The Waiting Time

by Sara Banerji

Julia has given up on love in her middle age but is searching for a vanished brother and a lost identity. In doing so, she collides with Kitty, a woman of a different age, life-style and aspirations. The proof of Julia's identity lies somewhere under Kitty's home. The literal digging up of the past changes life for both of them, though what they eventually find is very different to their expectations. Ahead are surprises, conflict, terror, disappointment, love - and unexpected happiness. Sometimes it is necessary for people to find the strength and courage to dig deep into themselves and their past. Those who do so will not always find what they expected and may even encounter disappointment and sadness. For the brave and the clear sighted, though, such fearless scrutiny can bring fulfillment, love and even happiness.

Genres: Fiction

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Sara Banerji describes her style as ‘mystic realism’ – her stories are peopled with vivid characters, whose lives are shot through with magic as well as very real human emotions. They are recounted with dark humour that can all too easily tip over into horror. Critics describe her voice as ‘original and highly imaginative’ ‘entertaining’, ‘bold’, ‘punchy’, ‘exciting’, ‘gripping, fluid and confident’. She is widely acclaimed as ‘a very gifted storyteller’.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmmm, the proof reader needs to be sacked - soo many errors in this book.



A very involved story, perhaps a little too far-fetched? The main concept of the book sounded great. I think the author strayed away from the central plot too much.



The dialogue between Sir Jeremy and Julia did not seem at all authentic.



If you ever need to find a village with a river and an ancient pear tree - don't go around the county on a bus. Get an OS map. It will show the river (though not the pear tree!)



Read it but don't expect too much.

[Rochelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really liking this book until the end. I was so horribly disappointed by the ending I don't even want to talk about it. It seemed like the author just got sick of writing it and threw something together to get it done. Totally lame

[Shannon W · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average story with exciting moments and a rather dull ending.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story had lots of potential but somehow it comes out a little off.

[.tee. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know where to begin... I’m just... I’m literally speechless. I feel yucky. Rape? Child abuse? Domestic violence? Animal abuse? Why? The back jacket of this book lied to me, I feel truly betrayed. I just can’t. There is no happiness anywhere in this book. And even when Julia “finds happiness” at the end it is tinged with the blood of so much pain, sorrow, fear. Ugh. This book will no longer have a home on my bookshelf. Good riddance. I’m also wondering who edited this book? Could there be more mistakes? My 8 YO could edit better. Blech. I can see why it was $2... I have never wanted to burn a book and dance on its ashes... until now...

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new author for me: she has a different perspective. It's a love story - a familial love story born of tragedy that lasts a life time. I was waiting for Jewel to finally find the happiness she deserves - does she? She finds her brother, for whom all her energies - her whole life have been focussed; she does but does not reveal herself to him?!! Why wouldn't she? She also walks away from Kitty and the baby without a glance.

I was not sure how I felt about the ending - a little disappointed.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of the book in spite of the glaring typos, but I was confused when it seemed like large parts of Julia’s life were left out. There were illusions to Harry, Dick’s son, meeting her, but she left the farm before he was born. Why weren’t there records of who owned the house? Also quite a convoluted ending concerning the hostage trade. I agree with other comments about how could she not continue to help Kitty? AND completely drop connecting with her long lost brother?

Maybe I didn’t like it after all.

[Jasmine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book began so promisingly but the author clearly took far too much on, there were grammatical and continuity errors throughout and the plot was just ridiculous, getting more and more bizarre as it went on. Not to mention the ending was just horrendously disappointing!!

Not even worth the minimum one star I have to give it.

[Vicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where was the proofreader/editor? This book was marred for me by all the typos/misprints, grammatical errors and just plain sloppy editing. I agree with most of the other one and two star reviews. Story just deteriorated as it went on.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is new to me. I found it quirky, a bit mad but moving.

[Alison Vardy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Short sentences with little depth and a really lame ending

[Jayne Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has a very good storyline, and the author writes well, with imaginative language and a healthy disregard for superfluous detail. Events move along at a cracking pace. Unfortunately, the reading experience was spoiled for me by unrealistic elements of the plot. Everything seems to take place inside a vacuum where real life is forbidden to intrude. I didn’t recognise the world in which it was set: a place with barmy planning laws, a Foreign Office barely capable of doing its job, the dodgiest veterinary practices in the world, a lazy and disinterested tabloid press, and households on the south coast of England fearing an invasion by Hitler in 1946.

Characterisation wasn’t great. Julia – arguably the main character – was OK though seemed a lot younger than she was supposed to be. Kitty is clearly supposed to be young (she wears outlandish clothes and swears copiously every time she opens her mouth) but few other facets of her personality were discernible.

The simplistic, almost naive, tone of some of the sections gave it the feel of a children’s book (from the 9-12 age group), though to make it work as such the present-day sections involving Kitty and her expletives would have to be removed.

The ending was curious. So many ways in which it could have been brought to a conclusion – including the revelation of the ‘twist’ which I guessed, though embarrassingly late in the day (I am gullible). Instead it was allowed to rest on a relatively minor element of the plot – not that it lacked gravitas, but that not enough time had been invested in it to make the reader care, or to justify the importance it was afforded in the end.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

don't understand why this has so many bad reviews. it has its flaws, but I thought it was touching and fairly thoughtful in its portrayal of trauma. I don't think the aim was to be 'realistic'. We never know the little boy's age but I agree it is unrealistic for him to remember THAT little if he is about 6 or 7. In any case it doesn't deserve such bad reviews at all. It strikes me as sincere -- written with sincerity. Perhaps Coetzee did what she was trying to do better, or Sebald -- but I think the attempt is sufficient.

[Dymphna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written book, with some strange plot-twists. I'm quite disappointed with the ending, I thought the deus ex machina was quite absurd -- but that's me. You read the book and see what you think of the ending.

[Byla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most disappointing and random ending ever! Nothing makes sense. The book started great with some mystery and hope involving Jem’s whereabouts and Julia’s life. However, the story turns out to be really misleading towards the end.

[Pam]

01/07/08 rec via bookmooch

[sisterimapoet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dont quite know how I ended up reading a book from a publisher that specializes in older women authors... this was my mistake.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

So dissapointing. The writing is okay but the poor main character in the book has nothing but tradgedy after tradgedy happen to her. Too sad.

[Boni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book! Quick read, very different writing style and perspective from what I am used to.

[Belebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line is quite interesting but the book is peppered with many typo errors! The ending could have been better, it seemed too abrupt.

[Elina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me both happy and sad, quite bittersweet really. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but it wasn't anything like it. I'm happy I read it though.

[Freya Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tries to be too much, and doesn't resolve all.

[Sunshine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting plot but disappointing ending.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An initially irritating book that becomes more intriguing as it proceeds. The main characters are quite dislikeable though the gradual filling in of their back stories makes them more comprehensible.