Chocky

For Birthday/Christmas, one of the things on Bea's list was a book. She wanted something she wouldn't normally read, a recommendation from me (she gets book recs and borrows from Dom usually). This was rather hard. I've recommended and lent her things before. I know she isn't into romantic tales and so my previous suggestions have included The Screaming Staircase and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. However, she finished neither of those. (She's also struggling with Jane Eyre which someone bought for her, but I never thought that was a good idea...)

I discussed the prospect with Dom and he suggested something decent, but that wasn't quite in the Literature Reading Lists department (I've got plenty of such things from my OU degree). So I ended up buying two books: Chocky and Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow, as one Christmas present. She's now read Chocky. (Note: For anyone who doesn't know it, it's a short book published in 1968 by John "Day of the Triffids" Wyndham about a child's interaction with their imaginary friend. There was a TV series or three based on it.)

To my relief - she liked it. I'm not sure she'll necessarily read more Wyndham, or even if it's a good idea, but I was pleased to finally recommend something she found readable. I also wonder if she'll finish the other book.