| Title | : | The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1473669022 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 297 |
| Publication | : | First published May 3, 2018 |
But a chance encounter with two extraordinary women - the fabulous and wise Kitty Muriel, a convent girl-turned-magician's wife-turned-seventy-something-roller-disco-fanatic, and the mysterious Sally Red Shoes, a bag lady with a prodigious voice - opens up a new world of possibilities, and the chance to start living again.
Until the fateful day when the past comes roaring back...
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes Reviews
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Ruth Hogan's experience of cancer informs this meditation on grief, death and sorrow, infused with her trademark eccentric characters, along with joyous wit and humour. This is a darker story than The Keeper of Lost Things, of women experiencing loss, the death of children, hitting rock bottom but finding a way through to initially survive but eventually to live again. Hogan replicates the structure of her debut novel here, with the main strand in the narrative focusing on Masha, and a secondary thread focusing on the lonely Alice, and her beloved son, Mattie. Alice's life begins to unravel with her desperate concern and worries over Mattie, although Mattie struggles to handle his mother's obsessive love, yearning to be part of a different family, and feeling overburdened with no one to support him when life becomes increasingly hard to bear.
Masha, not her real name, but a nod to Chekov's character in The Seagull, whose first words are 'I'm in mourning for my life', lost her toddler son, Gabriel. He drowned in the river and shattered Masha's and her parents lives. Masha bought a wolfhound, Hazium, who has helped her survive in the land of the living, along with her close friends, Edward, and Epiphany. To help her anchor her life further, Masha has constructed and inhabits the sphere of death with her drowned son, haunting the graves in a Victorian cemetery, breathing life into the dead with her imagination, colouring in their lives, features and personalities. She has become so intimately acquainted with them that they are her other family, providing her with much needed succour, and driving her burning ambition to become the cemetery tour guide. Masha swims at the Lido, wishing to experience the feel of drowning, to connect with her dead son further, although thankfully this need eventually begins to diminish as swimming builds up her physique. Masha has developed a sense of comfort in living with the dead, which comes to fray at the edges, becoming undone when she meets the glorious singing woman with bags of gusto, the feeder of crows, that is Sally Red Shoes. Sally embraces and carves a path that is uniquely her own, drawing in and becoming close to Masha. Masha's fate is sealed as her inner urge begins to demand that she learns to live again, not forgetting Gabriel but letting him go, and cemented by her desire to forge a romantic relationship with the Olympian at the Lido. This fire within her begins to blaze ever more fiercely as her relationship with the glamorous and one off powerhouse that is Kitty Muriel becomes ever closer with their attendance of a roller skating disco. Kitty ignites Masha's passion to once again find and perform in the dance of life with all its hopes and troubles.
Hogan has Alice and Masha's storylines connect after giving us some inkling earlier as to how this might happen. The authenticity of this paean to death can feel a little hard to bear, but Hogan lifts the narrative with exquisite moments of joy and humour, such as Epiphany's dinner party attended by the monstrous real estate agent, Hugo, and the unintentionally hilarious production of The Mikado. Death is a subject that is oft papered over, never to be confronted or discussed, but as the poet Thomas Gray puts it 'The paths of glory lead but to the grave'. Amidst death and sorrow, Masha finds hope and the will to choose to live again, rising from the shadows, like Sally and Kitty, to be unafraid of being who she is. An outstanding story of grace and death, and living a life of joy that is true to who you are. Highly recommended and a novel that I can see many readers gifting to those who may be in circumstances that require The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes. Many thanks to John Murray Press for an ARC. -
Ruth Hogan can paint a picture like no other. Her words color the page and create a detailed scene. If I started quoting all the phrases I loved, I’d never be able to stop. Her characters are vibrant. She can have me alternating between crying and laughing in the space of a page.
I adore books like this, that give us life with all quirks. Masha lost her little boy 12 years ago and has just been surviving. During a dinner party (hilarious and sad), she realizes it’s time to move on. It’s not an easy process. This book reminds us it's wise to have a variety of friends, even some whose real name we don’t know and there’s something glorious about the different strengths they can impart.
This book also called out to me because I’ve always had a thing for graveyards. Like Masha, I find a connection there. I love the concept of a “family on the other side“. When Masha compares thoughts on death present day and historical, it rang very true.
Hazium, a Wolfhound, provides comic relief and there was one scene where I almost fell off the couch from laughing.
While the story dealt with death and loss, it gave me a real sense of peace and comfort. I loved all the characters, their struggles and their valiant fights to keep living their lives.
Make sure to read the Author’s Note. Ms. Hogan states she wanted “a book about hope and living life to the full”, while still tackling some “difficult and painful issues”. She succeeds with spades. Five brilliant stars!
My thanks to netgalley and Crooked Books for an advance copy of this Heartwarming book. -
Just look at that cover! Isn't it beautiful? I always love an attractive cover and this one certainly ticks all the boxes.
"The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes" is an exceptional and mesmerising exploration of the simple human connections that make life worth living, about dark secrets, hope, unexpected friendships and second chances.
This is a very, very sad book at times covering some extremely painful issues but I loved the way the author Ruth Hogan introduced humour that was subtle enough to still keep you fully immersed in the emotion of the story yet not drag you down into the depths of despair. I did however feel tears forming in the chapter when after a funeral the words "Where there are birds, there are angels" were said - truly breathtaking!
Towards the very end of the story I suddenly clicked as to the totally unexpected twist and I literally felt shivers down my spine, I NEVER saw that coming and though both a happy and sad denouement it was a truly perfect ending.
There are some emotional triggers to the book which may affect some readers - a two year old child's death by drowning, cancer and death in general (since a lot of the story is set In a cemetery) but they are handled so, so delicately by the author, you can just tell there is some personal experience hidden in amongst the beautiful prose.
The characters are truly wonderful and although many are slightly eccentric or diverse they stay just the right side of realistic. Likeable people you would love to know in real life. "Sally Red Shoes" was a fabulous character and the star of the show even though the main protagonists Alice and Masha tell the narrative, as the story is based around them. I think we've all known a Sally at some point!
I loved reading this heartfelt book, I took my time with it and devoured every emotive word. I know this book might not be for everyone but should it be your genre, you will love it, it's really uplifting and it's a one I will always remember and read again in the future.
5 beautiful stars! -
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is a story of grief and loss and the strength it takes to walk through it. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Look at that lovely cover! We need more turquoise covers, right?! Gorgeous!
Masha’s life has been shaped by tragedy. She used to be known for her spunk and independence and for over twelve years now, she’s been grieving and has lost herself in the process.
Her places of comfort are the nearby Victorian cemetery, and the lido, where she swims.
Two special and quirky women enter Masha’s life and help her start life over on her own terms. First, there’s Kitty Muriel, who has worn all kinds of fun and funky hats (she has a penchant for roller disco these days!). Then, there’s Sally Red Shoes, a “bag lady” with a beautiful singing voice.
Then, the past re-enters Masha’s life.
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes takes us to some darker places- grief and loss, but somehow, with these eccentric characters, Ruth Hogan instills hope and authenticity, so there’s a balance, or reprieve, from the darkness.
I found The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes to be important, introspective, insightful, and witty. It bravely confronts death and all the feelings that go along with it. I loved the charm and wit of the characters, as well as their intense joy, and isn’t it those moments of joy that keep us going? A beautiful, bold book!
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is a thoughtful meditation on death and the process of returning to life again while walking through grief. It reminded me a touch of Nina George’s The Book of Dreams, which I also adored, in the brave way it approaches death. This book is uniquely its own due to all of Ruth Hogan’s charm, but I hope you will check out both memorable books if this type of story is calling to you.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog:
www.jennifertarheelreader.com -
A very brave book about death and about cancer written by Ruth Hogan when she was herself undergoing treatment for cancer. However do not for one moment think that it is a "difficult" or sad book. The sad is outweighed by the optimistic and the good, and there are many light hearted moments.
This is my second book by this author and she has a very recognisable and descriptive style. Sometimes nothing happens for pages but the content of those pages is pure reading pleasure. Her characters are fun too, always a touch quirky and very entertaining. I particularly liked Edward and thought it was a nice touch to give him a special role in Gabriel's life.
All in all I loved 'The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes' so why I am I not giving it five stars? The answer to that is the way the book ends. Read it and see what you think! -
"When the music ends for someone you love you don't stop dancing. You dance for them as well."
Ruth Hogan has somehow managed to write a novel about the unspeakable loss of a child and infused it with moments of joy and lightness amongst the more sombre themes of death dying.
Masha is a woman who lost her baby son Gabriel twelve years before and has since struggled to survive, feeling his loss every day. Her loyal wolfhound, Haizum, helps to keep her sane as does her dear friend Edward, who also loved her little boy, but she has forgotten to look for joy in her life and spends her free time practicing drowning and walking in the cemetery imagining the lives of the dead. Another frequenter of the cemetery is an eccentric woman she nicknames 'Sally Red Shoes' who collects bread crusts to feed the crows daily and loves to sing. Through Sally Masha also meets Kitty, an older woman full of life and willing to tackle anything and suddenly she finds she has new friends and perhaps more joy in living. Told in parallel with Masha's story is Alice's. Mother of thirteen year old Mattie, she is terrified of losing him after several miscarriages and in danger of suffocating him with her over-protectiveness. She's also terrified of leaving him as she undergoes treatment for cancer.
Despite the theme of death and grief, this novel never feels too weighty. Masha's love and joy in her little boy and her guilt and profound sense of loss is palpable but there are also moments of humour and lightness and it is lovely to watch Masha gradually throw off the grief that has cloaked her and feel part of the world again. Ruth Hogan's uses her wonderfully descriptive prose so sensitively to describe thoughts and feelings that all the characters come alive in full colour with all their quirks and foibles. I'm not entirely convinced that the ending was the best one for the characters (see spoiler below), but it could make for an interesting discussion at book clubs. 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital copy to read. -
Dressed in an oversized, worn coat and wearing scuffed red Mary Jane shoes, an old woman visits the cemetery. She is eccentric. She smiles. She "enunciates her expletives beautifully". Soon she will leave the cemetery, bag of bread crumbs in hand, and feed the crows in the park. It appears that the cemetery is a place of comfort. For Masha, "the cemetery is [my] her sanctuary" as well.
Every week, Masha swims in the Charleston Lido Pool. Actually, she goes there to drown...almost. As a self-professed authority on drowning, she swims underwater and holds her breath as a means of "self-inflicted waterboarding". She is riddled with grief and guilt over the drowning death of her two year old son, Gabriel. While the cemetery is her sanctuary, the pool is her penance. For twelve years, Masha has been "...caught in a rip current of grief and struggling against it gets me nowhere". Haizum, her Irish Wolfhound, is her constant companion and lifeline, that is, until she crosses paths with the old woman that Masha will refer to as "Sally Red Shoes".
According to Sally, "Life is full of small joys if you know where to look for them...even in the darkest of times and places" "Her idiosyncrasies are strangely comforting". Surprisingly, Sally sings an aria in Italian to a group of Italian headstones while Haizum, the dog, tries to harmonize with her. Sally "...shouts and swears, sings to dead people...she is like a naughty best friend...". Is it possible for Masha to take small, forward moving steps to live life to the fullest instead of to just survive?
"The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes" by Ruth Hogan is a rollercoaster of a ride. "Grief is not a linear thing". Masha with Haizum in tow, visits the cemetery regularly finding some measure of peace spending time with the departed. She tends the graves of those who never receive visitors. The novel is not heavy-handed by any means. "Edith Piaf" is the name of Masha's green and white Citroen, a small French car with huge headlamps. There are many witty and laugh out loud passages. Ruth Hogan's sophomore novel is totally engaging. It is a heartfelt, emotional read. Despite the depths of despair, life can go on if you embrace it. An excellent read.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes". -
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is a thoughtful book that both surprised me and humbled me in ways that I wasn’t expecting. Going into this book, I knew that the story revolved around difficult subject matter such as death, loss, and grief, and so I thought that this would be a heavy read, since most authors tend to approach these themes in a manner that focuses more on the dark and tragic. It turns out I was wrong, as Ruth Hogan has a unique style all her own where she is able to take such difficult subject matter and approach it in a manner that is lighthearted, yet absolutely respectful. Hogan herself was battling cancer as she wrote this book and as she describes in her “Author’s Note,” she chose to stand up and fight, facing her situation head on and not letting it get her down. It is this personal experience that inspires the story, which revolves around the character of Masha, who is still dealing with the grief and guilt over losing her son Gabriel 12 years ago. Masha is surrounded by friends and family who love her and want nothing more than to help her, but she can’t bear for the past tragedy to even be mentioned. She finds solace in visiting the local cemetery, the only place where she is able to either keep silent company with the souls of the deceased or share her story with them as she feels comfortable. She also takes refuge at the local town lido, where she finds safety in her “practice drowning” sessions underwater. Slowly though, things start to change for her when she unexpectedly meets two women who open up a new world for her — a mysterious bag lady named Sally Red Shoes who loves to sing while feeding the crows that constantly surround her, and a seventy-something disco queen named Kitty Muriel whose vivacious joy and love for life belies a tragic past of her own. Through these two extraordinary women and the various encounters she has with them, Masha’s outlook slowly changes and she sees the chance to start living again.
This was a lovely, heartwarming story with quirky, eccentric characters that I absolutely adored. Hogan writes in a descriptive prose that paints a detailed picture of each scene and in so doing, also brings each of the characters to life, though at times this also required a little bit of patience to read because the descriptions would sometimes go on for pages, making it easy to get so caught up in the details that I would forget what point I was at with the story — with that said though, the effort was definitely worth it. I also loved the humor that was interspersed throughout the story, which I felt was perfectly balanced — no small feat given the sensitive subject matter, but done amazingly well in Hogan’s capable hands.
Ultimately, this was a story that went beyond simply a meditation on grief and death — rather, this was a story about hope and resilience and finding the will to keep living in the face of tragedy and pain. This was an uplifting and inspiring read, one that made me excited to read Hogan’s other works (both of which are already on my TBR). Definitely recommended!
Received ARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.
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4.5 Stars
This story begins with an older woman in a graveyard, who “throws open her arms and exhales with a perfect top C,” a note that soars past the headstones through the graveyard, down the hill, who no one else hears except the creatures in the trees or those scampering about gathering acorns. She’s momentarily lost in memories of another day, another year, a moment when she was wearing a fine silk gown almost the same shade as the dilapidated red shoes she wears now, along with her tattered tweed coat.
Masha is a woman who has suffered a great loss, and holds onto her grief as if she feels it is a way of proving her love is still strong, that she hasn’t forgotten the tragedy of her life. She prefers the company of those who reside in the cemetery, takes solace in the preservation of the memories that abound on each headstone, the flowers which are left as a token gesture to show they have not been forgotten. The only other love she has in her life is given to Haizum (named for the heavenly horse of the archangel Gabriel in Islamic tradition), her wolfhound who has guided her through years of despair. If not in the graveyard, she can usually be found under water at the Lido, holding her breath and appreciating the silence found there. And yet, while she still has a way to go before she can allow true moments of happiness into her life, there are moments that show her belief that there may be something life still has to offer her, perhaps even love.
Through her friendships with Kitty Muriel, as well as with Sally Red Shoes, among other friends, she finds a way to begin healing, and perhaps even to give herself permission for the possibility of more.
There’s a charm to this story, despite the theme of grief and loss, Ruth Hogan has once again managed to weave enough of her charm through this story to keep it from being overly dark, while at the same time allowing us to feel the all encompassing grief that has kept Masha from moving on for so many years. As well as to share in the joy she allows herself, with the help of Kitty and Sally Red Shoes, to experience as well.
Pub Date: 11 Jun 2019
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crooked Lane Books -
“Life is full of small joys if you know where to look for them.”
Ruth Hogan, what have you done to me? Is it fair to make me cry on a Monday morning? My heart is shattered. My face is wet! You are one of those rare authors who can make me cry and laugh at the same time. I never thought anything you write could outshine the exceptional five star
The Keeper of Lost Things. But apparently you can and you did. Bravo!
“When the music ends for someone you love you don’t stop dancing. You dance for them.”
Four women. Four strangers. Four broken lives.
They have one thing in common; despair and tragedy.
Masha, whose baby boy has drowned 12 years ago. Who feels responsible and doesn’t…couldn’t let go. She feels guilty to be happy and her only consolation is to take walks in the local cemetery and talk to the dead.
Sally, once an opera singer, who stopped singing and welcomed grief after she lost the love of her life.
Kitty, who has lost her daughter in an accident and her husband to suicide.
Alice who has cancer and the only thing that makes her keep going is her teenage son Mattie.
“Some people leave an indelible imprint on your life, like the indentation of a fossil in rock.”
Can these women find the path to happiness and bliss? Can they let go and at the same time help each other shed the shell of grief and sorrow and embrace life with all its ups and downs?
As Ruth Hogan says in her note, “Life has a habit of throwing you a curve ball every once in a while, and there’s nothing you can do about that, but you can always choose how you deal with it. You can lie down and roll over, or you can stand up and fight.” -
I loved this book. Unlike in most of my reviews, I won't provide a lot of detail about the characters or what happens to them. I'm new to Ruth Hogan and very impressed with her talent. Her style is unique. She has a gift for creating three-dimensional people and scenarios with few words. She's so concise the book is a fast read but seems twice as long as it is. Her characters are fully formed without any unnecessary backstory. Many of them are smart and cultured like main character Masha, but not all; there's balance. Each of them has talents, interests and desires. All of them have heart, except for one fool who makes a delightful cameo.
Masha lost her son Gabriel at two, twelve years ago. She's still in deep mourning but she also takes pleasure in many things, maybe more than she knows. Masha spends most of her time in a beautiful Victorian garden cemetery and despite her mourning, she enjoys spending time there. She values the old sections for their beautiful sculpted angels, especially the ones on the graves of children, and other artistic monuments and ornamentation. These were important to the Victorians. (Thanks to Masha's interest in Victorian ideas and customs around death, I learned some fascinating things.) She likes to sit by old graves making up fun facts about their occupants. She appreciates the gardens and has fun strolling or running around them with her dog. And it's in the cemetery where she meets Sally, a special woman who spends her time there feeding the crows and singing opera.
There are other characters who are in it a little or a lot. There's Masha's best friend Edward, a gay man who was like a father to Gabriel. There's the sweet lady who owns the cafe, and Masha's witty old pal Epiphany. There's sex kitten Kitty Muriel and her boyfriend Elvis the undertaker. Along the way we learn some of them are more than they seem. These characters are all people I'd like to know in real life, even the very damaged one.
And it doesn't all take place in the cemetery; there are other settings. Masha has a job where some entertaining things occur, including one very funny scene. There are social occasions and even good scenes in the grocery store. Every day she swims at a public pool where she makes up nicknames for the other people. She dubs an especially ungraceful swimmer "the pedalo." Look it up. Masha did, because she learns a new word every day. Masha's not just smart, she's cool.
Ruth Hogan spins all the stories into gold. Without giving away what happens in "The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes," I hope I've conveyed how terrific the book is and how well it flows, in short chapters long on story. It's not sentimental even at its saddest. I was always engaged and never depressed. Reading each page was like unwrapping a gift. -
Catching up…
Read a while ago, I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.
This is a dual narrative that follows the lives of two women: Masha and Alice.
It is a story of grief, healing and the importance of community.
Which…
Makes this story…
Touching and uplifting as both women find a way to recover from their losses.
And…
Hope and catharsis can be found, in the most unlikely friendships. -
4.5
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes charmed the pants off of me.
Ruth Hogan’s writing is beautifully descriptive, making the settings come to life. She builds the story slowly, allowing us to know the main characters, via their parallel points of view. Masha is a grieving mother, unable to move on with her life, even though it’s been twelve years since her son died. Alice is a single mother to Michael, now a changing teenager. He’s the apple of her eyes.
Masha is fascinated with the Victorian graveyard in her neighbourhood, where she spends countless hours, either by herself or in the company of her adorable wolfhound, Haizum. Besides her job as a psychotherapist, she enjoys swimming in an outdoor pool, no matter how cold it gets.
As they say, the devil is in the details. This is the case here as well. The settings and their descriptions are beautiful. There’s a large cast of quirky and interesting characters. I enjoyed the “word of the day” that popped up now and then and, incredibly enough, learning about the Victorian era ‘death business’, and a few other bits and pieces.
Although there’s death, pain and grief, The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes ends up being a feel-good, life-affirming kind of novel, which I savoured and found satisfying.
Highly recommended
I’ve received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. -
George Michael was a member of a successful rock group Wham. When he decided to leave the group, he wrote a song titled Faith which he sang and watched it climb to #1 on the charts. The verse “I gotta have faith, faith, faith” showed that faith can pay off.
Ruth Hogan, author of The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes, agrees with George Michael. You gotta have faith! Her novel shows us the meaning of faith and what can be accomplished with faith.
We meet Masha, a woman who has lost her young son in a drowning accident. Racked with feelings of guilt and despair, Masha is barely existing. When not spending time under water at the local pool, Masha walks the cemetery where she talks through her problems at the sides of graves. Thankfully, Haizum, her Irish Wolfhound provides companionship and is her lifeline.
At the cemetery, Masha meets Sally Red Shoes, a truly eccentric woman. Sally, a bag lady, sings arias in the cemetery and draws Masha into a new world. Along with equally unique Kitty Muriel, Sally offers Masha the chance to start living again. Just believe.
The novel also offers another woman’s story, one that will intersect with Masha’s life also.
Alice is a lonely single mother to a young teenage son Mattie. Facing a crisis of epic proportions, the overly protective Alice’s life begins to unravel. Mattie, struggles to handle his mother’s obsessing love and feels adrift with no support and life becomes hard to bear.
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is an extraordinary book thanks to Hogans ability to blend themes of grief and sorrow with joy. Her characters are diverse, unique, rich and vibrant in detail. Hogans experience with cancer seems to have given her a mesmerizing into the human spirit.
The colorful cover of the book signifies the beginning of a journey told with both bold and delicate brush strokes of insight into life.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #TheWisdomofSallyRedShoes -
Masha was once spirited, independent woman with a rebellious streak. Her life has been changed by a tragic event twelve years ago. Unable to let go of her grief, she finds solace in the silent company of the souls of her local Victorian cemetery and the towns lido, where she seeks refuge underwater - safe from the noise and the pain.
This is a well written book that deals with death and mourning it does have its lighter moments though. Masha has never got over the death of her son who drowned at the age of two. She still struggles daily , even though twelve years have passed. She has many friends who are all good characters. The first part of this book starts a bit slow, but keep going with it as the second part speeds up. This is a beautifully written book about death and the grief it brings. Also learning to live and love again. Be prepared to,she'd many tears!
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lohn Murray Press and the author Ruth Hogan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Ruth Hogan is a story about loss and mourning.
I found the beginning on the book confusing and slow. There were some good quirky characters but the subject matter was heart breaking. I would like to thank NetGalley and John Murray Press for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. -
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Inevitably readers will want to make comparisons to The Keeper of Lost Things, the first highly acclaimed novel by writer Ruth Hogan. I missed it myself, so I am a newcomer to Ruth Hogan’s writing. The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is an introspective book that serves up a study of grief, sadness and loss, with moments of joy. Despite the melancholy main subject matter, it is utlimately an uplifting tale.
A highly original tale of the friendships we forge in the most unlikely of times, The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes tells the story of Masha. We learn the current sad state Masha is in now is not what her life used to be. In fact, Masha was a woman who lived her life to the fullest, she was happy, spirited and highly independent. But then, over twelve years ago now, a terrible accident changed her life, turning it upside down, so Masha no longer has a reason to live. Grief seems to consume Masha and in an effort to make it through each day, Masha finds a sense of calm from her local cemetery and the nearby lido. It is the fateful encounter between two women that changes Masha’s outlook one day. When Kitty Muriel, a charismatic seventy year old woman with some unusual pursuits and Sally Red Shoes, a woman who enjoys singing in the local cemetery team up with Masha, all sorts of interesting things start to happen. It takes these two spirited souls to bring Masha out the depths of her melancholy and in the process she learns to embrace life again.
I received a copy of The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes via Two Roads Publishing, the same wonderful publishing company that introduced me to one of my favourite novels this year, The Cactus by Sarah Haywood. My expectations going into The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes were set quite high, especially after seeing how much of a book sensation Ruth Hogan’s debut novel, The Keeper of Lost Things proved to be with audiences across the globe. I really did enjoy The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes, I found it a highly original and quirky novel, it was well written and managed to balance moments of darkness with sensitivity, as well as light humour.
Ruth Hogan is quite the storyteller and I have to say I appreciated her style of writing. The pace of this novel is rather gentle and wandering, but I was taken from the first page and my attention was sustained throughout. Hogan has a good command of the written word and she knows how to draw on certain narratives devices to capture the full attention of her reader. There are some mystery elements to this novel that I liked unpacking. I didn’t find The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes predictable, it kept me guessing and attentive throughout my reading experience. The use of different narrative voices, the first and third person, along with the employ of an extra narrator named Alice, adds extra layers to this tale, so it is not completely linear. I think readers will embrace this different style of writing.
I was expecting Sally Red Shoes, the book’s nominal character, to be the central focus of this novel, but I was pleasantly surprised with the direction Hogan took with this novel. Instead, we follow the lead, Masha, a woman suffering from a hurtful tragedy and unable to see the good things in life. By the insertion of characters such as Kitty Muriel, Masha’s life begins to open up. I watched on in delight as Masha experiences a revival of sorts to her spirit and the soul nourishing friendships of Kitty and Sally Red Shoes helps this character to heal. There are plenty of side characters that pad out the novel and add plenty of vibrancy to this tale.
Hogan explores some dark territory in her second novel, but do not let this put you off in any way, it is equalised by moments of joy. Hogan also injects plenty of light humour to add colour to this sometimes bleak tale of grief, loss and sadness following the loss of a dear loved one. Hogan’s exploration of death and grief is receptive, as well as enlightening. The experiences of the characters featured in The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes will make you laugh, cry and empathise with their predicaments. When Hogan travels to her conclusion, readers will find they are ready to see the protagonists featured in this resonating tale move on with the next chapter in their lives.
My closing word on The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes must be to express my adoration for the beautiful cover of this title. It is so aesthetically pleasing. I loved all the little symbols woven around the vine leaves of this cover. Each picture motif featured on the cover has an integral part to play in the proceedings of the novel. This is a front cover that helps set up the intriguing story that is to come. I’m off to read my copy of The Keeper of Lost Things (lucky I have a copy of hand), based on the fortunate experience I have had in reading Ruth Hogan’s second novel, The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes.
*I wish to thank Two Roads/Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
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This is both my first book by Ruth Hogan and first from the "women's fiction" genre in many months. A synopsis has to really grab me for me to be willing to give the genre a chance. It gives me a welcome change from all of the crime, fantasy and scifi that I tend to gravitate towards.
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect to this novel. The story is accomplished and is well-written and plotted, but there was something missing for me. The characters are quirky and interesting, it certainly wasn't an issue with them. I am finding it difficult to put my finger on exactly what it was that meant I didn't enjoy this as much as I had hoped. I do think most people would find this emotionally compelling. I appreciated the humour that was written within the pages too.
Many thanks to John Murray Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. -
Most of my GR friends loved this book and maybe if I had more patience I would end up enjoying it. But I’m at page 160 and I’m bored out of my mind. Definitely not charmed. I’m giving up.
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I have been a fan of Ruth Hogan’s work since I read The Keeper of Lost Things which I loved. The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes was a quite a different story but Hogan’s flair and writing style remained constant. Two very different women come together in this story to create magic in this uplifting tale of wisdom, personal growth and grief. It touches on homelessness among women, the loss of a child, and the commonality that all women have with one another regardless of our social conditions. The characters are brilliantly written, so real you will feel as though you know them personally and the humor within keeps the story from becoming too heavy despite the subject matter. You will laugh, cry and fall in love these women and their story. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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I received a free e-copy of The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Ruth Hogan from NetGalley for my honest review.
This is the story of Masha and Alice. Masha lives in a world of never ending grief and guilt after the drowning of her son, Gabriel. From the day Gabriel died, Masha stopped living life and started an endless obsession with death. While trying to heal and being on a road to recovery, Masha meets some wonderful characters, all of whom play a part in helping her to learn to live life again.
The close group of characters and the people they meet along the way build a close relationship and begin to feel the weaknesses that are shared by the experience of losing a loved one.
Sally Red shoes, a character named by Masha because of her beautiful red dancing shoes. Then there is Alice, a single mum with a teenage son, who suddenly has to deal with the horrors of cancer.
A beautiful, enriching, sad and emotional read filled with beautiful, heartfelt and detailed characters. -
This is my 1000th — yes, one thousand — review on GR! Just saying...
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is mostly about grief. Masha lost her young son over 10 years ago, and she’s coming to realize that her life is dominated by grief — and maybe it’s time to change. In parallel, single mother Alice is not well, and she and her son are slowly descending into disarray. The end was not much of a surprise to me, but that’s besides the point. The book is really about people in difficult situations and their emotions. Hogan does an excellent job of getting into Masha and Alice’s heads, and she surrounds Masha with really interesting characters, including Sally Red Shoes. This is the second book I’ve read by Hogan, and I really appreciate her sensibility. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy. -
Rather conflicted about this one.
One the one hand I truly loved the main plot. I've liked the quirkiness of the characters, the dialogues, the sarcasm, the grief was so real and believable, the writing style was just perfect and the Britishness of it all was exquisite. On the other hand I've kind of hated the subplot. I believe the book would have stood up on itself just fine without it, even if arguably it has given some depth to the story.
BUT, and this is a huge BUT: I absolutely HATED the resolution. I couldn't believe I've been left hanging like that, left to imagine what potentially could be an entire story. No, just no. And I am heartbroken on Masha's behalf too. When she has finally made peace with it all to just blow her life to pieces again...very cruel! -
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is the second novel by British author, Ruth Hogan. Masha knows she’s probably seen as a bit eccentric: she and her wolfhound, Haizum are frequent visitors to the cemetery, where she talks to the dead; she tries to use her word-of-the-day in conversation (spoken or thought); her dress and grooming aren’t always up to scratch; but probably the weirdest thing is swimming to the deep end of the Lido Swimming Pool and sitting underwater holding her breath.
None of that quite puts her in the category of the woman she thinks of as Sally Red Shoes, whose flamboyant manner of dress is outdone only by her devoted following of expectant crows (awaiting the bag of breadcrusts she invariably produces), not to mention her habit of operatically serenading the cemetery at full volume. Sally’s speech, Masha and other regulars know, gets scrambled, so the expletives uttered with perfect diction ought not be taken at face value. Masha can’t help liking her, and feeling protective when local teens behave thuggishly.
For Masha, the pool is her penance and the cemetery, her pleasure. She doesn’t allow herself much of the latter, still weighed down, twelve years after a tragic loss, with guilt. Her family and friends take care to avoid mention of that awful event, but Masha has come to a realisation that the loss is not hers alone, and perhaps the tiptoeing around the subject needs to stop. Perhaps, instead of just surviving, she can begin to live again. And as she is noticing a handsome, able-bodied swimmer (she thinks of him as the Olympian) at the Lido, perhaps it already has.
Meanwhile, young single mother, Alice is besieged by anxiety about the safety of her teenaged son, Mattie, whenever he is out of her sight. At thirteen, Mattie believes he deserves more freedom. However, to Alice, Mattie is so precious, the only one of her babies that survived. But if she is being honest with herself (and soon she may have to be, for Mattie’s sake), she will have to admit the truth about her beloved son.
Hogan’s characters are her strength and her description of them, and of life’s little events, make this novel an absolute pleasure to read. Certainly Sally and Masha are not the only quirky ones in the cast: most of Masha’s family and friends have some idiosyncrasy that endears them to the reader whilst providing humour, entertainment or a talking point. While the mystery is slowly revealed, most readers will have guessed the basics, if not the details, early on.
Hogan’s own experience with cancer, as well as working in local government, rescue dogs and reading gravestones are apparent in her fiction. Her second novel is heart-warming and uplifting, and the comparison with Eleanor Oliphant is indeed a valid one. Hogan gives her characters many wise words: Sally tells Masha “When the music ends for someone you love you don’t stop dancing. You dance for them as well.” However, readers might be wishing for just a bit more resolution in the final pages. A very enjoyable read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. -
Ruth Hogan has done it again. Pulled on my rusty heartstrings as well as putting a smile on my crabby ass face.
Two stories are playing out simultaneously here.
One is Masha. Grieving her son's death for 12 years not able or willing to move on to the last stage of grief. She takes solace in an old cemetery among the dead. Here is where she meets an elderly woman in red shoes with a zest for life and a friend to the crows that inhabit this quiet space.
The other is Alice and her son. Alice's life is spiraling out of control. Now I had to use some mathematical skills and add 2 + 2 together to make a connection between these two women. It wasn't algebra just addition so it was a simple deduction.
Through these pages, we meet Masha's loyal friends and family. Those who stood by her side through this 12-year grieving process. There is the toll it takes on them as well. They remain true.
All may be lost for Alice, but Masha's life takes a much-needed turn. Masha is ready to live again. We witness her emergence back to the land of the living and we learn a valuable lesson in the meantime.
A few surprises are sprinkled in. There's a few tears a few laughs and a whole lotta heart in these 300+ pages. Ruth Hogan remains one of my favorites. -
Book Review - The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Ruth Hogan. Women's Fiction.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for gifting me the ARC.
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This book has two main characters, Masha and Alice.
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Mashas likes to swim and also likes taking walks through the cemetery. Masha in this book is actually dealing with grief of the death of her son, 14 years ago, fed up with living in the past she tries very hard to turn over a new leaf. Her wolfhound called Haizum keeps her company. At the swimming pool she tells us the temperature of the water, and of all the sorts of people she bumps into. At the cemetery she loves reading the inscriptions on the headstones, pretends she knows all the deceased and makes up little stories about them. On her travels through the cemetery she meets a few real people, but in particular a woman Masha has named "Sally Red Shoes". Instantly Masha is drawn towards this lady, even though she swears and sings at the top of her voice to the headstones. As a job Masha is a psychotherapist and tell us the colourful patients she sees.
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Alice has cancer, she had also suffered more than one miscarriage. Mattie is Alice son, he is lost in his world of being an adolescent.
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There is a huge major plot twist in this book, that I certainly didnt see coming, right plonked at 94% of the book.
This book is done with witty humour, even though it touches on a sensitive subject. Ruth Hogans lays out the chapters, which are thoughtfully placed. There is alot of detail in Mashas chapters, whereas Alice, just small placed chapters. This is obviously been stragetically placed so that the reader doesn't get too depressed with Alice's story. Ruth Hogan also uses "word of the day" now and again in her book, but the way she writes it in, doesn't feel structured in anyway and fits extremely well within the story. There are laugh out loud moments in this book, but tastefully done.
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This book comes highly recommended by me. Goodreads = 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who likes theatrical shows (eg - Gilbert & Sullivan). Who likes dress fashion (eg vintage clothes). Who likes food in their books(eg - Pineapple Upsidedown cake, chocolate cake) would definately recommend this to, anyone who loves wit and humour in a book. Who likes a light hearted read. Who like descriptive, colourful characters and generally for anyone that may have gone through grief of some sort, as its tastefully done. -
I am so sorry not to feel able to rate this higher. I was very taken with Ruth Hogan’s first novel and had high hopes of enjoying this one equally, but it didn’t quite hit the spot for me. In her afterword, she says she worried she had ‘already used my best plot, most engaging characters and cleverest phrases’ and I fear there is a grain of truth in that. The whimsy and quirkiness of the first novel that I enjoyed so much - its characters, their interaction and dialogue - were lacking for me in this one. The comic scenes (the dinner party and the amateur operatics) seemed forced and predictable.
On the plus side, she deals here with darker themes with care and sympathy. I appreciated her engagement with difficult issues. I like a bitter-sweet ending and she certainly gives us one of those. Ironically given my first paragraph above, at this point I would have liked the story to have continued as, for me, it started to get interesting just as it was ending. I see other readers have rated this novel highly so I guess I am just feeling jaded with this sort of thing - uplifting, heartwarming stories where someone is lifted out of a life of grief and sadness by the advice and example of an unlikely new friend. My loss - I hope this second novel does well and I look forward to reading whatever she tackles next.
Many thanks to John Murray Press via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC. -
I wanted to love this book more than I did. It has so much going for it - an intriguing plot, a great character list, the whole swimming thing...
However, it was just too short. None of the characters got chance to grow. I was expected to care about somebody on the basis of a funny name and a couple of paragraphs. There were almost too many events, too quickly, and not enough connection in between them, and I think it tried to do too much. it could have been three times as long, and really explored some of the ideas and some of the characters much more. It all felt a bit glib.
The real problem for me, though, was that the really interesting bit of the story happened between the last chapter and the epilogue. That was the bit I was waiting for, and it was just skipped over! Not even skipped over - left entirely to my imagination.
I think Ruth Hogan needs to slow down, take her time, and let things develop. There are dark things here that could have been explored, and a really interesting story to tell. -
3.5 stars, rounded up
This is a sweet book, I have come to like and appreciate Hogan's writing, she fills it with so much life and love and the reader can't help but root for the characters to triumph over their adversities.
In this book, there's one story thread that's a bit too convenient and I saw where it was going from a mile away. Not that it still wasn't touching, I just wanted a bit more of a twist rather than something predictable.
I loved Masha, everything about her is endearing and made me adore her character. I also loved Edward and Sally Red Shoes and everyone in their circles. Like I said, it's a very sweet story and I will definitely continue to seek Hogan's books out in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. -
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is a story of transformation as well as atonement. Masha lost her young son 12 years ago and has never fully recovered. Grief has paralyzed her and she holds on to it as a way to assuage the guilt she feels for Gabriel losing his life. While Masha is alive and fully functional, she is merely going through the motions of living. She takes her dog Hazium for walks in the cemetery where she converses with the dead. Masha aspires to be a cemetery guide and she makes up stories about the individuals buried there. There’s a trio of women she calls her “worry dolls” and she tells them all her troubles. In fact, throughout the story, Masha introduces us to individual characters she affectionately calls her “family on the other side.”
If it isn’t clear yet, Masha is obsessed with death — she tries to feel what drowning is like when she goes swimming, she has a collection of books about death and dying, she contemplates sudden death, etc. Yet I did not find this book to be maudlin or morose and I attribute that to the writing skills of Ruth Hogan. Furthermore, I found Masha to be a likable character and the reader cannot help but feel sorry for her. She knows she has to change but it isn’t until she meets Sally Red Shoes in the cemetery, who gives her valuable advice and dances with her, that she feels she can. Her new friend Kitty also plays a significant role in her transformation when she tells Masha about her own past tragedy and how she coped with it and successfully moved on with her life.
The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes is a touching story that will break your heart and then heal it. I had trouble getting into it and becoming engaged with the story but patience paid off and I am glad I stuck with it.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
