I am reviewing Restoring Grace – rather than one of Fforde’s more recent novels, or the brand new Wedding Season (which I am yet to get my sticky fox paws on) – partly out of necessity. The bulk of my own library and I have… geographical issues right now, and there’s no handy English bookshop nearby; so my pool of novels is limited to the ones I managed to cram into my hand luggage the last time I flew. However, by great good fortune, Restoring Grace is one of my favourite fun reads of all time. Not only that, but it handily encapsulates all the qualities I like best about Katie Fforde’s work; not least the unfailing ability to cheer me up and, where necessary, restore me to sanity.
Restoring Grace has one of these really lovely plot concepts that could spell potential disaster in the wrong hands. Divorced, dispossessed and more than a little lost, Grace Soudley lives in the beautiful but freezing house she once inhabited with her husband. Her life is turned upside down when a young artist called Ellie quite literally arrives on her doorstep, looking to earn some money by painting a picture of the house. Ellie is cheerful, pragmatic, self-sufficient… and unexpectedly pregnant, imminently single and totally broke. The friendship that grows between the two women allows each to get back on her feet. Of course, no sooner does Grace discover her new, stronger self than a handsome but enigmatic Irishman arrives on the scene to cause a whole new batch of fascinating difficulties; and as for Ellie, her quest to help Grace brings her into the path of her own romantic nemesis.
A lesser author could render this plot into the kind of sticky-sweet parable that gets female friendship themed novels a bad name. Katie Fforde, however, has an unerring grasp of the way people fit together: in friendships, in love, in families. I think it is this quality that makes her one of my favourite contemporary authors. While her novels are pleasantly optimistic, the interactions between her characters are often difficult; and the characters themselves are thoroughly rounded. Fforde knows all about irritating families, financial issues and bad days; but she certainly does not follow the all too common pattern (just as annoying as those sugary sweet parables, in my opinion) of setting the heroine up for a series of mistakes and humiliations and outright acts of idiocy until some nice man comes along and sets her pretty little head straight. Thank heavens.
What’s more, while the central plot provides a strong structure for the novel, it is not left to stand alone. The typical Fforde novel provides you with a vast amount of fascinating information about one or two topics, generally related to art, culture or heritage, and always crucial to the story. In Flora’s Lot (2006) it was antiques and auctioneering; in Practically Perfect (2007) we had renovations and ex-racing greyhounds (the latter are particularly close to my heart). Restoring Grace has wine tastings and picture restoration, with a naughty Adam and Eve playing a particularly important role in one of the romantic storylines. Despite the rather hifalutin’ nature of Fforde’s usual themes, there is no didacticism and certainly no snobbery at work. We learn along with her characters (Ellie’s journey into picture restoration is one such example) or benefit from their existing careers and enthusiasms (as with Grace and her wine tastings).
I will admit that I did occasionally wish to strangle Ellie; but being rather Grace-like by nature, I find the eternally upbeat and optimistic rather hard to deal with sometimes.
In conclusion, then: Restoring Grace is absolutely to be recommended to anyone who wants an uplifting and intelligent read. While Fforde never fails to ensure that her heroines get the happy resolution they deserve, the road there is always full of interesting obstacles, and even her most unashamedly romantic storylines are ultimately believable. Absolutely charming.
Arrow Books, paperback, 325 pp., ISBN 978-0099446637
Thanks for that, Kirstyjane, an informative review. I have read Practically Perfect and Highland Fling, both of which were most enjoyable and page-turners in their own way. ‘Charming’, i think, is a most appropriate word.
Sam
I’ve never read anything by Katie Fforde. I obviously need to remedy that fairly soon.
Neither have I, though I’ve been meaning to. Now I know where to begin – either this one or the one with greyhounds…
You know, Kirsty, I’m not sure if it’s the done thing to strangle fictional pregnant women…
I’ve heard of Katie Fford but haven’t read anything of hers yet. Thanks, I’ll have to check it out sometime.
“uplifting and intelligent”
A good combination, Kirsty, and not that easy to come by.
I never managed to finished Flora’s Lot, but I’ll give this one a try. In fact, I think I already have it on one of the bookshelves. I could do with a cheery book as the one I’m reading right now is giving me the creeps. Lovely review, Kirsty.
I’ve read a few of Fforde’s books and have enjoyed them, there’s always a lot of laughs too. This one, being about art, I might like even more than usual.
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