Member Review

It's a shameful to confession to say this is the first Nina Stibbe book I've ever read. But now I know what I've been missing out on. And I have the feeling that atoning for my sin is going to be a lot of fun. One Day I Shall Astonish The World is a joyous read and Stibbe's unique voice and wry humour shine through at every turn. Returning to this book each evening was like having the very best, funniest friend on hand. On the face of it, Susan's life could sound like a pitiful litany of missed opportunities, what with her lacklustre husband, her unrecognised talents and a best friend who steals her best ideas (not to mention her wedding dress design). But the small triumphs that Susan wrestles from her days are written about with such warmth that this is a wise, uplifting read. The writing is just genius, celebrating the surreal, the mundane and the poignant moments in life.