Book review: Mr Doubler Begins Again

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By Seni Glaister
Published by HQ 

 Synopsis: Baked, mashed, boiled or fried, Mr Doubler knows his potatoes. But the same can’t be said for people. Since he lost his wife, he’s been on his own at Mirth Farm – and that suits Doubler just fine. Crowds are for other people; the only company he needs are his potato plants and his housekeeper, Mrs Millwood, who visits every day.

 So when Mrs Millwood is taken ill, it ruins everything – and Mr Doubler begins to worry that he might have lost his way. But could the kindness of strangers be enough to bring him down from the hill?

 How did this book end up in my hands? I was part of the blog tour for this book at the beginning of the year and I received a copy in exchange of my honest opinion.

 Was it a page-turner? This is an extremely sweet book and I enjoyed taking my time to read it as it allowed me to get to know the characters better than if I had rushed through it, missing all their nuanced personality traits.

 Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? Yes, the synopsis captures the essence of this book very well. What it didn’t prepare me for is that there were going to be tears mixed in with the laughter at times.

 Did I like the ending? [no spoilers] I did, yes. More often than not, the last chapter of a book will be some sort of recap of what happened to the characters after the ‘real’ narrative is over. This book is different inasmuch as it ends while we’re still in the present of the characters and I love the sense that anything could happen now.

 Three words to describe it. Adorable. Inspiring. Funny.

 Do I like the cover? Yes, it is very artistic. A potato farm could never look any cuter!

 Have I read any other books by the same author? No, but I’d love to catch up and read The Museum of Things Left Behind.

 Will I be recommending this book? Yes, it’s one of those books that put a smile on your face and tug at your heartstrings at the same time. Plus, so many unforgettable characters live in these pages and the author makes them truly come to life. Warning: you will crave cake (and possibly gin!) by the end of it!

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