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A Pocketful of Happiness by Richard E Grant.
Stories about the lives of others became a bit of an obsession during lockdown for me and that has continued. The title “A Pocketful of Happiness” caught my eye and sounded like what we all needed. Never mind that it was by one of my favourite actors, bonus! This memoir by Richard E Grant is a bit like a diary written in the last year of his wife, voice coach Joan Washington’s life.
It is a mixture of celebrity tales, visits from such names as Nigella and the now King Charles as well as a very personal account of a family facing the inevitable. It doesn’t matter how many famous friends you have if your partner and love of your life is dying.
You may think it sounds grim, but I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
It was difficult to read the very personal heartache and private details of their struggle but also heartening to hear about the wonderful kindness and understanding heaped on them in spades by family and friends as well as a good smattering of showbiz stories.
I will now look for my own “Pocketful full of happiness” each day.
Borrow this title here.
Also available as an eAudio book (BorrowBox).
-Teresa at Watsonia Library
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