Review: 'There is Always More to Say' by Lynda Young Spiro (2016)

Soho 1984: Two people meet and their worlds are changed forever. An unexpected meeting - a look that means their lives will never be the same again.     In There Is Always More To Say Lynda Spiro chronicles the lives of the couple through friendships, marriage, fleeting moments and snatched time. It is a passionate account about a connection between two people that never dies even when tested by distance and when life throws the unexpected at their feet.    "The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances. If there is any reaction both are transformed." C G Jung    As some of you might have read earlier I’ve made the difficult decision to stop with this book blog, for various reasons. One of the great things about having made this decision, though, is that I finally have time to go through my pile of review books and really sit down with every single one of them, without being interrupted by other requests coming in! One of the books that has been on my pile for quite some time now is Lynda Young Spiro’s ‘There is Always More to Say.’ The author herself contacted me several months ago and asked whether I’d be interested in reviewing her novel. I have to say I was quite intrigued by the description of the book; it sounded promising, so when I was looking for my next read a few weeks ago, it was definitely time to finally pick this up!    ‘There is Always More to Say’ tells the story of two people who meet each other in London in the 1980s, not yet having any idea of what an effect they will turn out to have on each other’s lives. In the years that follow numerous things happen: new relationships, marriage, kids, but there continues to be some correspondence here and there, never losing each other along the way. But are soul mates really destined to ultimately end up together; what happens when life keeps on throwing obstacles, making it almost impossible?    This book is quite an unusual and quick read with less than 200 pages in print version. I have to admit I was surprised by the actual story, because it didn’t match the expectations I had before starting this novel. This is a personal thing, obviously; I was expecting a ‘regular’ fictional novel about two characters, but Lynda Young Spiro really gave this basic plotline her own twist. It is clear there are two main characters whom the story is about, but no names are given and no real background information to get to know these characters. There is also no dialogue in the novel; just description and details, written as a first person narrative, with quite a lot of repetition of particular facts. There’s almost some kind of poetic feel to the read because of this repetition and also the quotes that have been added to the start and end of all chapters.     The storyline and the writing style did invoke certain emotions, and it is clear there is a connection between the two main characters; a connection that had a big effect on their lives. I can honestly say this is a read unlike any other book I’ve read before, but I also can’t help but say it just wasn’t for me. I want detail, explanations, dialogue, background information…. I couldn’t help but miss all of that, and I kept on hoping it would pop up as I read on, but it never did. I, therefore, also find it difficult to review and rate this book, because I’m still not quite sure what to think of it! All in all, though, I think this just wasn’t the read for me; I am sure there are readers out there who will really enjoy this, so please don’t let my review stop you from giving it the chance it deserves. 

Rating:6,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.