Poignant masterpiece I will never forget

I first read Behind the Scenes aged 40 when it quickly shot into my top five of all time favourites. Ten years on it is even more poignant. I cannot read this book - or listen to it- without a physical reaction of guts wrenching. Bunty and her “autistic” mothering - how perfect a portrayal of the northern mother you so much hope will love you as a child. Her withering resentment. Her inadequacy. The perfect portrayal of my own northern mother. So much so - I wondered if we could be related. As this novel shows, you can be related to the most unexpected of people without knowing it! This book inspired me ten years ago to write - and I was published. My own portrayal of what it means to grow up and be a “just” Ruby was inspired by this novel. Thank you Kate Atkinson. I know I will come back to this book again and again. It can’t all be taken in one one reading. Karen Webb (author of “A Stranger in Paris”)