Spectacles

Pippa Goodhart

Iris’ domineering Mother has just died. Iris is relieved to be free of her, and is then intrigued by what she finds when clearing out her mother’s flat. It turns out that Iris is illegitimate. So she isn’t the person she’d thought she was. Perhaps she can reinvent herself now?

When Iris acquires a pair of spectacles, she gains a renewed focus on life. She gives us her vision of the world around her, a clear, sometimes almost painfully comic view of people, places and the meaning of life! This complicated old woman shares some episodes from her life that move effortlessly from gentle humour and pure farce to moments of tragedy and deep despair. Iris is always full of surprises, and she leaves the biggest surprise until the end of the novel, when she shocks the reader with the most poignant, eye-opening revelation of all.

Reviews

"A moving story of life, death and all the questions in between."
Louise Heyden, Librarian

"Throughout this potpourri of a novel, Goodhart writes with humour and pathos as we follow this wonderful old woman[…] on an emotional journey."
Alan Wright, Author, nominated for Debut Dagger Award