The Emergence of Judy Taylor

by Angela Jackson

Judy Taylor married the first man who asked her. She lives in the neighbourhood where she spent her uneventful childhood. She still has the same friends she first met at primary school. But everything she once knew is about to be turned upside down.

Judy might be ready to start a new life in vibrant Edinburgh, if she's prepared to accept what it means to change. First she has to ask herself if it's ever too late to make up for lost time.

The Emergence of Judy Taylor is a story about first loves and second chances. It's about love and life and sex and starlings. It's about Judy and Oliver and Paul and Fabiana and Rob and Min and Lily and Harry and a French siren called Isabella.

Genres: Fiction, Scotland, Contemporary, Chick Lit

232 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2013

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved reading this story. I found it very clever how Angela Jackson developed the character Judy Taylor. I thought Judy Taylor was bold and had courage to leave her husband Oliver. But I also thought how could she do that. Oliver did nothing wrong but love Judy so very much. I highly recommend readers to buy a copy of The Emergence of Judy Taylor. Its full of romance drama.

[A Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I downloaded this book on Kindle, as I adore Edinburgh and really fancied reading a book set there. From the description it was exactly what I was looking for, so I settled down to read. Unfortunately, while it is an extremely well written story, it just wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy the story, as it didn't captivate me enough and I only read to the end for the descriptions, not the story line.

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love receiving a book that I know very little about, it means that I have no preconceptions, no idea what i am to expect from a book and I was lucky enough to be in that position with this lovely debut novel by Angel Jackson. I love books about strong, independent females and so I felt sure that I would be onto a winner with this one! The first thing that jumped out at me about this book is that the cover gives absolutely nothing away about the storyline. There are no pictures of crying women of strong men on the cover, there is simply a city skyline and several birds flying in the sky, beautiful and yet not linked the the story in any way-brilliant!

The second thing that will strike the reader straight away is the writing style. It is quite a different style of writing, not the usual style of narrative that comes with romance or chick-lit novels. I expected it to be written in the first person but it was written in the third person and jumps about q bit describing what is going on with each of the different characters in the book. Although Judy is the main character. Paragraph space is also given over the supporting characters, and at different times and places. I think that the fact that the writing style is so different gives this novel a unique voice, and that was a very brave thing to do for a debut author!

The characters and the storyline are both well developed, and the settings interesting. As i have already mentioned, the main plot of the story involves Judy, but husband Oliver, brother Rob, friends Paul and Gina also get time and space in the novel, something which I found led the book to feel well-rounded and complete. The storyline itself does tend to jump from one time period to another quite quickly and without warning. Whilst chapters may be given over to a space of thirty minutes, we then jump on to a month later or a fortnight later without warning. Whilst sometimes i found this to be a little unsettling, it did lend itself well to the book being well-paced and to there being a good conclusion at the end of the novel.

I think that this is a very strong debut novel from this author. I think it has all the major elements a reader would look for in a storyline, love, heartbreak, death, self-discovery, travel. Whilst in general I think that it would appeal to an older female reader than myself, I still took an awful lot from the book. It is a tale of self-discovery and the difficulties on encounters on the way there. A gripping read.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

With it's enigmatic cover that gives nothing away and the cover quote 'Heart-wrenching yet dryly funny', this is a novel that I was intrigued by. I wasn't sure of the genre, or who the book is marketed at.

After finishing the story, I can honestly say that this story should appeal to any reader - male or female, single or married. Although the lead character is female and the central theme is of relationships, this is a book that deals with the uncertainties in life, and cleverly approaches the hidden insecurities that many of us have, and how lives and worlds can change dramatically when one person is honest, both with themselves and with the others around them.

Judy Taylor and her husband Oliver appear, to their friends and family, to be happy. It is a potentially life-changing incident that makes Judy take a long, hard and honest look at her life. Her sudden realisation that this is not what she wants hits her hard. She wants something else, but Judy doesn't really know what that something else it. Her decision to leave Oliver and make a new life for herself in Edinburgh shocks everyone associated with her. Oliver is angry and doesn't understand, her brother thinks she is selfish, her Mother is left to cope with her Father's steady decline into ill-health.

Judy can appear to readers to be selfish and ungrateful, but there are parts of her character and her situation that will probably really resonate with many of us. Judy's brutal honesty, with herself and with the other characters does not make her the most likeable of characters and the reader could get annoyed by her and her actions, but she is a strong character and is determined that whatever the outcome, she will take this journey.

The Emergence of Judy Taylor is a very accomplished novel. Angela Jackson takes the reader through the sometimes painful steps that Judy takes. This is not a fast-paced, action packed story. It is a slow uncovering of years of disenchantment, of facing up to reality and of dealing with how one's actions can hurt others whilst healing oneself.

I was very impressed by the sensitivity of the writing. This is a powerful and often very moving story with touches of dry humour and some fabulous characters.

[Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting one. I've noticed that there aren't many novels about going through a divorce when you're relatively young (which is why I tried to write one myself, but that's a whole other story!) so I was fascinated to hear about this book and read it.

Divorce is one of life's biggest emotional sledgehammers. I have not yet experienced a worse feeling than realising that you have married the wrong person.

There were parts of this novel that mirrored my own experience so acutely that I had to shut the book and put it away for a month because I couldn't bear to keep reading.

Others show the protagonist, Judy, grappling with the aftermath of her decision to end her marriage, having grown weary of the pedestrian lifestyle she somehow found herself in, and these are for the most part well drawn and interesting, with a diverse cast of characters to keep you entertained. Judy herself is indecisive and guilt ridden but excited about her new life...hurt and angry that some people in her life seem unable to cut her any slack, and that the loyalty of her friends is not always where she hoped it was. This too is very familiar for anyone who has been through something like this.

And yet.....and yet. I didn't love it. Because it cut a bit close, perhaps, or because it got some things right and didn't with others, some which felt a bit clumsy or didn't quite ring true. Some parts felt a bit rushed or glossed over. I don't know. I might have to ponder this a bit more.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always interested in fiction about people turning their lives upside down and I found this entertaining reading. Judy is married to Oliver – a successful solicitor – and she has a job as a lecturer in music. They have many friends and it would seem Judy has an enviable life. But something is not right for Judy and she can’t put her finger on exactly what it is she just knows her life has become boring and she needs a change otherwise she is going to do something everyone may live to regret.

I think many people will at some time have experienced the urge to disappear without leaving a forwarding address – to just start again and ditch all the baggage. Most of us probably don’t do anything as drastic as Judy did but I know I could empathise with her. I liked the writing style and I loved the humour and the marvellous characters. I could understand how Oliver felt as well and I thought the author put his side of the story very well too.

I loved the background of Edinburgh and the Festival in the second half of the book and I thought the author really evoked the atmosphere of the city in August. There are some marvellous characters too – Judy herself, Lily and Harry – and I’m still smiling over some of the scenes twenty four hours after I finished reading them. Anyone who finds the average women’s fiction too sentimental and slushy may enjoy this book.

[Carol Peace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this from http://www.lovereading.co.uk/ but this review is my own impression of the book.
Judy is married to Oliver who was the first man who asked her. Her life seems to be on a treadmill and after a slight health scare she decides that her 'normal' life just isn't enough for her.She would really like to start again in Edinburgh where a friend lives. The way she engineers the move is slightly odd but she thinks it is for the right reasons. When she eventually decides the time is right her friends have no idea that she was intending to abandon them. Judy doesn't quite get the move together the way she thought.We are introduced more to friends and family but they do not quite understand her need for a second chance. I loved the book and could relate to Judy and indeed the trials and tribulations that she met. I laughed, cried, and sympathised with her. This was not the chic lit I was expecting and will be looking out for more of Angela's books.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reminded me a bit of Eat, Pray, Love in that I just feel like saying to the main characters (true character in Elizabeth Gilbert's case) "Get over yourself". In "The Emergence of Judy Taylor" it is difficult to see what is fundamentally wrong with Judy's life. I know, that's kind of the point, but it just irritates me. If Judy was real and was a friend of mine I'd say A) have a baby and stopped being so self-absorbed or B) do some volunteer work and stop being so self-absorbed, then your "problems" (still hard to work out exactly what these are) would magically disappear because you'd be too tired and busy to worry about them. Talk about "First World", or as I like to call them "Middle Class" problems....

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised when this book ended as I was still waiting for the story to really take some direction. It had some interesting ideas and interesting characters and I guess that life isn't always nicely packaged up with conclusions, but it just felt a bit wishy washy, like she'd given up one thing for something else but that something else wasn't really going anywhere either and she didn't seem to be much better off. Again, that can be how life works but it's kind of an odd thing to write a novel about.

[Frank Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, to make it short: to me Judy did not "emerge".
We learn: the waves of exploding a marriage subside - some friendships survive or recover; some dont. Life goes on.
The book basically reads well, but especially in the first half the pace changes and there are cynic passages (which I do not like) and in the second part we learn more about friends and family than of where Judy is heading. Well, yeah she seems to be doing ok, but I doubt she's really happy...

[Megan Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just couldn't get into it - I normally know by the first 10 pages whether it's a winner, whether it's a book for me and this was a definite no no.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Proof copy originally reviewed for Lovereading. This is a short and interesting tale of a woman who realises her life is not as fulfilling as it should be. It takes the unusual stance that she still loves her husband and is happy, but still chooses to leave everything - a happy home, close family and friends and reasonably good job. As a stay at home Mum, I could relate to some of Judy’s feelings, although she has no children and, if I’m honest, the life into which she emerged seemed no more exciting or fulfilling than her earlier cosy existence. Of that I am glad, as it makes it a much more interesting read. It seems far more real than the amazing life that people in literature and films normally achieve when they leave everything behind.
I found the writing style slightly frustrating many paragraphs seemed to be in list form, for example, “He was the kind of man who …, and he had …, and he looked …, and …” Whilst being full of imagery and feelings it sadly had the effect of making me skim read some of the details. I think it is intended to make it seem like a diary although it is written in the third person. The stream of consciousness voice is used for Judy and her husband, inner thoughts are expressed in the list style of writing and it does make it easier to understand their motivations.
Despite the unusual style of writing, I did enjoy The Emergence of Judy Taylor because it had a good balance of light-hearted moments whilst still being realistic and emotive.

[J K · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea was promising but it was a surprisingly disjointed read. Lots of hopping between characters and timelines without exploring any of it in a satisfying way, not a lot of depth or introspection, just a few heartwarming moments and a little tragedy, and then it all kind of evaporates at the end, like a deadline was fast approaching. It's a smallish story and she seemed to be trying hard to make the (relatively blameless) husband character quite dumb yet sympathetic, with a succession of gorgeous woman after him.

This really needed more focus on just Judy, I feel, to pull her story along in a more compelling way, although she didn't seem like a very interesting person in the end, just blown around by whims and no real agenda. I wanted to like it, but not a lot clicked for me, though the Edinburgh parts were fun. Kind of humdrum, and not for me.

[Rosalind Liu · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest, this really wasn't the book for me. Maybe it's because I'm a relatively young reader and didn't really understand what Judy was so worried about (since divorce and such topics in which I have no experience in). However, I personally feel like the logic of this book is a little bit confusing since it jumps from one person's narrative to the next, and I got lost many times within the storyline since it was very murky and blurred.
For me, I'm not totally a fan of this writing style so I didn't like it that much. Many parts were confusing and sounded rushed since they made no sense nor contribution to the storyline. In addition, I couldn't make out the storyline either since it was really confusing and I felt that the story after Judy leaves Oliver starts to become messy.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t really know much about this book when I started reading it, and therefore had no expectations. However, I finished it in less than two days. It caught my interest fast and with its very realistic point of view, it never got dull or too much. I can recommend it if you want to read something that’s very plausible and honest.

[Sian Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fairly short book, and a very well rounded 1st Novel from Angela Jackson. Lovely writing and good characters. I enjoyed Judy's journey and read this in a day. I would definitely read more from this Author.

[Zarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very "ordinary" ans realistic book. I LOVED it so much!
It manages to be funny and sad and wrong in all the right ways. It is so REAL. Read it!

[Elaine]

Ok read
Not really my cup of tea

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intelligently written with some acute observations but not very likeable characters. Ended as if it the plot had run out of steam. Would read more by the author on the basis of the writing style.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the story line of this wonderful book quite engrossing – this is a page turner, but not in the traditional sense. Faced with a potentially life-changing situation, Judy Taylor takes a close look at her life – an outwardly settled and contented one – and decides that it just isn’t what she wants any more. She makes a choice – changes the life she has for a new one, however difficult that might be and whatever the impact on everyone around her. And the impact is tremendous – her husband Oliver is devastated, and her parents are left to cope alone with her father’s health problems. Despite all this, I found Judy a really sympathetic character – it’s not too difficult for anyone, caught up in the comfortable routine of daily existence, to feel the same need to break away, start again. Her new life in Edinburgh is anything but plain sailing – changing her life also means changing herself.

Quite apart from the originality of the story, and its swirling themes of difficult choices and facing death and a woman’s duty, what set this book apart for me was the quality of the writing. Every word really counts and its plain that the book’s construction was an absolute labour of love for the author. Don’t misread that – other than the subject matter, the book is essentially an easy read, accessible to everyone. But the way in which the supporting characters reflect some of the themes and choices has been meticulously crafted. At times it’s immensely funny, wonderfully dry, at other times it tears your heart apart. And some of the descriptions will stay with me for ever – I defy anyone to set it aside after the opening description of the wedding which has something identifiable to everyone, until “some years passed”. I really loved it.

[Maria Goodin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the recipient of my first five star rating. The writing itself is extremely observant and fluid, and in places humorous. The story itself could so easily fall flat. It's a simple story about a woman going trough a life crisis, and if you want lots of action and drama this won't be the book for you. The fact that such a simple story can become so engrossing and intriguing is a sign that it has been very skilfully written, and I will certainly be looking out for this author again.
It wasn't completely flawless. If I'm going to be picking I didn't like the final line of the novel. It made no sense to me and seemed to fall flat. I also don't like stories that are written in the present suddenly summarising what happens to the characters in the future as the book draws to and end. I didn't need to know that Paul would go on to live until a ripe old age and his grandchild would play world-class football. Where did this insight into the next few decades suddenly come from?
But I generally found the story gripping, original and really well written. I look forward to whatever comes next.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was delighted to win a copy of this from a friend's book blog and as a couple of people whose tastes are similar to mine, loved it, I was hoping to be blown away by it too.

I did enjoy it, it's a nice quick read and there's plenty going on it kept me entertained and I liked a lot of the secondary characters, but I totally failed to engage fully with the main protagonist Judy who is having a mid life crisis and wants to leave her husband. I did not get a strong impression of why she felt she needed to get away and "find herself" found her a little pretentious - why on earth she kept seeing a so called life coach who gave her no coaching at all as far as I could see and I don't get why she all but abandoned her lovely family and traded in her caring friends for a sundry bunch of people she seems to have little in common with.

She seemed to walk out on the kind of life I aspire to and end up living a rather random and pointless existence which made it very hard for me to empathise much with her at all, hence my 3 star rating for this book.

[Dot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I found this book very dull. The main character gives no actual reason for divorcing her husband, and the reader doesn't understand it either - the most I can see is that she doesn't have breast cancer, and this is some huge motivating factor in changing her life, but then dozens of pages go by without any developments. The decline of her father seemed completely rushed. The relationship with the elderly woman in Harry's building existed...well, I couldn't figure out why, and her sudden monologue was dropped in without context. Why is there a picture of the route from Abington? Why is there a detailed list of her wardrobe? (presumably to show how she'd changed over the past year, but it was such a slog to get through and made the forward motion crash) Why is so much attention paid to other characters instead of developing the protagonist? The final decision of the protagonist is so banal that it makes the whole Eat Pray Love-type setup laughable. Ultimately, a book to finish and then immediately donate.

[KP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Jackson has done a fantastic job of blending truly beautiful writing with an interesting story and a slew of very believable characters. She sets us up with a situation that is familiar (half of a relationship bored and wanting out) and somehow makes us both loathe Judy Taylor for doing what isn't best for her and love her for doing what is indeed best for her - and it's that dynamic that makes this book sing.

This book is also a love letter to Edinburgh, one of the most wonderful cities in the world (I am biased, but really) and takes the reader on a romp through the chaos of the Festival and the lull of a late-night jazz bar and the stunning architecture that lurks around every corner. Seeing the city through Judy's eyes made me see it for the first time again.

A lovely, lovely read.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book as I come from Edinburgh and it was a signed copy. The story started well, i enjoyed the writing but then I felt as soon as the author had got the main character to Edinburgh and had described some of the virtues of the city, she did not know where the story should go. Suddenly after precise details of her life and that of her family and friends, she jumped ahead months at a time and quickly wound up each person's story. I enjoyed the first 2/3s of the novel and then just felt so let down. As if the author was trying not to exceed a certain number of pages and realised she had used up too many before her story was half told. I will be Selling my signed paperback if anyone is interested!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light-hearted, very quick and easy to read book. I liked it because it felt as if I didn't have to put any thought into reading it. Although I thought Judy was a bit of an idiot at the beginning, by the end she had grown on me to become likeable, following her dreams. It was a bit of an everyone getting a happily-ever-after kind of story which is my only real critique since I'm not sure how realistic that is!

[Antony Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read about Judy Taylor, a married woman turning her seemingly comfortable life upside down. The characters are believable, and a wry sense of humour and observation is woven into the more serious elements of the story. By the end, you really care about what happens to Judy and worry about how things will turn out for her.

[Lornadoone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book on so many levels. If you are looking for a new voice in writing that gives believable characters that stick with you long after the book has been finished then this is for you.
Having the courage to make big changes in life and the consequences is a major theme.
Have read mote than once and look forward to more from this debut author.

[Ailsa Britain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only picked it up because of the Edinburgh theme, and thought it was going to be pretty run-of-the-mill chick lit. More to it than that, though. Another scenario where the "half" star would be useful - as it really merits a rating of three and a half.

[Deborah Judah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it was a like a slice in time. Judy decides (seemingly out of the blue) to leave her husband after a cancer scare to start a new life. This is the effect on her friends, family and herself.