Badgers and Jam - An interesting title to an interesting and at times intriguing book. It's a little hard to be sure what Badgers and Jam was really intended to be. Is it a comedy, a whodunnit, or indeed an opportunity for the author to introduce us to the special nature and mind of someone afflicted with Down's Syndrome? I rather suspect the latter and as such it achieved the purpose.
We are introduced to Marty Rockman, a moderately successful British comedian, who dies on stage, apparently of a heart attack. Death is not the end, however - on his journey to the hereafter, he is advised that in fact he has been murdered and he has twenty-four hours to find and extract some satisfaction from the murderer.
Marty is not able to manifest himself back on earth, but he is allowed one earth guide to assist him in his quest to discover the murderer. Marty chooses his twelve-year-old son, with his former wife, Dom, who has Down's Syndrome. What follows is a funny, at times almost farcical, but also, often touching experience as Marty and his talented son seek to discover the true murderer. Along the way they collect a number of people, some of whom are a help, but a few who prove to be a hindrance.
This was a very easy book to read and although at times the story required some considerable suspension of belief, I really enjoyed the look inside a Down's Syndrome person's mind. As someone who has worked with "intellectually disabled" people in the past, I, like I suspect, the author, had often felt there was much more going on inside those minds than we would give them credit for
This was a sweet story from Nicci Rae and I did enjoy the read. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for anyone who enjoys something a little different, with a touch of humour and no small degree of sarcasm. I solid four stars from me, for Badgers and Jam.
You can check out all of Nicci Rae's work here: http://amzn.to/23tNQTk
We are introduced to Marty Rockman, a moderately successful British comedian, who dies on stage, apparently of a heart attack. Death is not the end, however - on his journey to the hereafter, he is advised that in fact he has been murdered and he has twenty-four hours to find and extract some satisfaction from the murderer.
Marty is not able to manifest himself back on earth, but he is allowed one earth guide to assist him in his quest to discover the murderer. Marty chooses his twelve-year-old son, with his former wife, Dom, who has Down's Syndrome. What follows is a funny, at times almost farcical, but also, often touching experience as Marty and his talented son seek to discover the true murderer. Along the way they collect a number of people, some of whom are a help, but a few who prove to be a hindrance.
This was a very easy book to read and although at times the story required some considerable suspension of belief, I really enjoyed the look inside a Down's Syndrome person's mind. As someone who has worked with "intellectually disabled" people in the past, I, like I suspect, the author, had often felt there was much more going on inside those minds than we would give them credit for
This was a sweet story from Nicci Rae and I did enjoy the read. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for anyone who enjoys something a little different, with a touch of humour and no small degree of sarcasm. I solid four stars from me, for Badgers and Jam.
You can check out all of Nicci Rae's work here: http://amzn.to/23tNQTk
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