My Policeman by Bethan Roberts - Revision history

Sue at 09:03, 30 September 2020

2020-09-30T09:03:16Z

Sue at 11:49, 18 March 2018

2018-03-18T11:49:56Z

Sue at 15:54, 4 January 2015

2015-01-04T15:54:37Z

Sue at 11:25, 12 July 2012

2012-07-12T11:25:31Z

Sue at 14:04, 16 November 2011

2011-11-16T14:04:18Z

Sue at 14:02, 16 November 2011

2011-11-16T14:02:56Z

Sue: Created page with '{{infobox |title=My Policeman |author=Bethan Roberts |reviewer=Louise Laurie |genre=General Fiction |rating=4 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=9780701187101 |paperback=0701185848 |hard…'

2011-11-16T14:01:13Z

Created page with '{{infobox |title=My Policeman |author=Bethan Roberts |reviewer=Louise Laurie |genre=General Fiction |rating=4 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=9780701187101 |paperback=0701185848 |hard…'

New review

{{infobox
|title=My Policeman
|author=Bethan Roberts
|reviewer=Louise Laurie
|genre=General Fiction
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9780701187101
|paperback=0701185848
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=341
|publisher=Chatto & Windus
|date=February 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701187101</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0701187101</amazonus>
|website=
|video=
|summary=Young policeman Tom is torn between two loves. He marries - but his personal inner turmoil and unhappiness only deepens.
}}

The story opens with two schoolfriends Sylvie and Marion doing what teenagers do best - talking and giggling about boys. Sylvie has a rather dishy and handsome older brother called Tom - and Marion has developed a bit of a crush on him. But it's nothing to worry about, she'll grow out of it. Except she doesn't. Even although, deep down, she has misgivings about this rather lukewarm romance. She's actually sizzling hot for some action, a bit of kissing, a bit of harmless snogging - but Tom's the one who is lukewarm. Why?

And we get to the problem, albeit one which is skirted around and not really talked about. If you don't talk about it well, things may turn out okay. So Tom and Marion initially meet up for swimming lessons - Marion can't swim. But even with just the two of them, the situation is far from ideal. All the warning signs are there if only Marion would open her eyes.

When Tom returns from National Service, Marion (now a teacher) puts her master plan into action. She'll have her man - at any cost.

The story is told by Marion many years later, so we know what has happened in the intervening years. Especially to the three main characters. The other person in this threesome is Patrick. Patrick and Tom are more than just friends and they conduct a hush-hush relationship.

Fast-forward to the present day and we see that Patrick, due to a recent illness, is now a captive audience of one for Marion. She tells him how it was for her, all those years ago and does not spare the details. Her friendship with the suave, man-about-town Patrick has always been uneasy. She had to 'share' Tom with him, after all. But over the years Marion became very good at putting a brave face on for the world but was it worth it?

I found Roberts' style to be fluid, uncomplicated and very easy to get into the story, right from the beginning. Although, after a while, I did find Pattrick's constant reference to Tom as ''My Policeman'' irksome.

A threesome in a love triangle is not uncommon in fiction. But here, in the words of an ordinary woman, it is poignant. Okay, Marion has made her choice and she's an intelligent woman. She knew that her marriage would not be a bed of roses. And children? Did they have any? Roberts tells all in her own good time. A story about partner choices. About living with choices as gracefully as possible. A bitter-sweet tale.

If this book appeals then you might like to try [[Consolation by Anna Gavalda]]

{{amazontext|amazon=0701187101}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=}}

{{commenthead}}

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 A threesome in a love triangle is not uncommon in fiction.  But here, in the words of an ordinary woman, it is poignant.  Okay, Marion has made her choice and she's an intelligent woman.  She knew that her marriage would not be a bed of roses.  And children?  Did they have any?  Roberts tells all in her own good time.  A story about partner choices.  About living with choices as gracefully as possible.  A bitter-sweet tale.
-If this book appeals then you might like to try [[Consolation by Anna Gavalda]]
+If this book appeals then you might like to try [[Consolation by Anna Gavalda]] and Roberts' [[The Good Plain Cook by Bethan Roberts|The Good Plain Cook]].
 {{amazontext|amazon=0099555255}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{infobox
+{{infobox1
 |title=My Policeman
 |author=Bethan Roberts
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |publisher=Chatto & Windus
 |date=February 2012
 |summary=Young policeman Tom is torn between two loves.  He marries - but his personal inner turmoil and unhappiness only deepens.
 }}

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |borrow=Yes
 |isbn=9780701187101
 |pages=341
 |publisher=Chatto & Windus
@@ Line 38: / Line 34: @@
 If this book appeals then you might like to try [[Consolation by Anna Gavalda]]
-{{amazontext|amazon=0099555255}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8584679}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=0099555255}}
 {{commenthead}}

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |borrow=Yes
 |isbn=9780701187101
-|paperback=0701185848
+|paperback=0099555255
-|hardback=
+|hardback=0701185848
 |audiobook=
-|ebook=
+|ebook=B006VTPC7K
 |pages=341
 |publisher=Chatto & Windus
 |date=February 2012
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701185848</amazonuk>
+|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555255</amazonuk>
 |amazonus=<amazonus>0701185848</amazonus>
 |website=
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 If this book appeals then you might like to try [[Consolation by Anna Gavalda]]
-{{amazontext|amazon=0701185848}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8584679}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=0099555255}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8584679}}
 {{commenthead}}