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Book Review Other People's Diaries by Kathy Webb

Engaging Contemporary Fiction Novel Written by Australian Sisters

Sep 14, 2008 Susan Whelan

As inspiration for her next book, a bestselling author brings together five strangers and attempts to help them find happiness.

Alice Day has not written a bestselling book in years. It seems as though the success of her debut novel based on her grandmother’s life may have been a one-off. Then she has an idea. Inspired by the simpler times of her grandmother, she asks five people to complete online diaries about their busy lives, and then sets them tasks to try to make small changes that will bring them happiness.

Characters in Other People’s Diaries

Rebecca is a working mother to a rebellious teenager and an active toddler. With a high-flying job in a recruitment agency, she often struggles to keep things running smoothly. Although outwardly she seems to have it all, secrets that she has kept for years threaten her relationships with her husband and daughter.

Claire gave up work as a young dental assistant in order to start a family. Years later, the family has not eventuated, and Claire’s marriage is feeling the strain of her obsession with having children. Lonely in the city, she seizes upon the opportunity Alice’s experiment offers her.

Megan is a primary school teacher who is not entirely happy in her chosen career path. Pushed into teaching by her parents, she would rather spend time with her boyfriend. The problem is he’s married to someone else. Megan only joins in Alice’s group to get a book signed for her mother, but soon finds herself caught up in the experiment.

At 60 years of age, Lillian is the oldest member of the group. Recently widowed and with her children living overseas, Lillian bears the burden of her recent diagnosis with a degenerative disease alone.

Kerry, the group’s only man, is a divorced father. He joins the group in order to meet women, and even enters into a flirtation with Alice, but he still has feelings for his ex-wife.

Australian Contemporary Fiction with a Broad Appeal

Set in Brisbane, Other People’s Diaries (Macmillan, 2008) has an obvious appeal to Australian readers. The intertwining plots of the various characters are reminiscent of the novels by popular Irish writer Maeve Binchy, with a fresh Australian twist.

Other People’s Diaries is a thoroughly modern story and its focus on the universal topics of families and relationships will please readers anywhere. The characters are well developed and while there is enough drama to ensure the story continues at a good pace, the plot remains realistic and credible.

About the Authors

Kathy Webb is the pseudonym of sisters Kris Webb and Kathy Wilson, who currently live in Abu Dhabi and Brisbane respectively. Other People’s Diaries is their third book together following Sacking the Stork (Macmillan, 2003) and Inheriting Jack (Macmillan 2004).

Other People’s Diaries (ISBN: 978 1 4050 3850 8, 339 pages)

The copyright of the article Book Review Other People's Diaries by Kathy Webb in World Literatures is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Book Review Other People's Diaries by Kathy Webb in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Other People's Diaries by Kathy Webb