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Narrow Focus
Peace and tranquillity. For once nothing terrible is happening. After years of dodgy moorings, ankle-deep mud, exploding toilets and all the other normalities of liveaboard life, the Brownes now seem to have found the perfect spot in which to park Minerva, their aging narrowboat. Marie and family finally find the time to work on the outside of the boat and even take a holiday or two. It looks as though life has finally taken a turn toward "normal." Not a chance. From the ballistic qualities of false nails, unintentionally turning oneself blue, why yoga and wet paint don’t mix, and why happy family holidays are, at best, a lie, Marie examines the dangers of becoming too settled and what can happen if you take your eye off the ball.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2016
20 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Marie Browne
9 books47 followersMarie Browne is a gently harrassed mother of three who, for the past fifteen years, has been desperately trying to escape the Customer Service Industry. Apart from her husband and kids, the best things in her life are real ale; barbecues; ugly mad dogs that nobody else wants and cream-covered designer coffees. She also has an obsession with shoes but her husband is threatening to get her help for that.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 29, 2017
Settling into new moorings, meeting the neighbours, boat renovations, new holidays and reflecting on past events; it's all here in Marie's fourth Narrow Boat series.
A thoroughly enjoyable read once again; I'm sad that this is the final book of the "trilogy".
A thoroughly enjoyable read once again; I'm sad that this is the final book of the "trilogy".
May 28, 2019
Marie has a wonderful sardonic turn of phrase which makes the reading of her books as well as the content so enjoyable
Cannot wait for the next instalment . I really hope it comes very soon to keep up the momentum interest
Cannot wait for the next instalment . I really hope it comes very soon to keep up the momentum interest
February 13, 2020
I would recommend theses books to anyone great read I fell in love with the character s
Loved Loved the whole book, I have read all of them and will re-read them and say hello to the character s once more
Loved Loved the whole book, I have read all of them and will re-read them and say hello to the character s once more
December 15, 2016
I was disappointed at how little was about life on the boat. Way too much about old holidays
But still easy to read
But still easy to read
April 22, 2018
An interesting read
Not the same as her other books, more reminiscent of story book however still very enjoyable. What is next, mmm?
Not the same as her other books, more reminiscent of story book however still very enjoyable. What is next, mmm?
May 27, 2018
Sweet and unusual autobiography about life on a barge for some fun escape reading!
Read
August 25, 2019Great real life story
Very interesting story about life on a narrow bot, warts, winter and all. Laugh aloud humour, realistic problems. Highly recommended from a person who has lived off and on n a caravan for 5 years.
Very interesting story about life on a narrow bot, warts, winter and all. Laugh aloud humour, realistic problems. Highly recommended from a person who has lived off and on n a caravan for 5 years.
February 2, 2017
Chaos and disorder
You've got to love a bit of both as it makes life far more interesting and also valid.
I love the thought of embracing change with very little time to think but out of which comes great results occasionally and sometimes not.
The humour in the book and between the family and friends is just brilliant and I am now a participant of pirate coffee though I don't look for or need a disaster in order to partake and that I believe means I don't enjoy it quite as much as if something had just gone female front bumps up.
Marie writes brilliantly and I love all of her books, I just hope she may do more of them !!.
I am about to join the canal ranks later this yr when I purchase a 57ft but thankfully for me it will be without the need for all the work that you guys required as frankly I don't have the talent or the patience.
All the best, I will look out for the boat but as we are up north I won't expect to see it.
You've got to love a bit of both as it makes life far more interesting and also valid.
I love the thought of embracing change with very little time to think but out of which comes great results occasionally and sometimes not.
The humour in the book and between the family and friends is just brilliant and I am now a participant of pirate coffee though I don't look for or need a disaster in order to partake and that I believe means I don't enjoy it quite as much as if something had just gone female front bumps up.
Marie writes brilliantly and I love all of her books, I just hope she may do more of them !!.
I am about to join the canal ranks later this yr when I purchase a 57ft but thankfully for me it will be without the need for all the work that you guys required as frankly I don't have the talent or the patience.
All the best, I will look out for the boat but as we are up north I won't expect to see it.
June 3, 2016
Narrowboat living
This is the fourth book about their narrowboat experience. In this book it is fun to see into Marie's life growing up and to discover why she always had to have a project, she had quite the life with her dad. The family also seems to have the worst luck ever with vacations (holidays) and I can definitely understand why she dislikes them. The ending almost leaves us open to another book--what is the exciting new project they want to embark on and what will same be doing? I definitely recommend this book to others that like her stories.
This is the fourth book about their narrowboat experience. In this book it is fun to see into Marie's life growing up and to discover why she always had to have a project, she had quite the life with her dad. The family also seems to have the worst luck ever with vacations (holidays) and I can definitely understand why she dislikes them. The ending almost leaves us open to another book--what is the exciting new project they want to embark on and what will same be doing? I definitely recommend this book to others that like her stories.
August 24, 2018
A lovely read, it had me up half the night reading and having a laugh at her and her families exploits,
I couldn't put it down, feel there must be another book down the line due to the ending, and I can't wait!
I couldn't put it down, feel there must be another book down the line due to the ending, and I can't wait!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews