A member of our club, Maxine Linnell held her book launch last Thursday. Her book was published under the genre Young Adult but it is a good read for adults too.
There was a strong correlation between ethos of the launch and the theme of the book. In the launch the author was superbly supported by her offspring who provided a buffet in two parts , one with food that would have suited such an occasion in the 1960s and one with the more globally inspired recipes that we enjoy now
The theme of the book contrasts family relationships and expectations in 1962 with those of 2010 using the 'body swap' device to good effect.
After reading the book I felt that the author and I were in agreement that on the whole family relationships are healthier and more mutually supportive in 2010 than they were in 1962 although social life outside the family for young adults can be physically more dangerous now than they were fifty years ago.
For those of us who were parents fifty years ago there is a realisation that although we gave our young children greater freedom than primary school children get today, yet we put too many restraints on them in puberty.
For younger people , the book will pose very different questions.
We old ones can also read this book for nostalgia, young ones for horrified incredulity.
