Beginnings

L T Smith's novels are all wonderfully romantic in that angsty but feel good in the end kind of way. Man, if you want a good romance pick up one of her books. She has characters that, although they are British, are very easy to relate to. And because she writes in first person narative, you feel like she is right there with you, having a little chat, sharing a cupa. I love, love, love her.

This is a difficult question, right? What makes a book different? The cover? It's funny that many people chooses them by her looks. The plot? The characters? The development? The author? The end? The never ending story, on the contrary? The language? The non proper one? But what is proper and what isn't? What we have here is an author with style, actually tons of it, that is. This is L.T. Smith second published book but it could be her first one, her `beginning' because this is all about. How it all began for our author. In Manchester, in a working-class neighbourhood where the kids used to be outdoors all day long without any fear until her Mums would call out loud their names, `Sarah!!! Your tea is ready' I must admit that I'm not L. T.'s same generation but I cannot help feeling a nearness to her own memories. The funny space hoppers, kids used to ride as if they would go in a baloon smashing all over the place, the songs, the feeling that our childhood was a more free than it is nowadays after reading how she describes Lou Turner's. Lou Turner... I love that character. I love her from the very first moment she started, in 1st person, to tell me her story. How she grew with 8 brothers and sisters that would watch all her movements to transmit them to the neighbours that would ask for her and how they changed and became different all together and had to choose a parent and a life which would lead them to be this or that. As far as I read, I find a story told from the author's heart and, indeed, it ends too quickly for my need of more. As L.T. story is part of me also. Eventhough I grew up in a different country. `Beginning' could be mine also. When Lou becomes a teenager, you can think that your interest may drop but it's the opposite. The interest increases because the insecurity that pops up in any of us from time to time (for some people, rarely and for others, very frequently) is in Lou's thoughts and she's our heroine in every action and every adventure she takes.. The last part of the book is too exciting to tell. I just ask you to discover it yourself because it's worth the reading walk where the author takes you. Did I find the story kind of slow? The opposite. Too fast for my taste as I like to flavour every word of it. Did I find a kind of crudeness in certain spots? Excuse me? What was that again? The story is as it is; L.T. follows its line from her `Beginning' and I find the language as well as the modisms just perfect. Especially when I'm not from the same area. I enjoy the whole story even more. Love. Beginnings is also a love story and a beautiful one that lasts thirty years. Who wants more?