http://joys.net/7511/the-girl-behind-the-painted-smile-my-battle-with-the-bottle/ Bringing Joys and Happiness Fri, 13 Mar 2020 09:48:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 http://joys.net/7511/the-girl-behind-the-painted-smile-my-battle-with-the-bottle/#comment-20209 Moll French Thu, 12 Dec 2013 12:33:30 +0000 http://joys.net/7511/the-girl-behind-the-painted-smile-my-battle-with-the-bottle/#comment-20209 A 5* Must Read! The Girl Behind the Painted Smile is written with feeling, whilst managing to sustain humour throughout.Indeed the author has been on a heartbreaking journey but it is one told without pity. Catherine’s personalityreally does shine throughout the book.There is rather a lot of swearing in the book, though it made me giggle and I thought it was appropriately placed.Catherine has proved just how resilient we can be. There are parts that made me snort with laughter – parts that made me cry. Either way, you may need tissues.I really enjoyed her insight into working on TV, there were some certainly many eye-opening parts.It has been an absolute pleasure to read your story Catherine, thank you for sharing you inspiring story and making me smile.

]]> http://joys.net/7511/the-girl-behind-the-painted-smile-my-battle-with-the-bottle/#comment-20208 Ann Thu, 12 Dec 2013 12:31:00 +0000 http://joys.net/7511/the-girl-behind-the-painted-smile-my-battle-with-the-bottle/#comment-20208 Good story, but I had a few issues First, I am amazed at her story. What a difficult life the author has led, yet has the ability to write about it and recognize her downfalls and successes. Her brushes with fame were interesting, and the characters around her were well exposed. I did though have some issues with how it was written. In truth, the book felt like one huge run-on sentence. It seemed like the author didn’t take a breath. I didn’t know where to pause-the story didn’t slow to a pace, then allow the action to speed back up. Because it was a memoir, I think that using a reflection could have closed the chapter to allow the reader to assess the story and the character(s). I felt the writing was very amateur-ish, and it often reminded me of my 4th grade English class when I would tell the students to never write in a story “I will tell you about that later”, or “I will talk about that at another time.” I also feel that the story jumped around within the paragraphs and chapters. One minute the author hated her mother, the next sentence they were getting along, then they didn’t speak for 6 months. I was often confused- on one page she was getting along well with Nick, then five sentences later they were ignoring each other for months.If the author is looking for a world-wide audience, then I feel there will be some issues with the amount of British slang used. I am well versed in British slang, but had a difficult time understanding many passages. To make it more universally friendly, I think the author needs to consider word choice. I was ok with the bad language, though often I felt like it was unnecessary in some places. Using strong and vulgar language is like using spices in cooking. Just enough makes the dish interesting, too much and it gives a bad taste.Overall it is a very interesting book, and is a quick read. I am glad to know the author was able to pull her life together and her children are well adjusted. It could have ended up so horribly wrong for her and her family.

]]> http://joys.net/7511/the-girl-behind-the-painted-smile-my-battle-with-the-bottle/#comment-20207 Mrs. J. Herrick "allweathers" Thu, 12 Dec 2013 12:22:52 +0000 http://joys.net/7511/the-girl-behind-the-painted-smile-my-battle-with-the-bottle/#comment-20207 Honest interesting and disturbing memoir I usually dash to the computer and send off a review when I have finished a book that either (1) totally bored or annoyed me or (2) had me engrossed throughout. Mediocre books do not seem to galvanise me into reviewing them.This book, however, made me stop and think and I simply could not review it without thinking long and hard. I do not know why I needed to sit back possibly so that I was not confusing the irritation I felt with her constant poor choices with the fact I thought it is a well written honest book.The author has had shitty life which she has been honest enough to lay bare to the reader. The fact that a lot of her unhappiness comes from her own alcohol abuse is not avoided. Clearly her early life with an awful Mother created this inability to recognise that the partners she chose were not, to say the least, suitable for such an emotionally damaged person.The chapters relating her life in television were very interesting and I was amused and entertained by her stories.I am not going to rehash her whole life in this review nor judge her lifestyle, I am writing it aimed at potential readers so that they can make the decision of whether to buy it or not. I say buy it! One word of warning….I avoided my evening drink for two days afterwards!

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