Mrs Narwhal’s Diary by S. J. Norbury

“It was Woman’s Hour who suggested I keep a diary. They said it was good for mental health, and I must say I did feel much less frazzled after writing everything down yesterday. The frustrations were all still there, but somehow smoothed out – as if by a really good steam iron.”

Mrs Narwhal is overwhelmed. Her husband, Hugh, is unkind and unhappy – working every hour at a job he hates to save the ancestral home he never wanted. Then there’s Hugh’s sister, Rose, who’s spurned her one true love, and ricochets from crisis to crisis; and not to mention two small boys to bring up safely in a house that could crumble around their ears at any moment…

When Hugh's pride receives a fatal blow, and he walks out, Mrs Narwhal is plunged into a crisis of both heart and home. With help from Rose she sets out to save the house her husband couldn't. But can she save her marriage? And does she really want Hugh back?

Funny, charming, and moving, Mrs Narwhal’s Diary is an irresistible story which will enchant and delight its readers.

About the author.

S J Norbury lives in Herefordshire with her family. Mrs Narwhal’s Diary is her first novel.

Review.

This book is a sensitive, funny and very astute look at life and love. It was illuminating at times, sad, but overall has a feeling of redemption and hope.

When listening to Women’s Hour Mrs Narwhal takes inspiration to writing a diary in order to help with her chaotic life. Her husband Hugh inherited a huge crumbling house and doesn’t know how to rectify this. He walks out on his wife and suddenly Mrs Narwhal has to make a lot of decisions herself. It's basically, a first-person narration as we are technically reading the diary and it's was a refreshing change to see something so honest.

What I enjoyed about this was its poignant look at family life and love. She always finds the humour in all circumstances and I hope that this is how I come across as in life. If you don't laugh you will cry and crying makes your eyes look puffy so! I also loved how the tree-house became the embodiment of how life was treating Mrs Narwhal. This isn't a book that has lots of twists or spikes in the plot but its more a meander through a gentle landscape but it's a very enjoyable and entertaining meander.