a voice. The novel deals with four generations plus in laws and friends and shows how fragile these relationships can be particularly when misunderstandings occur. Yet the family is also strong and although they wound each other - often unintentionally - the bond keeps them together. This novel is a lesson in tolerance and understanding; it's about human relationships and being human (at times I felt like I was looking at myself), it also contains a comic element that made me laugh to myself at times. I loved this and it made me feel more sympathetic towards my own family members especially as it is so easy to make assumptions based on face value observations.


This is good, but not her best, 24 Jan 2006
Isla Dewar is at her best when writing with one main character. then, her story-telling is superb: witty and perceptive and absorbing amusing. Secrets of a Family Album is about a family, and although the story eventually becomes as absorbing as her earlier books, Dewar flounders badly at the start, when introducing the half dozen characters central to the tale. However, although the opening chapters each read like the start of an individual novel, persevere: eventually all will converge.
This is the story of a family going through change: of the effects on the whole of individual members shrugging off or attempting to shrug off the role bestowed on them by the family.
As always, Dewar combines keen insight with gentle humour as she unravels the complexities of day to day life. It's a good read, but would have worked better as a tapestry of interwoven short stories.

PLEASANT, UNASSUMING WRITING., 18 Sep 2005
This is a the type of book which is really a good idea to take on holiday, or to read when you've been doing too much and you need a rest. And yet, it's not horrible chick lit or anything shallow like that. It has a very valid comment to make which is that on the surface, most families look as though they are tightly knit and happy, and it's only when you get to know them better that you realise that all is not as good as it looks. This is a very obvious theme, and it's been dealt with by many writers but Isla Dewar brings a nice freshness to the story and we get to know the characters well and enjoy them.
The family type symbols - sandwiches, remote controls, picnics etc, which play a part are prosaic but then much of life is like that and it's not the great earth-shattering events which change people's attitudes, it's the small things which 'fire one's irresolute clay'.
This is a good solid book, which is fun.....

Acutely observed, witty and heart-warming, 24 May 2002
As the first book I had read by Dewar, this sealed my fate as a confirmed fan. Written with humour and wit, Dewar creates likeable yet flawed characters and presents her story with imagination and flair.

Roz has abandonned her life with obsessive husband Matthew, believing that her children and her husband no longer have time or need for her. Now settled into a full life in London, she is thrown back into the heart of her family following the death of Nan - the only one who really seemed to care - and must learn to rebuild her relationships to help each build a life for themselves.

Dewar's observations are sharp and her expression both comic and warm. Her fluent style and engaging characters are a joy to be experienced over and over.

Nice Title, Shame About The Book, 19 Jul 2001
Someone bought this book for me as a present, otherwise I would probably never have read it. It sounded good. The title, the cover and the first chapter were promising... Roz, the 'heroine', who had deserted her husband and children 10 years earlier, is suddenly thrust back into the bosom of her decidedly disfunctional family by the death of 'Nan' and her subsequent funeral. Nan was just about the most interesting character and she died a couple of pages in! And after that, it was all downhill. The author changes viewpoint so often, that I was left confused and irritated. Whose story was it supposed to be? A stream of equally dull characters were paraded across the pages and we were given the innermost thoughts of almost all of them, which created absolutely NO suspense for the reader! There is no wit, no humour and absolutely NO surprise element in this novel. None of the characters was believable or likeable and they drink too many cups of tea/coffee (yawn)! I only finished it so I could write this!

A touching, earthy-feeling book!, 23 Oct 2000
Having read 'Giving up on Ordinary' which was fairly witty but didn't feature in my top ten ever, I decided to give Isla Dewar another go. And I am glad I did. Coming from a dysfunctional family myself it struck a cord in relation to the pain and humour associated with this family's life. Apart from the touching and down to earth approach, Ms Dewar's portrayal of her characters brought them to life for me.....and I shall definitely read it again in a year's time. Easy reading - finished it in a day on holiday.

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Brilliantly evocative novel, 12 Sep 2008
This is my first Isla Dewar novel and I am delighted to have discovered her and to see that she has plenty more novels to enjoy. She has created a wonderful character in Rowan, who is forced to return home to her Scottish village in rather unusual circumstances. Her hunger for travel and discovery fight with the safety and comfort of being back home among old friends and familiar hillsides. Rowan is a real woman and the descriptons of her life and surroundings are wonderful, bringing her to life and taking you to that Scottish village with ease. I cannot recommend this highly enough. A wonderful antidote to 'chick lit'!

Good, good, good... Read this!, 09 Nov 1999
Yet again, Isla Dewar has achieved the feat of writing a novel which is eminently readable, without ever losing a depth of understanding of the human condition.

If you want a book which doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life, but manages to confront them head on, and still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is for you. All her writing is excellent, and quite reminiscent, in tone, of Armistead Maupin, although set in markedly different surroundings.

One of those books that enters the "best ever read" category, 10 Nov 1998
The sometimes happy/sometimes sorrowful but never self-pitying, adventurous/everyday life of an aspiring should-be/wanna-be traveller who finds that you grow up wanting to never be like your mother when there really may be no happier ending. The author finds herself and others around her in a lighthearted/humourous/serious story about one twentysomething who "gets it" in the end.

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ, 22 Aug 2000
This is my first Isla Dewar book I've read and it certainly will not be my last. If you want a book which makes you laugh, then this is it. I could rave on all day, but I won't. Go and read it and you'll know exactly what I mean.

A fantastic read -you will laugh out loud, 10 Sep 1999
This book easily qualifies as the funniest read of my year. Dewar weaves a fantastic yarn from the small town antics of the residents of small costal village Mareth. Magda herself is rude, brash, insecure and amusing in the extreme. You will laugh out loud reading this book.....best not read on public transport!

Slow build, but a wonderful read, 07 Aug 1999
It took me a couple of times to get into this book, but once I did I was completely hooked. Isla's characters have such wonderful clay feet. I haven't laughed so much in ages, at her descriptions of Magda and her fellow Marethites(so embarrassing on the train, but I couldn't stop!) and their "ordinary" lives. Buy it and enjoy reading again.

very different, 31 Aug 2007
I've read all of Isla Dewar's books and have loved every one of them. I hadn't expected this to be a short book with large print for people who aren't used to or don't want to read normal lengthed novels. Having said that, it is a nice story.

Cherry Sundae Company, 03 Jun 2006
This is a short story which I found to be a real page turner.

It is based around the characters of Katy and her friend Tina who's attempts to do a little bit of good seem to lead them into more trouble. Even for a short story I felt the characters could have been elaborated on a bit more as they don't have a great deal of depth to them. However I still found it a really good read.

I think this would appeal to both teenage and older readers.
One dissapointment was the way the book ended, it made me want to know more about what would happen next; a sequel or longer version would have been interesting, but then I guess that's the mark of a good book!

Great characters, not so great plot...., 07 May 2008
I had heard of Isla Dewar but had never got round to reading any of her novels until I came across this one which initially grabbed my interest as it is based in and around Edinburgh.
I enjoyed it from the first page due to the strong characters. It soon becomes clear that the female characters are dealt with in much more depth than the male ones, although it's possible this was intentional.
This author seems to be very skilled in observing the little intricacies of family life and most readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters aswell as see other members of their family reflected throughout the story.
However, I didn't feel there was much of a plot, and the themes promised much at the beginning but perhaps failed to deliver complete satisfaction as the book drew to a close. As is often the case, I felt that the ending hadn't been planned from the start - it felt like it just kind of evolved in a bit of a rush. Not very much REALLY changed within the family over the course of the year in which the story was set - it was just another year but with a lot of insight and analysis into the minds of the family members.
Personally I wasn't keen on the Rita Boothe aspect either - she kept 'popping up' to support the other characters but couldn't be described as a 'main' character herself as she was pretty 2-dimensional in my opinion.
All in all I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the mechanics of what happens within family relationships once the children have flown the nest.

A comfortable read that makes you feel like part of the family, 23 Mar 2008
Despite the fact that the description focuses on Lily, this book doesn't really have a main character - or a plot for that matter - rather it is a year in the life of a family, told from the point of view of each and every family member - as they go through normal life events.

It's heart warming, it's friendly, it's comfortable - and it's oh so true to life that you'll find yourself smiling as you realise that you do these things too.

If you are part of a family, you've ever gone to bed on an argument, or looked at another person and assumed their life was better than yours - then you need to go and buy a copy of this book today.

Wonderful read, 21 Dec 2006
This novel was amazing. It encapsulated family life so perfectly I feel I want to share it with everyone who has experience of family relationships. The narrative - third person - flits from one family member/character to another and through this the dynamics of relationships are created as each character is given a voice. The novel deals with four generations plus in laws and friends and shows how fragile these relationships can be particularly when misunderstandings occur. Yet the family is also strong and although they wound each other - often unintentionally - the bond keeps them together. This novel is a lesson in tolerance and understanding; it's about human relationships and being human (at times I felt like I was looking at myself), it also contains a comic element that made me laugh to myself at times. I loved this and it made me feel more sympathetic towards my own family members especially as it is so easy to make assumptions based on face value observations.


This is good, but not her best, 24 Jan 2006
Isla Dewar is at her best when writing with one main character. then, her story-telling is superb: witty and perceptive and absorbing amusing. Secrets of a Family Album is about a family, and although the story eventually becomes as absorbing as her earlier books, Dewar flounders badly at the start, when introducing the half dozen characters central to the tale. However, although the opening chapters each read like the start of an individual novel, persevere: eventually all will converge.
This is the story of a family going through change: of the effects on the whole of individual members shrugging off or attempting to shrug off the role bestowed on them by the family.
As always, Dewar combines keen insight with gentle humour as she unravels the complexities of day to day life. It's a good read, but would have worked better as a tapestry of interwoven short stories.

PLEASANT, UNASSUMING WRITING., 18 Sep 2005
This is a the type of book which is really a good idea to take on holiday, or to read when you've been doing too much and you need a rest. And yet, it's not horrible chick lit or anything shallow like that. It has a very valid comment to make which is that on the surface, most families look as though they are tightly knit and happy, and it's only when you get to know them better that you realise that all is not as good as it looks. This is a very obvious theme, and it's been dealt with by many writers but Isla Dewar brings a nice freshness to the story and we get to know the characters well and enjoy them.
The family type symbols - sandwiches, remote controls, picnics etc, which play a part are prosaic but then much of life is like that and it's not the great earth-shattering events which change people's attitudes, it's the small things which 'fire one's irresolute clay'.
This is a good solid book, which is fun.....

Acutely observed, witty and heart-warming, 24 May 2002
As the first book I had read by Dewar, this sealed my fate as a confirmed fan. Written with humour and wit, Dewar creates likeable yet flawed characters and presents her story with imagination and flair.

Roz has abandonned her life with obsessive husband Matthew, believing that her children and her husband no longer have time or need for her. Now settled into a full life in London, she is thrown back into the heart of her family following the death of Nan - the only one who really seemed to care - and must learn to rebuild her relationships to help each build a life for themselves.

Dewar's observations are sharp and her expression both comic and warm. Her fluent style and engaging characters are a joy to be experienced over and over.

Nice Title, Shame About The Book, 19 Jul 2001
Someone bought this book for me as a present, otherwise I would probably never have read it. It sounded good. The title, the cover and the first chapter were promising... Roz, the 'heroine', who had deserted her husband and children 10 years earlier, is suddenly thrust back into the bosom of her decidedly disfunctional family by the death of 'Nan' and her subsequent funeral. Nan was just about the most interesting character and she died a couple of pages in! And after that, it was all downhill. The author changes viewpoint so often, that I was left confused and irritated. Whose story was it supposed to be? A stream of equally dull characters were paraded across the pages and we were given the innermost thoughts of almost all of them, which created absolutely NO suspense for the reader! There is no wit, no humour and absolutely NO surprise element in this novel. None of the characters was believable or likeable and they drink too many cups of tea/coffee (yawn)! I only finished it so I could write this!

A touching, earthy-feeling book!, 23 Oct 2000
Having read 'Giving up on Ordinary' which was fairly witty but didn't feature in my top ten ever, I decided to give Isla Dewar another go. And I am glad I did. Coming from a dysfunctional family myself it struck a cord in relation to the pain and humour associated with this family's life. Apart from the touching and down to earth approach, Ms Dewar's portrayal of her characters brought them to life for me.....and I shall definitely read it again in a year's time. Easy reading - finished it in a day on holiday.

Very Enjoyable!, 29 Sep 2003
Isla Dewar's books always draw you in from the start and are real page turners. The characters are always beautifully portrayed and you end up feeling as if you have known them for years. In this novel, the feeling of village life in Scotland with its ups and downs is vivid and I thought that Iris seemed a fantastic teacher!

golden, 04 Apr 2003
Isla Dewar at her best. Rich turns and twists of life are woven in throughout the book. A must read for those who have matured along side her books. If you've never read any of her books, why not?

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Brilliantly evocative novel, 12 Sep 2008
This is my first Isla Dewar novel and I am delighted to have discovered her and to see that she has plenty more novels to enjoy. She has created a wonderful character in Rowan, who is forced to return home to her Scottish village in rather unusual circumstances. Her hunger for travel and discovery fight with the safety and comfort of being back home among old friends and familiar hillsides. Rowan is a real woman and the descriptons of her life and surroundings are wonderful, bringing her to life and taking you to that Scottish village with ease. I cannot recommend this highly enough. A wonderful antidote to 'chick lit'!

Good, good, good... Read this!, 09 Nov 1999
Yet again, Isla Dewar has achieved the feat of writing a novel which is eminently readable, without ever losing a depth of understanding of the human condition.

If you want a book which doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life, but manages to confront them head on, and still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is for you. All her writing is excellent, and quite reminiscent, in tone, of Armistead Maupin, although set in markedly different surroundings.

One of those books that enters the "best ever read" category, 10 Nov 1998
The sometimes happy/sometimes sorrowful but never self-pitying, adventurous/everyday life of an aspiring should-be/wanna-be traveller who finds that you grow up wanting to never be like your mother when there really may be no happier ending. The author finds herself and others around her in a lighthearted/humourous/serious story about one twentysomething who "gets it" in the end.

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ, 22 Aug 2000
This is my first Isla Dewar book I've read and it certainly will not be my last. If you want a book which makes you laugh, then this is it. I could rave on all day, but I won't. Go and read it and you'll know exactly what I mean.

A fantastic read -you will laugh out loud, 10 Sep 1999
This book easily qualifies as the funniest read of my year. Dewar weaves a fantastic yarn from the small town antics of the residents of small costal village Mareth. Magda herself is rude, brash, insecure and amusing in the extreme. You will laugh out loud reading this book.....best not read on public transport!

Slow build, but a wonderful read, 07 Aug 1999
It took me a couple of times to get into this book, but once I did I was completely hooked. Isla's characters have such wonderful clay feet. I haven't laughed so much in ages, at her descriptions of Magda and her fellow Marethites(so embarrassing on the train, but I couldn't stop!) and their "ordinary" lives. Buy it and enjoy reading again.

very different, 31 Aug 2007
I've read all of Isla Dewar's books and have loved every one of them. I hadn't expected this to be a short book with large print for people who aren't used to or don't want to read normal lengthed novels. Having said that, it is a nice story.

Cherry Sundae Company, 03 Jun 2006
This is a short story which I found to be a real page turner.

It is based around the characters of Katy and her friend Tina who's attempts to do a little bit of good seem to lead them into more trouble. Even for a short story I felt the characters could have been elaborated on a bit more as they don't have a great deal of depth to them. However I still found it a really good read.

I think this would appeal to both teenage and older readers.
One dissapointment was the way the book ended, it made me want to know more about what would happen next; a sequel or longer version would have been interesting, but then I guess that's the mark of a good book!

Great characters, not so great plot...., 07 May 2008
I had heard of Isla Dewar but had never got round to reading any of her novels until I came across this one which initially grabbed my interest as it is based in and around Edinburgh.
I enjoyed it from the first page due to the strong characters. It soon becomes clear that the female characters are dealt with in much more depth than the male ones, although it's possible this was intentional.
This author seems to be very skilled in observing the little intricacies of family life and most readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters aswell as see other members of their family reflected throughout the story.
However, I didn't feel there was much of a plot, and the themes promised much at the beginning but perhaps failed to deliver complete satisfaction as the book drew to a close. As is often the case, I felt that the ending hadn't been planned from the start - it felt like it just kind of evolved in a bit of a rush. Not very much REALLY changed within the family over the course of the year in which the story was set - it was just another year but with a lot of insight and analysis into the minds of the family members.
Personally I wasn't keen on the Rita Boothe aspect either - she kept 'popping up' to support the other characters but couldn't be described as a 'main' character herself as she was pretty 2-dimensional in my opinion.
All in all I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the mechanics of what happens within family relationships once the children have flown the nest.

A comfortable read that makes you feel like part of the family, 23 Mar 2008
Despite the fact that the description focuses on Lily, this book doesn't really have a main character - or a plot for that matter - rather it is a year in the life of a family, told from the point of view of each and every family member - as they go through normal life events.

It's heart warming, it's friendly, it's comfortable - and it's oh so true to life that you'll find yourself smiling as you realise that you do these things too.

If you are part of a family, you've ever gone to bed on an argument, or looked at another person and assumed their life was better than yours - then you need to go and buy a copy of this book today.

Wonderful read, 21 Dec 2006
This novel was amazing. It encapsulated family life so perfectly I feel I want to share it with everyone who has experience of family relationships. The narrative - third person - flits from one family member/character to another and through this the dynamics of relationships are created as each character is given a voice. The novel deals with four generations plus in laws and friends and shows how fragile these relationships can be particularly when misunderstandings occur. Yet the family is also strong and although they wound each other - often unintentionally - the bond keeps them together. This novel is a lesson in tolerance and understanding; it's about human relationships and being human (at times I felt like I was looking at myself), it also contains a comic element that made me laugh to myself at times. I loved this and it made me feel more sympathetic towards my own family members especially as it is so easy to make assumptions based on face value observations.


This is good, but not her best, 24 Jan 2006
Isla Dewar is at her best when writing with one main character. then, her story-telling is superb: witty and perceptive and absorbing amusing. Secrets of a Family Album is about a family, and although the story eventually becomes as absorbing as her earlier books, Dewar flounders badly at the start, when introducing the half dozen characters central to the tale. However, although the opening chapters each read like the start of an individual novel, persevere: eventually all will converge.
This is the story of a family going through change: of the effects on the whole of individual members shrugging off or attempting to shrug off the role bestowed on them by the family.
As always, Dewar combines keen insight with gentle humour as she unravels the complexities of day to day life. It's a good read, but would have worked better as a tapestry of interwoven short stories.

PLEASANT, UNASSUMING WRITING., 18 Sep 2005
This is a the type of book which is really a good idea to take on holiday, or to read when you've been doing too much and you need a rest. And yet, it's not horrible chick lit or anything shallow like that. It has a very valid comment to make which is that on the surface, most families look as though they are tightly knit and happy, and it's only when you get to know them better that you realise that all is not as good as it looks. This is a very obvious theme, and it's been dealt with by many writers but Isla Dewar brings a nice freshness to the story and we get to know the characters well and enjoy them.
The family type symbols - sandwiches, remote controls, picnics etc, which play a part are prosaic but then much of life is like that and it's not the great earth-shattering events which change people's attitudes, it's the small things which 'fire one's irresolute clay'.
This is a good solid book, which is fun.....

Acutely observed, witty and heart-warming, 24 May 2002
As the first book I had read by Dewar, this sealed my fate as a confirmed fan. Written with humour and wit, Dewar creates likeable yet flawed characters and presents her story with imagination and flair.

Roz has abandonned her life with obsessive husband Matthew, believing that her children and her husband no longer have time or need for her. Now settled into a full life in London, she is thrown back into the heart of her family following the death of Nan - the only one who really seemed to care - and must learn to rebuild her relationships to help each build a life for themselves.

Dewar's observations are sharp and her expression both comic and warm. Her fluent style and engaging characters are a joy to be experienced over and over.

Nice Title, Shame About The Book, 19 Jul 2001
Someone bought this book for me as a present, otherwise I would probably never have read it. It sounded good. The title, the cover and the first chapter were promising... Roz, the 'heroine', who had deserted her husband and children 10 years earlier, is suddenly thrust back into the bosom of her decidedly disfunctional family by the death of 'Nan' and her subsequent funeral. Nan was just about the most interesting character and she died a couple of pages in! And after that, it was all downhill. The author changes viewpoint so often, that I was left confused and irritated. Whose story was it supposed to be? A stream of equally dull characters were paraded across the pages and we were given the innermost thoughts of almost all of them, which created absolutely NO suspense for the reader! There is no wit, no humour and absolutely NO surprise element in this novel. None of the characters was believable or likeable and they drink too many cups of tea/coffee (yawn)! I only finished it so I could write this!

A touching, earthy-feeling book!, 23 Oct 2000
Having read 'Giving up on Ordinary' which was fairly witty but didn't feature in my top ten ever, I decided to give Isla Dewar another go. And I am glad I did. Coming from a dysfunctional family myself it struck a cord in relation to the pain and humour associated with this family's life. Apart from the touching and down to earth approach, Ms Dewar's portrayal of her characters brought them to life for me.....and I shall definitely read it again in a year's time. Easy reading - finished it in a day on holiday.

Very Enjoyable!, 29 Sep 2003
Isla Dewar's books always draw you in from the start and are real page turners. The characters are always beautifully portrayed and you end up feeling as if you have known them for years. In this novel, the feeling of village life in Scotland with its ups and downs is vivid and I thought that Iris seemed a fantastic teacher!

golden, 04 Apr 2003
Isla Dewar at her best. Rich turns and twists of life are woven in throughout the book. A must read for those who have matured along side her books. If you've never read any of her books, why not?

not just for the ladies, 08 Nov 2004
this was the first book of isla dewar's i read and on finishing it went straight out and bought the rest of them.

single mum, crap job, teenage rebellions, to much cheap wine, this book covers life as we know it to a tee.

sad at times and making you reach for the hankies, but in contrast hilarious moments too( especially the pea incident which caused me to burst out laughing on a packed bus).

read this and those lonely nights in will become a joy.

fabulous

Great!, 25 May 2004
This was a fantastic book that had me laughing out loud and also crying at a mothers loss, it was not at all depressing but a insight into how single mum's survive and how damn frightening it can be to take chances that are not the norm. It is a warm and inspiring read.

A single mum finally takes control of her life, 11 Jan 2000
Our heroine is stumbling along in life, caught up in the details of providing for her children and catching up on sleep.

With little education and no real prospects for improving her lot, you could be forgiven for thinking that reading about her life will be boring and pointless until you discover how bad a hand she has been dealt and marvel at her strength through such adversity.

Through her story you will learn that we can all be special if we learn to take risks again.

A damn fine read, especially for a woman wondering where in hell her life went.

Wonderfully funny, sad and true to life, 17 Sep 1999
The Heroine will get you rooting for her within the first few chapters. A witty, tasty, and satisfying read leaving you feeling full of hope, but also wanting to shake Gilbert until he realises what he's missing. T'riff!

Excellent - imaginative and upbeat, 16 Sep 1999
I found this book very entertaining - hilariously funny but also touching. It is the story of a single mother with the odds stacked against her - who remains unbowed and optimistic. The supporting characters are realistic - sometimes cringingly so... The book works because it is a mixture of fantasy/fantasies and reality - it does not disintegrate into romance novel formula happy-ever -after ...but it does have a happy ending......

Entertaining, Witty and Heartwarming, 22 Jul 2007
If you enjoy Maeve Binchy then you will enjoy Isla Dewar.
This book is a must for all holidaymakers wanting a good read.
I found it hard to put down as I got to know the the characters within this book who were young, old and in-between!
The story is that of a woman in her 70s who reflects on her colourful life to her young lodger on a car journey to past haunts and family.
I found it hard to put this book down and really missed the characters upon finishing this most enjoyable novel.

fabulous, 07 Jan 2005
entertaining from the very start, a whimsical tale of 2 women who couldnt be more different and the ups and downds of there very different lives and friendship. filled with laugh out loud and reach for the tissue parts. would recommend viewing the movie of it also

Absolutley Brilliant!, 09 Jan 2002
This book is so easy to relate to! The lives of these two women and what happens in them are so similar to what happens in real life it's untrue. I love this book, not just because i studied it for my SSL in Higher English but i read so many times because the story is so good. Also it is so easy to read and makes you laugh... go out and read this book, you'd be mad not to!

Very well written but lacking somewhere, 21 May 2001
I did enjoy this book, especially as it is set in my home town, but I was not gripped by it and at times had to plough through it. However, by the end I realised I was actually sated. A book which should definately be read but is definately missing something.

Brilliantly evocative novel, 12 Sep 2008
This is my first Isla Dewar novel and I am delighted to have discovered her and to see that she has plenty more novels to enjoy. She has created a wonderful character in Rowan, who is forced to return home to her Scottish village in rather unusual circumstances. Her hunger for travel and discovery fight with the safety and comfort of being back home among old friends and familiar hillsides. Rowan is a real woman and the descriptons of her life and surroundings are wonderful, bringing her to life and taking you to that Scottish village with ease. I cannot recommend this highly enough. A wonderful antidote to 'chick lit'!

Good, good, good... Read this!, 09 Nov 1999
Yet again, Isla Dewar has achieved the feat of writing a novel which is eminently readable, without ever losing a depth of understanding of the human condition.

If you want a book which doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life, but manages to confront them head on, and still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is for you. All her writing is excellent, and quite reminiscent, in tone, of Armistead Maupin, although set in markedly different surroundings.

One of those books that enters the "best ever read" category, 10 Nov 1998
The sometimes happy/sometimes sorrowful but never self-pitying, adventurous/everyday life of an aspiring should-be/wanna-be traveller who finds that you grow up wanting to never be like your mother when there really may be no happier ending. The author finds herself and others around her in a lighthearted/humourous/serious story about one twentysomething who "gets it" in the end.

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ, 22 Aug 2000
This is my first Isla Dewar book I've read and it certainly will not be my last. If you want a book which makes you laugh, then this is it. I could rave on all day, but I won't. Go and read it and you'll know exactly what I mean.

A fantastic read -you will laugh out loud, 10 Sep 1999
This book easily qualifies as the funniest read of my year. Dewar weaves a fantastic yarn from the small town antics of the residents of small costal village Mareth. Magda herself is rude, brash, insecure and amusing in the extreme. You will laugh out loud reading this book.....best not read on public transport!

Slow build, but a wonderful read, 07 Aug 1999
It took me a couple of times to get into this book, but once I did I was completely hooked. Isla's characters have such wonderful clay feet. I haven't laughed so much in ages, at her descriptions of Magda and her fellow Marethites(so embarrassing on the train, but I couldn't stop!) and their "ordinary" lives. Buy it and enjoy reading again.

very different, 31 Aug 2007
I've read all of Isla Dewar's books and have loved every one of them. I hadn't expected this to be a short book with large print for people who aren't used to or don't want to read normal lengthed novels. Having said that, it is a nice story.

Cherry Sundae Company, 03 Jun 2006
This is a short story which I found to be a real page turner.

It is based around the characters of Katy and her friend Tina who's attempts to do a little bit of good seem to lead them into more trouble. Even for a short story I felt the characters could have been elaborated on a bit more as they don't have a great deal of depth to them. However I still found it a really good read.

I think this would appeal to both teenage and older readers.
One dissapointment was the way the book ended, it made me want to know more about what would happen next; a sequel or longer version would have been interesting, but then I guess that's the mark of a good book!

Great characters, not so great plot...., 07 May 2008
I had heard of Isla Dewar but had never got round to reading any of her novels until I came across this one which initially grabbed my interest as it is based in and around Edinburgh.
I enjoyed it from the first page due to the strong characters. It soon becomes clear that the female characters are dealt with in much more depth than the male ones, although it's possible this was intentional.
This author seems to be very skilled in observing the little intricacies of family life and most readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters aswell as see other members of their family reflected throughout the story.
However, I didn't feel there was much of a plot, and the themes promised much at the beginning but perhaps failed to deliver complete satisfaction as the book drew to a close. As is often the case, I felt that the ending hadn't been planned from the start - it felt like it just kind of evolved in a bit of a rush. Not very much REALLY changed within the family over the course of the year in which the story was set - it was just another year but with a lot of insight and analysis into the minds of the family members.
Personally I wasn't keen on the Rita Boothe aspect either - she kept 'popping up' to support the other characters but couldn't be described as a 'main' character herself as she was pretty 2-dimensional in my opinion.
All in all I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the mechanics of what happens within family relationships once the children have flown the nest.

A comfortable read that makes you feel like part of the family, 23 Mar 2008
Despite the fact that the description focuses on Lily, this book doesn't really have a main character - or a plot for that matter - rather it is a year in the life of a family, told from the point of view of each and every family member - as they go through normal life events.

It's heart warming, it's friendly, it's comfortable - and it's oh so true to life that you'll find yourself smiling as you realise that you do these things too.

If you are part of a family, you've ever gone to bed on an argument, or looked at another person and assumed their life was better than yours - then you need to go and buy a copy of this book today.

Wonderful read, 21 Dec 2006
This novel was amazing. It encapsulated family life so perfectly I feel I want to share it with everyone who has experience of family relationships. The narrative - third person - flits from one family member/character to another and through this the dynamics of relationships are created as each character is given a voice. The novel deals with four generations plus in laws and friends and shows how fragile these relationships can be particularly when misunderstandings occur. Yet the family is also strong and although they wound each other - often unintentionally - the bond keeps them together. This novel is a lesson in tolerance and understanding; it's about human relationships and being human (at times I felt like I was looking at myself), it also contains a comic element that made me laugh to myself at times. I loved this and it made me feel more sympathetic towards my own family members especially as it is so easy to make assumptions based on face value observations.


This is good, but not her best, 24 Jan 2006
Isla Dewar is at her best when writing with one main character. then, her story-telling is superb: witty and perceptive and absorbing amusing. Secrets of a Family Album is about a family, and although the story eventually becomes as absorbing as her earlier books, Dewar flounders badly at the start, when introducing the half dozen characters central to the tale. However, although the opening chapters each read like the start of an individual novel, persevere: eventually all will converge.
This is the story of a family going through change: of the effects on the whole of individual members shrugging off or attempting to shrug off the role bestowed on them by the family.
As always, Dewar combines keen insight with gentle humour as she unravels the complexities of day to day life. It's a good read, but would have worked better as a tapestry of interwoven short stories.

PLEASANT, UNASSUMING WRITING., 18 Sep 2005
This is a the type of book which is really a good idea to take on holiday, or to read when you've been doing too much and you need a rest. And yet, it's not horrible chick lit or anything shallow like that. It has a very valid comment to make which is that on the surface, most families look as though they are tightly knit and happy, and it's only when you get to know them better that you realise that all is not as good as it looks. This is a very obvious theme, and it's been dealt with by many writers but Isla Dewar brings a nice freshness to the story and we get to know the characters well and enjoy them.
The family type symbols - sandwiches, remote controls, picnics etc, which play a part are prosaic but then much of life is like that and it's not the great earth-shattering events which change people's attitudes, it's the small things which 'fire one's irresolute clay'.
This is a good solid book, which is fun.....

Acutely observed, witty and heart-warming, 24 May 2002
As the first book I had read by Dewar, this sealed my fate as a confirmed fan. Written with humour and wit, Dewar creates likeable yet flawed characters and presents her story with imagination and flair.

Roz has abandonned her life with obsessive husband Matthew, believing that her children and her husband no longer have time or need for her. Now settled into a full life in London, she is thrown back into the heart of her family following the death of Nan - the only one who really seemed to care - and must learn to rebuild her relationships to help each build a life for themselves.

Dewar's observations are sharp and her expression both comic and warm. Her fluent style and engaging characters are a joy to be experienced over and over.

Nice Title, Shame About The Book, 19 Jul 2001
Someone bought this book for me as a present, otherwise I would probably never have read it. It sounded good. The title, the cover and the first chapter were promising... Roz, the 'heroine', who had deserted her husband and children 10 years earlier, is suddenly thrust back into the bosom of her decidedly disfunctional family by the death of 'Nan' and her subsequent funeral. Nan was just about the most interesting character and she died a couple of pages in! And after that, it was all downhill. The author changes viewpoint so often, that I was left confused and irritated. Whose story was it supposed to be? A stream of equally dull characters were paraded across the pages and we were given the innermost thoughts of almost all of them, which created absolutely NO suspense for the reader! There is no wit, no humour and absolutely NO surprise element in this novel. None of the characters was believable or likeable and they drink too many cups of tea/coffee (yawn)! I only finished it so I could write this!

A touching, earthy-feeling book!, 23 Oct 2000
Having read 'Giving up on Ordinary' which was fairly witty but didn't feature in my top ten ever, I decided to give Isla Dewar another go. And I am glad I did. Coming from a dysfunctional family myself it struck a cord in relation to the pain and humour associated with this family's life. Apart from the touching and down to earth approach, Ms Dewar's portrayal of her characters brought them to life for me.....and I shall definitely read it again in a year's time. Easy reading - finished it in a day on holiday.

Very Enjoyable!, 29 Sep 2003
Isla Dewar's books alway