|
I was born and brought up in North Oxford, where I attended St Barnabas Junior School, in Jericho, and Milham Ford Girls Grammar School. As a mature student I teacher-trained at Westminster College (now Brookes University), but decided not to teach. Instead, I became the manager of a GP Surgery, and latterly ran a training course for medical professionals in Homeopathy.
I now live in Kennington, a village near Oxford, with my husband Bill. Apart from writing I enjoy reading, the cinema, gardening, walking Lovejoy and Louis, my standard wire-haired Dachshunds, homemaking and clothes. For the last twenty years we have holidayed in our caravan near Aldeburgh, Suffolk, and have no plans to go any further afield.
I am a member of The Oxford Writers Group, Writers In Oxford, and Abingdon Film Fanatics.
|
|
|
I have recently written a self-help text book for authors, A Seriously Useful Author's Guide to Publicising and Marketing Books Troubador, April 2009. My second novel, A Man Like Any Other (The Priest’s Tale) was published by Matador, September 2008. My first novel, The Crowded Bed, was published by Transita, January 2007 Reviews of both A Man Like Any Other and The Crowded Bed can be found on my Blogspot: http://marycavanagh.blogspot.com
Forthcoming Library Events
March 7th. Kennington Library Festival. To celebrate World Book Day I will be talking about A Man Like Any Other and also be giving a talk 'Do You Want To Be A Published Author?' I will be attending Burford Library on Tuesday April 7th to discuss A Man with the Library Reading Group.
Book News
I am very pleased to be able to publish my first review of A Man Like Any Other, and for this I am deeply indebted to Sharon Stanley.
A Man Like Any Other
Mary Cavanagh’s second novel, is a truly, excellent and page-turning read. Anyone who has read her first novel, The Crowded Bed, will not be disappointed with her stunning follow-up.
As before, Mary creates credible, human characters that excite, anger, frustrate, and generally mess up their lives – as we all do – whilst evoking our sympathy, and affection for their human frailties. She evokes 1960’s morality, and in particular, Roman Catholic morality, so very well, drawing the reader into the claustrophobic attitudes which strangle youth, hope, and ambition.
Her account of the Priest’s early beginnings are beautifully drawn, showing how a child is influenced by both nature and nurture. With great insight she describes the making of a small boy into to a man, a man to a priest, and a priest to a vulnerable ‘man like any other’. I was impressed with her handling of the enforced adoption theme, from which flowed how life’s uncertain throw of the dice can benefit, or destroy. Whilst being a perfect environment for the child, his ‘theft’ destroyed his natural mother, forcing her to reinvent herself.
As ever, Mary writes with sensitivity and a sure hand, using psychological nuance, darkness, and human weakness, so very well. However, to lighten the moral overload, she injects a running theme of black humour. If not handled properly, the result could border on farce, but it never does, steering the reader to view each scenario with perfect balance.
This novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys a fast-moving story, with fallible, enigmatic characters, and no heavy-handed judgements of right or wrong. The seriously ‘wrong’ aspect of the book is deep and jaw-dropping, but it is depicted eloquently, as an ‘unspoken sin’. The reader is, thus, left to judge for themselves in every situation.
A Man Like Any Other is wholeheartedly recommended. It will appeal to all age groups, of both sexes, and will make a superb choice as a Book Group read. Hopefully, it will become a huge best seller for Mary.
Sharon Stanley
June 2008
|
|
