The Woman who went to Bed for a Year by Sue Townsend

The reviews wrote of this book "I laughed 'til I cried" (Daily Mail) and "Glorious, laugh-out-loud" (Daily Telegraph). It's certainly very funny.

Eva Beaver has had enough of life being a wife and mother. Her unsatisfactory husband has been having an affair for 8 years and her twin children, educational prodigies and totally removed from reality, have left home for university. She retreats to bed, from where she views her small world of the street outside and wonders what her life will be now that she's turned 50?

Eva's family seem to think either that she's having a breakdown or that she's simply attention seeking. Brian, her astronomer husband, worries about who will do the housework and cook his dinner. The press get hold of the story of the lady who watches the world from her bedroom and, building on next to nothing, portal her as having special powers to help people, Eva's life takes a turn she couldn't have expected. She's soon besieged by visitors wanting her to help them find lost children, solve their marital problems and more.

Brian's lover, Titania, moves in with him into his extended garden shed, the house fills with family and visitors, all trying to 'help' and generally creating chaos, to which Eva witnesses silently from the security of her bedroom.

Many middle aged wives and mothers will recognise themselves in this book. Few will, I suspect, see much humour in their own situations. It's poignant, touching, witty and with dollops of passion and anger. I can't say that I laughed 'til I cried; I actually felt so sorry for Eva (whilst exasperated at her reaction to her situation) that my laughter was often stifled; it felt wrong, somehow. But yes, it's funny and delicately observed. Recommended.