The Trick to Time

This is a moving account of the life of the main character, Mona, who is about to turn 60. It is told in the past and the present. It is both funny in parts, and very sad too. It is a love story, but not your usual love story.

My only gripe was that there appeared to be gaps in the story, which was a shame, as it would not have detracted from the novel if they had been included. Namely, how did she find William after he disappeared from the hospital, and how did they manage to set up their respective businesses.

Well worth reading.

A beautiful, sad and thought- provoking read. Split between two time lines, the story draws you into the world of the main character. I would recommend this book to anyone.

A very thoughtful, well crafted story, with believable characters. The author described the tragic event of the still birth with sympathy and understanding, which created such a heart-breaking impact on the character and also the reader

Time is a funny thing. Our minds can be in the present one moment facing the grim realities of adult life and in the next we are a small child facing nothing but playing on the sands of a beach and feeling all the love in the world. Mona is facing her 60th birthday and the totality of how she got to her present place in life.
The author, Kit de Waal, spins Mona's tale of love, loss and mystery in a beautiful book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book weaves between the present, when Mona is approaching her 60th birthday and the past, when Mona leaves Ireland and goes to Birmingham to work. Here she meets William, who becomes the love of her life. This is a beautiful book, wonderfully written, full of emotion and heartache. Totally deserving of 5 stars.

I rarely award five stars but this book richly deserves them. It is a masterfully drawn, tight story that is both gripping and unusual. The themes appear light, but there are clues scattered among them that you only realise are clues laid down for the reader when you reach the conclusion of this little gem of a book. Loved it! Will be seeking out her first novel, hoping it will be as good.

This is one of those books I picked up and couldn't put down. The writing is crisp and clean, and so readable. The story is simply wonderful. There are many delightful twists and turns to this tale with the ending being most unexpected. I read it in a couple of days, wanting to know what happened.

I love the story telling that De Waal does. She is well skilled at this. There are a number of sub-plots, some very sad, some that make you laugh out loud, and some that are intriguingly curious.

We can also see how the main character, Mona, and the prejudices of the past have helped to develop the person she is. The author flips back and forth between the past and present to help us find out more about what makes Mona tick.

This is a warm, funny, sad and well-written tale. A must-read.