Thicker Than Soup

by Kathryn Joyce (Contributor)

Focussed on their careers, Sally Lancing, the daughter of a Pakistani immigrant and English mother, and John Sommers, the much-loved son of adoptive parents, are equally committed to a child-free future.

Then a surprise pregnancy – and doubts about the paternity – hurls them both into new, but separate, lives. Devastated by the loss of her job, her partner, and her home, Sally and her baby son embark on a journey to Pakistan to meet her father’s distant family. Once there, Sally’s eyes are opened to a world that challenges her deepest beliefs.

Meanwhile, John hides his vulnerability behind increasing success as a restaurateur. But the baby has rattled skeletons, and, unable to avoid his past, he too embarks on a journey – to find his birth parents.

As their horizons broaden and their views are challenged, the child, Sammy, is an innocent but enduring link. Thicker Than Soup is a story of love, loss and discovery that explores the concepts of morality and independence as Sally and John attempt to build separate futures. Until, that is, providence stirs life’s mixing bowl once more, and Sammy is again the crucial ingredient.

Thicker Than Soup is a moving tale of relationships set against a backdrop of both Thatcher’s Britain and a beautifully evoked Pakistan. Inspired by The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd, the novel explores the serious issues of cultural integration and diversity as well as adoption, and also, the devastating shock of HIV.

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2015

About the author

Kathryn Joyce, more widely known as Kathy, is a writer, traveller, and enthusiastic cook who found that time spent working in West Africa, Pakistan and Vietnam were great inspirations in her life. The year in Pakistan, she says, "introduced me to a colourful, exciting, diverse community that shattered the stereotypes and prejudices I didn't think I had".
Whilst there she wrote newsletters home, little realising they would later become the source of her debut novel, Thicker Than Soup.

Reviews

[Nanette Tredoux · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and authentic book, written with knowledge, insight and love. Why did it end? I want to know so much more about these people after having been given a precious window into their lives. I feel that I understand them better now, although I admit having been rather judgmental in the beginning. Now it is really hard to let them go. This only happens with excellent books.

I enjoyed the food and wine theme that permeates the book. You don't have to be a food enthusiast to enjoy the story, but it will help if you can understand how food is a means of self-expression and of conveying care for others. Psychologically the book feels real.

The author has a real gift and I hope to see much more of her work.

[Jeannie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. I was gripped and read the book in less than 24 hours - helped by the fact that I am on holiday. The book flowed well and was an easy read in spite of the seriousness of the topics within the book - sexual equality, religion, politics and HIV /AIDS I found the chapters of the book based in Pakistan enlightening as to the history of the country and the social/ political condition in the 1980's and really enjoyed how the author wove these details into the story.. I would definitely read another book by Kathryn Joyce.

[Frannie Burd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

Covering about 15 years in the lives of John and Sally, "Thicker Than Soup" shows us how far-reaching our actions can be. John and Sally are a happy couple on the verge of realizing all their dreams, when one poor decision changes the direction of both their lives. Joyce makes us privy to their differing versions of and reactions to events, taking the reader from London to Pakistan and back again. A great summer read.

[Louise van roekel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lost this book after downloading it on my kindle and found it once again 3 years later. The book blurb had me interested. The time line of the story runs through the 1980's. The story is told mainly from Sally's point of view. However her story is interwoven with, 'flashback ' like chapters, told from John's point of view. At first I found the 'flashback' like episode a bit annoying but as the story moved along, it became clearer why the author decided to tell the story in this way. The story held me enthralled for much of the book. However 75% of the way the story made a turn that I found hard to believe. The novel started out telling us about Sally and her quest for equality in the work place and her life as an indepedent woman, to arrive at Sally converting to her older and rather conservative new husband's religon and basically discard all her ideals. Part of the novel is of course about Sally's journey from young woman to becoming a married women with children and how this changes her outlook on life. However I found the transition to stark and therefore hard to believe. The story gives us some insight into the history of the partition between India and Pakistan and adds an additional layer to the story. John's story is a lot more straight forward but has an interesting twist in the end. The story ends rather abruptly and I would have liked to have read a little more about the Sally, John and Sammy "reunion". Altogether an interesting and recommended read.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is what others (Amazon readers) have said about Thicker Than Soup:

5 stars: 3rd April,2015
By Diana Slater
What an enjoyable read. I liked the pace of the story and found it hard to put down. So interesting to have a knowledgeable account of life in Pakistan. I also enjoyed travelling down memory lane to the 1980's. Definitely lots of " food " for thought.! I shall certainly go and visit the Rothko at the Tate!

5 stars Great book, 2 April 2015
By JBah
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were believable and likeable. The story line followed unexpected paths but was realistic given the 1980s timeframe. I now want to visit Pakistan after reading about the sights, food and people.

4 stars A great read, 28 Mar. 2015
By Frank Brierley
What an admirable first novel! Not just an absorbing and most readable page-turner, but a book that deals with serious themes - sexual morality, AIDS, friendship, family values and Islamic-Christian relations - all with a light touch and an engaging style. It is pacey, beautifully plotted with surprising twists, and its poignant ending leaves us with some hope. Dialogue and characterisation were extremely good. The reader benefits from the author's own experience of living in Pakistan to counter some of the popular misconceptions about that country, at least as it was some 20-30 years ago. Though I found the influx of new characters about a third of the way through the book somewhat overwhelming, that didn't spoil enjoyment of the novel as a whole.

5 stars An engaging tale of love and tragedy across two cultures, 18 Mar. 2015
By minuano
This is a very well written debut novel. Full of engaging description of the 1980s the story evolves through several unexpected changes in fortune of the two main characters which keeps the reader guessing about the final outcome.


5 stars Beautifully written page turner. 18 Mar. 2015
By Nena
Beautifully written page turner- I started it at 10am and finished it at 7pm, only briefly coming up for air and a quick lunch! The characters are well drawn and their actions and motivations are plausible and draw you into their lives. The time period (80s) and places (England and Pakistan) are evoked with a lightness of touch that never intrudes, and the author pulls off the difficult trick of maintaining a well balanced storyline alternating the narrative between the two protagonists chapter by chapter.

5 stars Cleverly woven story of love and families,16 Mar. 2015
By Elizabeth Delap
This story gripped me to the end with it's many unexpected twists. The characters are complex and develop pleasingly as the story progresses. The setting in Britain and Pakistan of the period, as well as the cultural and social challenges of the time, are cleverly woven into this story of love and families.

5 stars ‘Thicker than Soup’ is a great read with strong and interesting characters who reflect real ..., 12 Mar. 2015
By davidlankester
‘Thicker than Soup’ is a great read with strong and interesting characters who reflect real issues and real life dramas. It tugs one in as John struggles towards success whilst battling with the demons of his past. And when Sally goes to Pakistan, her experiences there open the eyes and the mind to a culture and society that has surprising attractions and reveals life that challenges some of the myths and views many of us hold. The story twists and turns as it takes the reader to some very plausible but unforeseen outcomes. After reading this book more than once I’ve been sad each time I finished; I’ve grown to know the characters and their lives, and discovered new things I missed the previous time around. The book is an experience and one that I won’t forget. I recommend it hugely.

[Lucy's Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written, captivating and has a wow factor! Love the fact we get to see some of the situations from two different points of view, so made me think about what was going on!


Loved the time period it is set in to as I grew in this time period and even though was so long ago it brings back, topics such as women in the work place and how different it was back then! Also it touches on religion, HIV, sexual morality of the time, food, business, relationships and friendships!


Book comes highly recommended!

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very easy to read & I liked the style of writing. But it didn't really work for me as I felt the author was trying to cover too many topics. I didn't take to the character John at all & skimmed his sections as some of it was a repeat of Sally's. It was interesting to see what life was like in 1980/90's Pakistan.

Provided by Netgalley

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A no spoilers review of a really interesting book with a good plot https://lindasbookbag.wordpress.com/2...