Fenella’s Fair Share

Reviewed By  Janet Mawdesley       August 31, 2024

 

Author  Chris Chalmers

Distributor:      Collective Ink/Roundfire Books
ISBN:                 978-1-80341-547-5
Publisher:         Roundfire Books
Release Date:   August 2024  

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Fenella Woodruffe lives in a share house in London, where she has lived for the past eight years. Being the oldest member of the share house sometimes makes her wonder if life is passing her bye more rapidly than she would like.

The antics of the younger housemates, carnal and otherwise leave her often astonished but accepting that her life is fine after all. That is until a new housemate is required and the selected one is Martin, a man with a certain captivating charm which appeals to Fen.
She goes out of her way to make him feel welcome and when her mother decides it is time to go on a Cruise, she reluctantly leaves home to accompany her; the plus is she has always wanted to visit Norway. Even though her Mother has MS she is determined not to let it stop her doing some of what she wants and takes on the voyage with great gusto, which is a great relief to Fen, as she and her mother are sharing a very nice Stateroom with ocean views.

When her mother begins a flirtation with a very charming widower, Fen begins to wonder once again about life in general; her job, which is demanding, her life in a shared house and ponders, is this all life has to offer. Her mother’s acerbic comments also hit the mark.

As the voyage continues she finds she is enjoying the company of Irving Jessop, a quiet, lonely man. But, as with all good things, they too come to an end and when Fenella returns home, ready to get a bit more proactive in regard to Martin, she finds things have changed:  Martin has a girlfriend and she is Australian, loud, noisy and ‘blowsy’.

All things certainly do change and after a memorable night, when everything gets far too out of control, she makes the decision to not only leave the House and as her job at the Art gallery seems to be going down the same road, she leaves there as well; two massive decisions in one day.

Fenella’s Fair Share is set in two parts – the first looking at family, connections, change and the ruts we dig for ourselves, before the second shows when it is time to change so many things fall into place. It also looks at the value of friendship and where you draw the line between sharing intimacies, even with one’s Mother.

The feeling of being stuck is carefully created with the deliberately snow pace of the narrative. It picks up with the gentle and subtle introduction of Irving Jessop, the blossoming of Fenella’s mother, Lillian who in spite of coping with the debilitating MS, is still full of adventure, planning for the future. Fen is finally beginning to know and understand her mother and to her surprise, is enjoying every moment of their new relationship.

Witty, slightly caustic at times and deliciously naughty, with the skillful portrayal of so many character types, Chris Chalmers has delivered a most enjoyable, light-hearted look at the people we know and love as Fenella finally gets her fare share!