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REVIEW: Books – The Scoop by Cat Walker

July 6, 2020

The Scoop

Cat Walker

Local author Cat Walker has delivered a corker of a book here, funny, heartfelt, interesting, informative and with a thumping storyline with keeps the pages turning. It’s part road trip, part travel book and part embarking on a soul seeking journey out of the stifling dullness of everyday unsatisfying life, into a new world of traveling the world and seeking adventure, boldly going, well almost.

Rather than seek adventure alone our main protagonist, Casey leaves job, girlfriend, home behind in an ice-cream van called Alice along with an old school mate; Danny and the unexpected tagalong of his troubled teenage son.  Walker has written a few books of poetry and her prose echo’s this succinct ability to capture the sense and flavour of a place by wrapping its essence up with words. She seems unable, or unwilling, to let her sense of humour ever rest so we are presented with some seriously funny storytelling which, like all jokes, reflects and weaves itself into a bigger story.  That’s not to say the book dodges any punches with its punchlines, it’s part of the delight of this book that it deals with some rather difficult parts of living, suffering and dying, in an honest painful way.

Walker has that rare ability to lead us through the Vale of the Shadow of Death, carefully pointing out stuff we might not quite comprehend,  giving it some context, both geographical, political and emotional then, as we are all compelled to in life, wrapping us a still moment of hug, then determinedly moving on. Here the books does it in a literal way, exploring the world, seeking out the everyday and exposing the extraordinary that often sits quietly alongside it.

I was expecting a Ms Whippy from The Scoop but instead Alice and her band of intrepid explorers served up a serious Heritage concoction, of rich thick creamed delight, in the freshest bumpy waffle, with mouthfuls of curious texture, covered in spice, a shocking kick of chilli hidden in the sweetest parts and handed over with a smile.  The book ends on the roof of the world, and this travel book gives insight into what makes our relationships worth the effort and pain, leaving us satisfied.  A lovely read and one for the fading days of Quarantine if you’re missing the exotic but also reappreciating the ordinary excuses for happiness.

Out now £8.99

RedDoorPress.co.uk

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