Poles Apart: An uplifting, feel-good read about the power of friendship and community #PolesApart #NetGalley #Friendship #Relationships #WeekendRead

  

I was given a ARC of Poles Apart, in return for an honst review.

Book Description:

The Pembrokeshire village of Morlan is a beautiful place to live, but breathtaking views of the Welsh coastline aside, four of the female residents find themselves stuck in a painful rut.

The arrival of pole dancing exercise classes in the village hall offers each of them a chance to bond and discover previously hidden strengths. Gwen seems to have it all but how will she cope when her marriage hits the rocks? Meg would love not to be single, but her recent operation has left her confidence shot to pieces. Recently widowed Ivy is fed up with following the rules, but at seventy-two can she really change her ways? Mum of two Summer is desperate for some time to herself outside her home.

Together the group form a bond of friendship that will stand them in good stead when facing the trials and tribulations in their personal lives.

My Review: 

Poles Apart by Anna Burns and Jacqui Burns is a character led story and, as the reader, I was instantly drawn in. The four disparate protagonists: Ivy, Gwen, Meg and Summer, are presented as representatives of the various stages of any woman’s life. And they are placed in situations that easily evoke empathy.

These characters are rounded and multi-layered. Each grow in their own way as their individual stories are told, and as the overall plot progresses.

The fundamental theme, that of friendship, centres around a quite mysterious pivotal character, Feather Starr, who brings together these women in what is presented as a controversial situation; that of a pole dancing class in a small traditional Welsh village in Pembrokeshire. Bubbling away in the background, the humorous diatribe against the group is carried along by a few minor characters and cleverly offsets the real and serious problems that each protagonist is dealing with. It’s a good balance.

Both the internal and spoken dialogue is strong and easily attributed to each character; the reader is never in doubt of whose point of view is being presented, or of the emotions threaded through the words.

 The setting of the book, the towns and villages of Pembrokeshire give a good sense of place.  To anyone who knows the county it brings a familiar background to mind. To readers unfamiliar with the area, the descriptions are strong enough to evoke images of beautiful coastline and village life, with the occasional sojourn into the town representative of many other towns.

When I say this is an easy read it’s not in a detrimental way. Poles Apart is a book that captures the imagination from the start, I found myself easily drawn into the various stages as the narrative progressed, and can recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a feel good story, with a neat little twist at the end.

 As it says on the charming cover: Four Woman, One Sleepy Village ... It's Time to Give Life a whirl  - sums this book up nicely.