Joanna Trollope - Friday Nights

Review by Maggie Perkovic on 8th Jan 2009 show.
This author, Joanne Trollope, is one of those that I always look forward to.
Rather like Maeve Binchey, I feel she is an old friend; one I can trust to write something absorbing with characters I can really care about.
The media publicised this book as one which exposes the life of the DJ and how the music affects our young people but that was only a small element of the story. Elderly and retired Eleanor, watches the young women in her street both with young children, one widowed and one living in a flat paid for by her married lover. She feels compassion for them and starts to invite them to her place on a Friday night for wine and a meal. Gradually the two extend to more until there are six female friends, different ages and circumstances some with children and one who is indeed a DJ, all meeting with Eleanor who is a true friend to all of them. She is never judgemental, always supportive but also willing to advise when requested.
Of course things never stay the same, especially when a man is introduced into the mix.
This book is highly recommended. Her research is meticulous, both on nightclubs and on football, which becomes the hobby of one of the children and therefore of interest to the elderly Eleanor but presented in a very acceptable was that even I was intrigued by it! When I purchased this book another lady was also enquiring about it in the shop so I think it will be a bestseller.