Pack Up the Moon by Anna McPartlin
Pack Up the Moon by Anna McPartlin
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Friday, 05, Jun 2009 04:26
Published by Penguin, out June 25th, paperback, 367 pp, £6.99.
In a nutshell...
Bestseller, loving, comedy, honest, real life
What's it all about?
Emma's life falls apart when her boyfriend John dies in a tragic accident. They were childhood sweethearts and when John dies, Emma's lost. That is when her friends come into play. Sean was John's best friend but can he be there for Emma when she needs him most? Anne and Richard were seen as the perfect married couple but are they as happy as everyone thinks?
Who's it by?
Anne McPartlin. Pack Up the Moon is her debut novel and is set very much in a background of her own experience. Having lost her mother to MS at the age of 17, Anne knows what it's like to survive after going through some of life's worst experiences.
As an example.
"Doreen put her cup of fresh tea down. 'You love him?' she asked.
'More than shoes.'
'Does he love you?'
'More than football.'
Doreen finished her interrogation by asking whether he had any interest in the Green Party.
'Not that i know of.'
'Good. All the best of luck to you, love.'
Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood blockbuster
They made PS I Love You into a film so you never know. It certainly has the characters to create the ultimate chick-flick rom -com.
What the others say
"For a debut novel, Pack up the Moon is brilliantly written. Unlike many of her fellow writers, McPartlin manages to convey grief in a totally believable manner without overdoing it. An absolute page turner, Pack up the Moon will have you reaching for the tissues." - Poolbeg, Bibliofemme
So is it any good?
Reading about John's death immediately screamed a PS I Love You rip-off at me but as I read on, I was pleasantly surprised. Surviving after the death of loved one can never be seen as easy or even peaceful. In Cecilia Ahern's novel, the loved one left a series of notes to make sure Holly lived on without her lover. Anne McPartlin takes a much more light-hearted look on things. Emma's friends become her life support but not the point where she is the charity case. She learns more about herself and eventually ends up falling in love again.
Pack Up the Moon is a good read which does have some really well constructed comedic moments. Emma's character is almost inspirational in the way she takes on John's look on life to enjoy her own. Sean becomes the character the reader can come to love as well as Emma's brother Noel who has some issues of his own.
This is one I would definitely recommend for a girly night in.
7/10
Sanoobar Patel