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Watching From The Wings
Watching From the Wings is a heartwarming tale of devotion, friendship, joy and passion, but also one involving disappointment, duplicity and betrayal. We all have our own journey of love. Katharine’s is more complex than most. And she comes to realise that she has always chosen the wrong door whenever she had the chance to exit by a more promising one. At the age of 62, can she make a fresh start, or is it too late?
- GenresContemporary
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 30, 2023
It’s 1982, and at 22, fresh out of drama school, Katharine finds herself part of a repertory company in Broadburgh-on-Sea – and the early part of this book is an entirely absorbing first person account of life behind the scenes. Her own appearances often fraught with problems, only increasing her feelings of inadequacy and clumsiness, the real joy in her life comes from her intense relationship with Nicholas, the company’s “star”. Her view of him is perhaps somewhat blinkered: his treatment of her is, at times, appalling, while he shares her digs, expects her to be at his beck and call, spending many hours honing his stage performances while she shores up his inflated and considerable ego.
By 2022, her own career set aside while she supported his, she sees things more clearly – Nicholas might have become a knight of the theatre, but as she considers his many grave misdemeanours over the years she decides that the time might have come to step out of his shadow and live her own life. With a fair bit of bravery, and considerable aplomb – I found myself really urging her on – she realises that it’s not too late to follow her own hopes and dreams, and to find the happiness and contentment that’s eluded her throughout their forty years together.
The characters in this book are quite wonderfully drawn – and not just Katharine, whose younger self entirely won my heart at around the time when she dragged a rose bush onto the stage attached to her skirt, all played out in front of her much-loved father and a visiting London agent. At her mother’s last visit, she pulled a cupboard on top of herself – a totally self-centred former darling of the British film industry, their relationship never an easy one, Moira certainly has a great deal to do with Katharine’s oft-voiced feelings of never being quite good enough. But Katharine also has a number of people very much in her corner – particularly Simon, the company’s director who harbours feelings for her that he knows won’t be requited, and long-term friend Cleo (her own story well-told too – I really liked her) who perhaps has a rather clearer view of the way Nicholas is controlling her life. The friendships and family relationships are fascinating in every way, and quite perfectly handled – but so is the insider view of life in the theatre world with its many excesses.
But perhaps what I loved most about this book was Katharine’s personal journey – her later-life decision to acknowledge her own needs and make a life of her own most certainly doesn’t mean that all her problems are over, but the way she responds to every new challenge and secret that emerges proves tremendously uplifting, with an ending that’s satisfying in every possible way. At 62, she finally starts to become the woman she was always meant to be – and sharing her very real life experience was everything I’d hoped for. At an emotional level, the author judges everything quite perfectly – and, I have to say, her storytelling is pretty well perfect too, with an ease to the reading that totally draws you into the lives of her characters.
I read this lovely book in a single sitting, identifying with Katharine across the years and through her life’s many ups and downs, entirely immersed in the world the author so brilliantly created – and really felt the joy of the happy ending its heroine so richly deserved. Yes, this will be one of my books of the year – and I really couldn’t recommend it more highly.
By 2022, her own career set aside while she supported his, she sees things more clearly – Nicholas might have become a knight of the theatre, but as she considers his many grave misdemeanours over the years she decides that the time might have come to step out of his shadow and live her own life. With a fair bit of bravery, and considerable aplomb – I found myself really urging her on – she realises that it’s not too late to follow her own hopes and dreams, and to find the happiness and contentment that’s eluded her throughout their forty years together.
The characters in this book are quite wonderfully drawn – and not just Katharine, whose younger self entirely won my heart at around the time when she dragged a rose bush onto the stage attached to her skirt, all played out in front of her much-loved father and a visiting London agent. At her mother’s last visit, she pulled a cupboard on top of herself – a totally self-centred former darling of the British film industry, their relationship never an easy one, Moira certainly has a great deal to do with Katharine’s oft-voiced feelings of never being quite good enough. But Katharine also has a number of people very much in her corner – particularly Simon, the company’s director who harbours feelings for her that he knows won’t be requited, and long-term friend Cleo (her own story well-told too – I really liked her) who perhaps has a rather clearer view of the way Nicholas is controlling her life. The friendships and family relationships are fascinating in every way, and quite perfectly handled – but so is the insider view of life in the theatre world with its many excesses.
But perhaps what I loved most about this book was Katharine’s personal journey – her later-life decision to acknowledge her own needs and make a life of her own most certainly doesn’t mean that all her problems are over, but the way she responds to every new challenge and secret that emerges proves tremendously uplifting, with an ending that’s satisfying in every possible way. At 62, she finally starts to become the woman she was always meant to be – and sharing her very real life experience was everything I’d hoped for. At an emotional level, the author judges everything quite perfectly – and, I have to say, her storytelling is pretty well perfect too, with an ease to the reading that totally draws you into the lives of her characters.
I read this lovely book in a single sitting, identifying with Katharine across the years and through her life’s many ups and downs, entirely immersed in the world the author so brilliantly created – and really felt the joy of the happy ending its heroine so richly deserved. Yes, this will be one of my books of the year – and I really couldn’t recommend it more highly.
May 30, 2023
Watching From The Wings by Christine Webber was published April 26th 2023 and is described as ‘a heart-warming tale of a woman finding her real self in her sixties.' Set in the world of acting, as the name suggests, this is a story about a woman who turned her back on her own career in favour of her husband’s, and now forty years later wonders – what was it all for?
Katharine Boyd was swept away by attractive and charming fellow thespian, Nicholas Pilkington, while both were involved in the same seasonal residency in a theatre at Broadburgh-on-Sea. Katharine’s mother, Moira Tresswell, had been ‘the darling of the British film industry’ but their relationship was fragmented. Katharine had grown up in the shadow of her mother but this new residency was an opportunity, a stepping-stone to move away from her mother’s influence and to be a star in her own right. Moira Tresswell was a flamboyant and charismatic character, always looking for the spotlight. Suddenly unable to cope with her flagging career and her broken marriage to Katharine’s father, she pushed herself back into Katharine’s world unannounced and unwelcome.
Nicholas was clearly in awe of her mother yet Katharine was swayed by his charm and compliments, quite unable to believe that someone like Nicholas Pilkington could be interested in her at all. Katharine made some drastic and life-changing decisions, choosing to stand beside Nicholas and to be his support, managing his career and helping him achieve huge notoriety as an actor. But Katharine lost some of herself along the way and now, forty years later, she is re-evaluating her marriage, her relationship and everything she has sacrificed over the years. Did she choose the wrong door all those years ago? Did she give up too much to be with this now brash and selfish man?
Watching From The Wings is the tale of a woman in her sixties considering the possibility of a new beginning. All her life Katharine Boyd remained in the background, giving over her life to Nicolas Pilkington. Her dearest friend Cleo had always been sceptical of Nicholas, seeing him as a selfish individual who sucked the life out of Katharine over the years, always taking, taking, taking but she has always remained a true confidant for Katharine. Katharine made a decision to move house, one that Nicolas had supported, but now circumstances have changed and Katharine is unsure of what to do. An fortuitous moment offers an unexpected opportunity for Katharine but does she have the nerve to step out of the wings and into the spotlight? Has she left it too late?
Christine Webber has personally experienced the world of stage and television. Starting off with a brief sojourn as part of a Summer Theatre season in Suffolk her career path led her to a role as a news presenter for Anglia Television for twelve years. She crossed paths with many actors and showbiz personalities, giving her a wonderful insight and first-hand experience of a perpetually busy and frenetic landscape. Christine Webber made an active decision to write books that she herself would want to read, with her target audience being of a mature variety. In an interview with Sophie Grenham in The Gloss magazine Christine stated that ‘I came to believe that novels where the main characters were vibrant, innovative, full of zest for life and over fifty were in short supply, so she decided to write them herself. Christine had written numerous non-fiction books from her perspective as a trained psychotherapist but shifted to fiction in 2016 when she realised the gap in the market for fiction with a more mature appeal. Christine is also behind a number of podcasts and writes a fortnightly column for East Anglian newspapers, all focusing on positive ageing.
Watching From The Wings is a charming story about second chances and the realisation of opportunities missed. It’s the story of a personal journey with an uplifting message giving hope to us all as we reach new decades in life (and more grey hairs start to appear!). Christine Webber is an inspirational individual. She has been through challenging times in recent years but she just never gives up. A force to be reckoned with, Christine Webber is a role model for positive ageing, a truly amazing woman.
Katharine Boyd was swept away by attractive and charming fellow thespian, Nicholas Pilkington, while both were involved in the same seasonal residency in a theatre at Broadburgh-on-Sea. Katharine’s mother, Moira Tresswell, had been ‘the darling of the British film industry’ but their relationship was fragmented. Katharine had grown up in the shadow of her mother but this new residency was an opportunity, a stepping-stone to move away from her mother’s influence and to be a star in her own right. Moira Tresswell was a flamboyant and charismatic character, always looking for the spotlight. Suddenly unable to cope with her flagging career and her broken marriage to Katharine’s father, she pushed herself back into Katharine’s world unannounced and unwelcome.
Nicholas was clearly in awe of her mother yet Katharine was swayed by his charm and compliments, quite unable to believe that someone like Nicholas Pilkington could be interested in her at all. Katharine made some drastic and life-changing decisions, choosing to stand beside Nicholas and to be his support, managing his career and helping him achieve huge notoriety as an actor. But Katharine lost some of herself along the way and now, forty years later, she is re-evaluating her marriage, her relationship and everything she has sacrificed over the years. Did she choose the wrong door all those years ago? Did she give up too much to be with this now brash and selfish man?
Watching From The Wings is the tale of a woman in her sixties considering the possibility of a new beginning. All her life Katharine Boyd remained in the background, giving over her life to Nicolas Pilkington. Her dearest friend Cleo had always been sceptical of Nicholas, seeing him as a selfish individual who sucked the life out of Katharine over the years, always taking, taking, taking but she has always remained a true confidant for Katharine. Katharine made a decision to move house, one that Nicolas had supported, but now circumstances have changed and Katharine is unsure of what to do. An fortuitous moment offers an unexpected opportunity for Katharine but does she have the nerve to step out of the wings and into the spotlight? Has she left it too late?
Christine Webber has personally experienced the world of stage and television. Starting off with a brief sojourn as part of a Summer Theatre season in Suffolk her career path led her to a role as a news presenter for Anglia Television for twelve years. She crossed paths with many actors and showbiz personalities, giving her a wonderful insight and first-hand experience of a perpetually busy and frenetic landscape. Christine Webber made an active decision to write books that she herself would want to read, with her target audience being of a mature variety. In an interview with Sophie Grenham in The Gloss magazine Christine stated that ‘I came to believe that novels where the main characters were vibrant, innovative, full of zest for life and over fifty were in short supply, so she decided to write them herself. Christine had written numerous non-fiction books from her perspective as a trained psychotherapist but shifted to fiction in 2016 when she realised the gap in the market for fiction with a more mature appeal. Christine is also behind a number of podcasts and writes a fortnightly column for East Anglian newspapers, all focusing on positive ageing.
Watching From The Wings is a charming story about second chances and the realisation of opportunities missed. It’s the story of a personal journey with an uplifting message giving hope to us all as we reach new decades in life (and more grey hairs start to appear!). Christine Webber is an inspirational individual. She has been through challenging times in recent years but she just never gives up. A force to be reckoned with, Christine Webber is a role model for positive ageing, a truly amazing woman.
July 3, 2023
Watching From The Wings is the fabulous new novel from Christine Webber. Like her previous books, she takes her personal experience from working in the theatre to write a book about second chances. Kate meets Nicholas on her first job in the theatre, she is in awe of him, and as they say love is blind. Forty years later we catch up with Kate who has spent the last forty years supporting Nicholas in his astonishing career. But with age we change, our priorities change and we can look back and see our missed opportunities . After Kate is pushed too she decides to take a stand, and start to put herself first for the first time.
Christine Webber has an amazing skill in writing wonderfully real and relatable characters that we feel we know. I loved Katherine, although I did occassionly want to shout at her, to make her see how manipulative Nicholas was being, but as they say ‘Love is Blind’. I cheered however when she eventually snapped, and realised she wanted more to life. Her sense of humour and clumsiness added a warmth and sense of fun to both Kate and the story. In most books there is the character we dislike but Christine has created two character whom I found absolutely abhorrent, Nicholas and Katie’s mother Moira. Nicholas is a self centred, selfish egoistical man, who cares nothing for Katie except as someone to take care of him. His relationship with Katie was always more to do with her famous mother than her. Moira has many of the same traits as Nicholas, but as a mother they are even more unforgivable in my opinion.
The plot line of second chances really appealed to me and I’m sure many will relate to Katie and her situation. It is isn’t just Katie by leaving Nicholas who has a second chance, but other characters aslo had second chances in different ways; like after illness in the family, and in marriage. Her character’s relationships were very natural and real, my favourite being between Katie and her father. Even in her sixties she still needs her father, he is the person she turns to when in need; it reminded me of my relationship with my father. I also enjoyed how she uses the everyday simple things the smell of clothes to bring back memories and how a familiar walk can bring us comfort, again something I’m sure we can all relate to.
Watching From The Wings is a beautiful book packed with warmth, wit, humour and fabulous characters. I have used the word relatable in my review a couple of times, and that is the strength of this book, and what makes it such a compelling and engaging read. Christine Webber is masterful in her character development, taking in her many years of being in the media and theatre and using it to really get under the skin of those characters. This is such a fascinating read that I highly recommend.
Christine Webber has an amazing skill in writing wonderfully real and relatable characters that we feel we know. I loved Katherine, although I did occassionly want to shout at her, to make her see how manipulative Nicholas was being, but as they say ‘Love is Blind’. I cheered however when she eventually snapped, and realised she wanted more to life. Her sense of humour and clumsiness added a warmth and sense of fun to both Kate and the story. In most books there is the character we dislike but Christine has created two character whom I found absolutely abhorrent, Nicholas and Katie’s mother Moira. Nicholas is a self centred, selfish egoistical man, who cares nothing for Katie except as someone to take care of him. His relationship with Katie was always more to do with her famous mother than her. Moira has many of the same traits as Nicholas, but as a mother they are even more unforgivable in my opinion.
The plot line of second chances really appealed to me and I’m sure many will relate to Katie and her situation. It is isn’t just Katie by leaving Nicholas who has a second chance, but other characters aslo had second chances in different ways; like after illness in the family, and in marriage. Her character’s relationships were very natural and real, my favourite being between Katie and her father. Even in her sixties she still needs her father, he is the person she turns to when in need; it reminded me of my relationship with my father. I also enjoyed how she uses the everyday simple things the smell of clothes to bring back memories and how a familiar walk can bring us comfort, again something I’m sure we can all relate to.
Watching From The Wings is a beautiful book packed with warmth, wit, humour and fabulous characters. I have used the word relatable in my review a couple of times, and that is the strength of this book, and what makes it such a compelling and engaging read. Christine Webber is masterful in her character development, taking in her many years of being in the media and theatre and using it to really get under the skin of those characters. This is such a fascinating read that I highly recommend.
May 29, 2023
Katharine is an aspiring actor.
What a smashing book. I thoroughly enjoyed Watching From The Wings because it is a well paced, involving and engaging story that has a resonance of truth making it highly entertaining and satisfying. The plot feels authentic and realistic even though it’s set in a theatrical world most of us know little about. Incidentally, I think Watching From The Wings would make a brilliant television series because the plot has depth and some real surprises along the way.
I always know how much I’ve enjoyed a book and how effective the characterisation is when I have an emotional reaction to the people in the story. I this case, I absolutely loathed Nicholas. I wanted to climb into the book and punch him. Hard. As a result, initially I was incredibly frustrated by Katharine. She infuriated me as she lost sight of her individuality in her relationship with Nicholas. Katharine is an absolutely fabulous character because Christine Webber gets right inside the head of a young woman and then again when she is older in the story, giving readers of any age something relatable. There’s true development here. I loved it when I reached the later timescale and Katharine had matured, even though she remains a flawed person. She’s so true to life.
And Moira was a triumph of loathsomeness. One of the real pleasures in reading Watching From The Wings was absolutely hating some of the characters. Equally, watching their growth and development was also thoroughly entertaining and I adored Simon and Cleo from the start. Indeed, everyone needs a Cleo in their life. Even the most minor characters have a vitality that makes them lifelike and realistic.
There’s also a convincing flavour of realism through cultural references to actual theatre productions, television and actors so that Watching From The Wings feels true and engaging. The reader gets a vivid insight into the world of theatre that I found fascinating. I also thoroughly appreciated the exploration of a marriage and of relationships, friendships and family, control and trust and manipulation and self-doubt. These felt like grown up themes that added very pleasing depth. Most of all I loved the message that the time to start living your life to the full is now, regardless of your age or past experiences.
Filled with warm humanity, experience, emotion and entertainment, Watching From The Wings is an engaging narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed. I really recommend it.
What a smashing book. I thoroughly enjoyed Watching From The Wings because it is a well paced, involving and engaging story that has a resonance of truth making it highly entertaining and satisfying. The plot feels authentic and realistic even though it’s set in a theatrical world most of us know little about. Incidentally, I think Watching From The Wings would make a brilliant television series because the plot has depth and some real surprises along the way.
I always know how much I’ve enjoyed a book and how effective the characterisation is when I have an emotional reaction to the people in the story. I this case, I absolutely loathed Nicholas. I wanted to climb into the book and punch him. Hard. As a result, initially I was incredibly frustrated by Katharine. She infuriated me as she lost sight of her individuality in her relationship with Nicholas. Katharine is an absolutely fabulous character because Christine Webber gets right inside the head of a young woman and then again when she is older in the story, giving readers of any age something relatable. There’s true development here. I loved it when I reached the later timescale and Katharine had matured, even though she remains a flawed person. She’s so true to life.
And Moira was a triumph of loathsomeness. One of the real pleasures in reading Watching From The Wings was absolutely hating some of the characters. Equally, watching their growth and development was also thoroughly entertaining and I adored Simon and Cleo from the start. Indeed, everyone needs a Cleo in their life. Even the most minor characters have a vitality that makes them lifelike and realistic.
There’s also a convincing flavour of realism through cultural references to actual theatre productions, television and actors so that Watching From The Wings feels true and engaging. The reader gets a vivid insight into the world of theatre that I found fascinating. I also thoroughly appreciated the exploration of a marriage and of relationships, friendships and family, control and trust and manipulation and self-doubt. These felt like grown up themes that added very pleasing depth. Most of all I loved the message that the time to start living your life to the full is now, regardless of your age or past experiences.
Filled with warm humanity, experience, emotion and entertainment, Watching From The Wings is an engaging narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed. I really recommend it.
April 26, 2023
Reading Watching from the Wings I was immediately transported into the world of the theatre and into the life of Kathrine and her love affair with rising star, Nicholas. Starting in 1982 and moving to 2022, I was completely hooked by this wonderful story and couldn’t put it down. Webber spins an all too believable tale of a woman who gave up her own career to support the man she loved until, almost too late, the scales began to fall from her eyes, and she found the courage to consider putting herself first. A brilliant piece of writing which flows beautifully. An insightful peek into the character of a woman who puts loyalty to her husband above her own needs. A deeply satisfying read with the happy ever after ending we all hope for.
June 3, 2023
This really wasn't my thing. Katharine is rather a pathetic character, everyone else knew Nicholas was a horrible person so I don't know why she wasted 40 years of her life with him giving up a promising career of her own. A nice easy read and if you are into romance novels this might be just what you want.
May 14, 2023
This story starts in 1982, when young actors Katherine and Nicholas are working for a summer season at a seaside repertory company. Katherine is besotted with the very talented Nicholas, who wants to marry her as he is in need of a dogsbody. This part of the story is very credible, if rather depressing, as we see Katherine turn a blind eye to his faults and choice of friends. The section ends with her accepting his on-stage proposal.
The narrative then moves to 2022. Katherine and Nicholas, who seem to have no lives outside the theatre, have weathered Brexit and lockdown in their large but crumbling Edwardian house in the home counties. Nicholas is now a theatrical knight, supported by Katherine, who has given up her own career.
Nicholas makes an important decision without consulting his wife, and a revelation of an old affair prompts Katherine to leave him. She moves out of the house and starts to build her own life.
This is where the plot becomes seriously derailed.
Although Katherine has been invited to a wedding in the Caribbean around 27th/28th December, she decides to spend Christmas Day alone in her new house, presumably oblivious to baggage handling strikes and passport control queues.
What then starts as a strong dramatic scene then becomes ludicrous.
The story then appears to get back on track again as Katherine begins to regret her decision to leave and if the story had ended there it would have been a far more satisfactory ending than the one tacked on.
The book is quite readable, but the characterisation is thin. Many of the characters are either too perfect to be true, or out-and-out rotters. Others seem there only to tick the diversity boxes.
The narrative then moves to 2022. Katherine and Nicholas, who seem to have no lives outside the theatre, have weathered Brexit and lockdown in their large but crumbling Edwardian house in the home counties. Nicholas is now a theatrical knight, supported by Katherine, who has given up her own career.
Nicholas makes an important decision without consulting his wife, and a revelation of an old affair prompts Katherine to leave him. She moves out of the house and starts to build her own life.
This is where the plot becomes seriously derailed.
Although Katherine has been invited to a wedding in the Caribbean around 27th/28th December, she decides to spend Christmas Day alone in her new house, presumably oblivious to baggage handling strikes and passport control queues.
What then starts as a strong dramatic scene then becomes ludicrous.
The story then appears to get back on track again as Katherine begins to regret her decision to leave and if the story had ended there it would have been a far more satisfactory ending than the one tacked on.
The book is quite readable, but the characterisation is thin. Many of the characters are either too perfect to be true, or out-and-out rotters. Others seem there only to tick the diversity boxes.
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