Θα Είμαι Δίπλα Σου

by Sinéad Moriarty, Paraskevi Avgoustinou (Translator)

Η Κέιτ είναι µια τριαντάχρονη που ζει µια ανέµελη ζωή στο Λονδίνο. Το µόνο που την απασχολεί είναι να διατηρήσει τις ισορροπίες της καθώς ανεβαίνει ένα-ένα τα σκαλοπάτια της επιτυχίας στον κόσµο της τηλεόρασης.
Η Φιόνα είναι η «υπεύθυνη» µεγάλη αδελφή της Κέιτ µε σύζυγο, δίδυµα αγόρια, σκύλο και τώρα… ένα πρόβληµα που θα φέρει στη ζωή της τα πάνω-κάτω.
Έτσι, η Κέιτ αποφασίζει να εγκαταλείψει τα µεγαλεπήβολα επαγγελµατικά της σχέδια επιστρέφοντας στην Ιρλανδία, στη χώρα που γεννήθηκε. Χωρίς δεύτερη σκέψη θα πάρει τη θέση της αδελφής της παρότι δεν είναι γεννηµένη για καλή νοικοκυρά.
Επιπλέον, ο πρώην φίλος της, που νόµιζε ότι είχε ξεπεράσει πριν από χρόνια, εµφανίζεται πάλι στη ζωή της για να την αναστατώσει.
Τι έχει τελικά µεγαλύτερη σηµασία;

Η αγάπη και η οικογένεια ή η καριέρα και η επιτυχία; Είναι αλήθεια ότι ο έρωτας µπορεί να ανθίσει ακόµη και στις πιο αντίξοες συνθήκες;

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Ireland, Family, Audiobook

342 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Sinéad was born and raised in Dublin where she grew up surrounded by books. Her mother is an author of children’s books. Growing up, Sinead says she was inspired by watching her mother writing at the kitchen table and then being published. From that moment on, her childhood dream was to write a novel.

After university, she went to live in Paris and then London. It was at the age of thirty, while working as a journalist in London that she began to write creatively in her spare time – after work, at lunch times … and, truth be told, during work hours.

After a couple of years toying with ideas, she joined a creative writing group and began to write The Baby Trail. The bitter-sweet comedy of a couple struggling to conceive hit a nerve in publishing circles. It was snapped up by Penguin Publishing in the UK and Ireland and has, to date, been translated into twenty languages.

Since writing The Baby Trail, Sinead has moved back to Dublin where she lives with her husband, two sons and baby girl.

Her second book A Perfect Match has been published worldwide. The US version of A Perfect Match is called The Right Fit. Her third novel – From Here to Maternity – is the third installment of the Emma Hamilton series. Her fourth book – In My Sister’s Shoes – is about two sisters who help save each other. Her fifth book has been published under two different titles: Whose Life Is It Anyway? in Ireland and Keeping it in the Family in the UK.

Her sixth book, Pieces of my Heart, about a family dealing with a terrible crisis, went straight in at number 1 in the Irish charts and was nominated for an Irish Book Award.

Her seventh book – Me and My Sisters – went straight in at number 1 in the Irish charts and was nominated for an Irish Book Award.

Her most recent novel Mad About You is the fourth novel in the Emma Hamilton Series.

Reviews

[Maria Bikaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Συμπαθητικό αναγνωσμα με στορυ που το χουμε ξαναδιαβασει ή δει σε ταινίες του χολυγουντ αλλα παρολα αυτα διαβαεζεται σχετικά γρήγορα και ευχάριστα. Αν εχετε άλλα βιβλία στη λίστα σας ενταξει δε χρειαζεται και να τρεξετε να το διαβασετε καθως ξεχνιεται γρήγορα αλλα αν δεν εχετε κατι αλλο να κανετε αποτελεί συμπαθητική επιλογή.

[Nikoleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

To “θα είμαι δίπλα σου” αφήνει γλυκόπικρη γεύση καθ’ όλη την διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης. Η αφήγηση είναι ρεαλιστική και απλοϊκή με δόσεις χιούμορ, το ίδιο ισχύει και για τους χαρακτήρες, αν κ όχι τόσο από την αρχή του βιβλίου, αλλά στην πορεία όλο και περισσότερο. Διαβάζεται εύκολα και ευχάριστα. Ήταν καλό.

[Georgia Zarkadaki · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

Ευκολοδιάβαστα, κακογραμμένο και ίσως κακό μεταφρασμένο αυτό το διαμάντι της ιρλανδικης λογοτεχνίας δεν έχει απολύτως τίποτα να προσφέρει στην λογοτεχνία. Η ηρωίδα είναι μια μουσχάρα , σχεδόν όλοι είναι αχώνευτοι ακόμα και τα παιδιά (αλήθεια τώρα καπάκι από κραγιόν στο πρωκτό ενός σκύλου?). Ο φίλος του αδερφού της την παρενοχλεί σεξουαλικά συστηματικά αλλά υποτίθεται πως εμείς πρέπει να γελάσουμε. Δεν ξέρω γιατί το διάβασα.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Καριερίστα που ζει σε μια τρύπα στο Λονδίνο και ονειρεύεται μεγαλεία φτιάχνοντας καφέδες και τσάγια σε τηλεοπτικά πλατώ, αναγκάζεται να γυρίσει στην πατρίδα της την Ιρλανδία για να φροντίσει την αδελφή της.
Το κλισέ του κλισέ ω κλισέ.
Η άρρωστη αδελφή με τον εργασιομανή σύζυγο (που μήπως κάνει και καμιά μικρή κουτσουκέλα;), τα άτακτα παιδιά της (πολύ πρωτότυπο) ... και πάει λέγοντας ...

Υλικό για μια από αυτές τις μεσημεριανές ξένες ταινίες της Κυριακής ...
Αυτή/-ος που γυρίζει σε ένα πατρικό/πατρίδα/χωριό σκυλοβρίζοντας/αναθεματίζοντας την ώρα και τη στιγμή και μένει για πάντα πετυχημένος/αρραβωνιασμένος/τρισευτυχισμένος ....

Διαβασμένο σε ένα αεροδρόμιο, περιμένοντας την πολύωρη ενδιάμεση πτήση μου, ουσιαστικά για να αποτρέψει τυχούσα προσπάθεια κουβέντας από πέριξ :)))

[Roula T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brain pop-corn. Ανάλαφρη σαχλαμαριτσα για να περάσουν οι ατέλειωτες ωρες καραντίνας. Φουλ σεξιστικά στερεότυπα.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't really rate this book, I thought it was super repetitive and there were very few likeable characters. I didn't like Kate or Mark, I didn't like that the twins were essentially abusive and got away with it, and basically every conversation with her dad was either "Derek you'll be sorting your life out when you're 27!" or "Kate why aren't you married yet?" Just overall did not enjoy the book at all.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started off a bit slow, but picked up very quickly. Even though the characters were horrible, the writing and the story was very good. There were some laugh out loud scenes and I did like the fact that the author uses laughter to break the tension in really tough scenes. There were some parts where the characters redeemed themselves, and then they became horrible again. It all worked together though, as I found that I kept wanting to know what happens next.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay, rather short summer read, which felt a little out of time. It was published in 2007 already, so that's kind of understandable, but still... The constant references to Kate (the main character) needing to find an appropriate husband who should duly be "taking care of her" so that she wouldn't need her career (or any job?!) anymore, as well as the patronizing behaviour of her brother-in-law, who also thinks Kate's job is waaaaaay less important than his, was getting on my nerves. Kate did the right thing helping her sister out in a difficult time, but should have been treated way better in my opinion.

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing is like that of a six year old. Seriously made me want to pull my hair out.

[sasha_ddm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all the Sinead Moriarty books I've read so far, this one is probably my least favourite, but I still gave it four stars because it's still a great read!
I only have two complaints about the book:

1. The ending felt so abrupt. It was amusing considering the characters' feelings a little while before but it just felt like such an abrupt ending. I was expecting to see another page...
2. I know they are common names, but it feels like Moriarty repeats the same names for her characters over and over again.
- both Pieces of my Heart and Seven Letters have characters called Charlie and both of them are dads to the main characters
- both Pieces of my Heart and The Truth About Riley have characters called Alison (Ali)
- both The Good Mother and In My Sister's Shoes have characters called Bobby (who are both kids) and Kate (main characters)

Like I get they are common names, but are there no other names that could have been used? Just a small observation.

4 stars overall ⭐

[Lyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book looked enticing. I usually like reading Irish books, and had high hopes.
Sadly I found it grindingly pedestrian. Maybe I am hoping for too much. To me the writing lacked joy and spark. The characters were predictable and unbelievable and really, who cared. The story line was grinding. The mathematicians v the creatives. Yawn.
I was grossed out by Gonzo, a sleaze and groper.
The attitudes to women, family and work would have been outdated 30 years ago.
The dad who coughed up to support his adult kids was a cliche. So was the rapper brother, really what was that all about.
To be fair I gave up about halfway through and read the last chapter or two. Maybe I missed the good bits?
The cutie pie ending didn’t help.

[Angela L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great example of a book where you know exactly where it's going but it is, nevertheless, a fun and absorbing read.
When Kate's older sister, Fiona, is taken ill she has to put her own life (as a fledging TV presenter) on hold to become full time Mum to Fiona's kids.
She relocates from London back home to Ireland and before long has bumped into her first love.
Yes it's formulaic, it's got a familiar feeling storyline but it is fun and I enjoyed reading this more than some others of this genre.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I need to say, that I enjoyed this book. It wasn't what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it. I expected a bit of a heart rendering tale of one sister giving up her life for another sister who has been diagnosed with cancer. However although that part is true, it reads more like a chick lit, with a large proportion of of it dedicated to relationships.

[Pauline McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never have I enjoyed a sad story so much. Sinéad Moriarty dealt with the trauma of cancer in a way I've never read before. It was sad and yet so uplifting at the same time. Thank you Author, it was a wonderful book. Not usually my type of book however this year I've been trying to read different genres instead of sticking to my usual, and I have to say I feel that it's done me the world of good.

[Máire O’Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved In 'My Sister's Shoes'. It's funny, hilarious, witty, heart warming and heart breaking with a brilliant twist. A year in her sisters shoes was some eye opener for Kate. A story of illness, self sacrifice and family. I love Sinéads writing style. I will be off out again tomorrow to get another.

[Sue Lilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but I felt it couldn’t quite decide whether it was meant to be serious or amusing. I could’ve done without so much medical detail but it was well done. My favourites were Gonzo and Derek. Their double-act brightened every scene they were in.

[Sarah Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected it to be but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s very well written and I found that I wanted to keep reading it even though I could guess the ending. I will definitely look out for more books by this author.

[Nikitha Reddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was one word that kept coming to mind throughout the book - repetitive; I skimmed the book from almost page twenty. There was no point to the book and the only reason I finished it was because of my obsession to not leave a book incomplete

[ΧΡΙΣΤΙΝΑ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Το ξεκινησα με την σκεψη οτι δεν θα μου αρεσει αλλα τελικα ηταν αρκετα καλο και ευκολο στην αναγνωση του..το τελικο συμπερασμα του ειναι οτι πρεπει παντα να ειμαστε διπλα στους ανθρωπους που αγαπαμε... "θα ειμαι διπλα σου" 📚📚📚

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly standard chick lit

[Niamh Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, Sinead Moriarty is wonderful at weaving contemporary stories with interesting characters, some of whom you'll love and others you'll love to hate. I gobbled up this novel on holidays.

[Nicola S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book wasn't too bad but I wasn't overwhelmed by it sadly

[Fedra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Προσπαθεί να συνδυάσει χιούμορ με δράμα, αλλά η σοβαρότητα της κατάστασης είναι αρκετά... σοβαρή κι έτσι μου άφηνε μόνιμα ένα αρνητικό συναίσθημα.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Sinead Moriarty, she writes in such a way that you can't help putting yourself in the characters shoes and thinking what if...

[June Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Kelly Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book 😁

[Tammy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book along with others. Life like situations from a great Author.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is inbetween Sinead other books "The good mother" and "pieces of my heart" mixed together with different characters obviously. It still a good read though, funny in places

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book! I loved how the main character was ’funny’. I was giggling at some sentence/s most days. I can’t wait to read another of this author’s books.

[Katie Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine for a free book from an airport little free library. Predictable, quick.