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Standards and Duty
Mine is a story of unwanted responsibility and sacrifice due to a tragedy nobody foresaw. Felicity Brimley-Smythe ruined my life. Through the combination of a reckless act, and an old promise, everything I knew lay in ruins around me. Could I survive and keep my word? Could I do my duty? Could I maintain the necessary standards? Come and judge for yourself, and help me decide my next step...
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Louise Hazeldine
1 book9 followersLouise Hazeldine was born in England in 1982. She graduated with a 2:1 BA(Hons) English degree, in 2012. She began writing her first novel halfway through her degree in 2010, calling it Standards and Duty. After much research and crafting, she published it in November 2018, and began writing her second novel, Revolting, in December 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 25, 2019
A book that tugs at your conscience
I have never read a book like this before. Its not my usual thing at all.
It's almost a fictional autobiographical memoir. If such a thing exists.
It is very well written. I am not sure i liked the main character much. She had a very naive view of almost every aspect of life.
This book will appeal to so many people and i will certainly tell people about it.
It certainly had me thinking
I have never read a book like this before. Its not my usual thing at all.
It's almost a fictional autobiographical memoir. If such a thing exists.
It is very well written. I am not sure i liked the main character much. She had a very naive view of almost every aspect of life.
This book will appeal to so many people and i will certainly tell people about it.
It certainly had me thinking
June 22, 2022
It's no surprise, knowing the author is a PhD Candidate, that the writing is as fantastic as it is. Her ability to portray such realistic, raw emotions is second to none. I felt the character's journey as much as I read it, and found myself staying up to finish what I would consider a very unique ending.
The book itself is different and refreshing, so I'm eager to see what Hazeldine crafts next.
The book itself is different and refreshing, so I'm eager to see what Hazeldine crafts next.
April 17, 2019
Beautifully written story
I will admit straight away that this book wasn't my cup of tea. I found the scenario frustrating and the decisions made by Mimi nonsensical. This trend of poor decision making and self-doubt caused a distinct dislike for her character.
That being said I found the story to be incredibly well written and filled with moments of deep and soulful emotion. This book has received 5 star reviews from those it is aimed at and I can understand why they would rate it so highly but for me it's 4 stars as I didn't connect with the story or its characters but appreciated the telling of the tale and craft of the writing.
I will admit straight away that this book wasn't my cup of tea. I found the scenario frustrating and the decisions made by Mimi nonsensical. This trend of poor decision making and self-doubt caused a distinct dislike for her character.
That being said I found the story to be incredibly well written and filled with moments of deep and soulful emotion. This book has received 5 star reviews from those it is aimed at and I can understand why they would rate it so highly but for me it's 4 stars as I didn't connect with the story or its characters but appreciated the telling of the tale and craft of the writing.
April 25, 2022
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/37Ijsy3.
When my best friend asked me to take care of her daughter if something ever happened to her and her husband, of course, I agreed. How could I not? Besides, I loved that little girl as if she were my own. But when Felicity Brimley-Smith ends their life I have a choice to make. Leave my everything to go back to my ex-boyfriend and friend to raise the baby together or ignore the promise I had made years before. What would you choose?
I purchased this book at the suggestion of the author. I can't say I loved this book. In fact, I spent a great deal of the book actively hating Mimi. Everyone has their own parenting styles and this book has a lot more religion then I care to read. To each their own on that front. This is the third catholic oriented book I have read in as many years and I can't find much to enjoy about those aspects of the books.
I will say that this book is well-written and moves you to tears at more than one occasion. Initially I thought her a fool for leaving the way she did. Then once her decision was made and they were seemingly happy I accepted that role in the book. If your happy then that's all that matters. After disaster struck she made her choice and I again began questioning her. Why go through all that just to MARRY someone you don't love?
Maybe because this book is set in the 70s/80s it's something I can't understand fully. I wasn't born until the mid 90s so having to be married for both parties to adopt seems a bit much. That and this was set in England and I can't say I'm privy to their policies. I couldn't imagine leaving the man I love to marry and raise a child with my friend who is also my ex. I have someone that fits the bill and he's a good man, but I couldn't imagine marrying him and raising a child with him. He'd be a great father, don't get me wrong, but the spark long since died on my end of that relationship. Much like in Michael's case, not on his end, which is an occasional rubbing point on our friendship.
I'm trying to choose my words carefully here so as not to give too much away. I will say that the young woman that the baby in question grew up to be reacted in much the way I expected when she read the email Mimi sent her. I'm proud of her for it. Mimi's ultimate choice was also very expected and I am surprised that the book didn't have an Epilogue.
Alright, I've complained enough about this. Time for the good points. I've already stated that it's well-written and will move you to emotion. These are both valid points, but the author makes you feel for the characters. Each of them. Annoyance, frustration, argumentative, sadness, happiness all of it. It is rare to feel something for all the characters in a book instead of just one or two so the fact that the author is able to inspire pity into even a background character like the grandfather of the young woman is something that should go unnoted.
Places were also descriptive and while the book was told in first person I still walked away from it knowing the primary characters names. It was easy to see the events of this story play out as you read along the pages.
When my best friend asked me to take care of her daughter if something ever happened to her and her husband, of course, I agreed. How could I not? Besides, I loved that little girl as if she were my own. But when Felicity Brimley-Smith ends their life I have a choice to make. Leave my everything to go back to my ex-boyfriend and friend to raise the baby together or ignore the promise I had made years before. What would you choose?
I purchased this book at the suggestion of the author. I can't say I loved this book. In fact, I spent a great deal of the book actively hating Mimi. Everyone has their own parenting styles and this book has a lot more religion then I care to read. To each their own on that front. This is the third catholic oriented book I have read in as many years and I can't find much to enjoy about those aspects of the books.
I will say that this book is well-written and moves you to tears at more than one occasion. Initially I thought her a fool for leaving the way she did. Then once her decision was made and they were seemingly happy I accepted that role in the book. If your happy then that's all that matters. After disaster struck she made her choice and I again began questioning her. Why go through all that just to MARRY someone you don't love?
Maybe because this book is set in the 70s/80s it's something I can't understand fully. I wasn't born until the mid 90s so having to be married for both parties to adopt seems a bit much. That and this was set in England and I can't say I'm privy to their policies. I couldn't imagine leaving the man I love to marry and raise a child with my friend who is also my ex. I have someone that fits the bill and he's a good man, but I couldn't imagine marrying him and raising a child with him. He'd be a great father, don't get me wrong, but the spark long since died on my end of that relationship. Much like in Michael's case, not on his end, which is an occasional rubbing point on our friendship.
I'm trying to choose my words carefully here so as not to give too much away. I will say that the young woman that the baby in question grew up to be reacted in much the way I expected when she read the email Mimi sent her. I'm proud of her for it. Mimi's ultimate choice was also very expected and I am surprised that the book didn't have an Epilogue.
Alright, I've complained enough about this. Time for the good points. I've already stated that it's well-written and will move you to emotion. These are both valid points, but the author makes you feel for the characters. Each of them. Annoyance, frustration, argumentative, sadness, happiness all of it. It is rare to feel something for all the characters in a book instead of just one or two so the fact that the author is able to inspire pity into even a background character like the grandfather of the young woman is something that should go unnoted.
Places were also descriptive and while the book was told in first person I still walked away from it knowing the primary characters names. It was easy to see the events of this story play out as you read along the pages.
November 4, 2022
This story follows main character Mimi as she tries to uphold a promise she made to her best friend. It is a story of love and sacrifice.
The book told in first person point of view, exclusively from Mimi’s perspective. The chapters are of varying lengths but non are excessively long so there is always time to squeeze another one in.
The writing was descriptive and engaging, though I found it a little too descriptive for my personal taste, and too repetitive in places as mimi’s thoughts and feelings are hashed out in long paragraphs, often repeating the same sentiment more than once.
I found the story to be slow going, and it took until almost the 30% mark before things started to become interesting for me.
I had a few problems with this book. For one thing, the mcs love interest of Will had no build up at all. As a reader, I found it really difficult to connect with the fact that she was on her way to marrying Michael, but then she’s suddenly in love with another guy, who is her ‘everything’. It was pretty jarring, but we are made to believe that THIS is love and the other thing with Michael was something else.
The book has massive themes of friendship and how one friend would do anything for the other, yet the pressure Zara put on mimi to give up her happiness is not something a true friend would ask of anyone. I just don’t believe that anybody would ask, or agree to something so life altering, let alone follow through on said agreement.
Similarly, I found it difficult to believe that anyone in Mimi’s position would give up their own happiness so easily. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I feel that mimi could still have followed through in her promise, without having to give up her love of sacrifice her happiness. A compromise would have meant that she could still keep her promise and also not ruin her own life.
It was an ok book. There were some lovely moments of emotion throughout the story, and parts that tugged on my heart as I read of the grief and sorrow at the circumstances they all faced but In the end, I felt the plot line was unrealistic and the characters were too, and it all fell just a little bit flat for me.
The book told in first person point of view, exclusively from Mimi’s perspective. The chapters are of varying lengths but non are excessively long so there is always time to squeeze another one in.
The writing was descriptive and engaging, though I found it a little too descriptive for my personal taste, and too repetitive in places as mimi’s thoughts and feelings are hashed out in long paragraphs, often repeating the same sentiment more than once.
I found the story to be slow going, and it took until almost the 30% mark before things started to become interesting for me.
I had a few problems with this book. For one thing, the mcs love interest of Will had no build up at all. As a reader, I found it really difficult to connect with the fact that she was on her way to marrying Michael, but then she’s suddenly in love with another guy, who is her ‘everything’. It was pretty jarring, but we are made to believe that THIS is love and the other thing with Michael was something else.
The book has massive themes of friendship and how one friend would do anything for the other, yet the pressure Zara put on mimi to give up her happiness is not something a true friend would ask of anyone. I just don’t believe that anybody would ask, or agree to something so life altering, let alone follow through on said agreement.
Similarly, I found it difficult to believe that anyone in Mimi’s position would give up their own happiness so easily. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I feel that mimi could still have followed through in her promise, without having to give up her love of sacrifice her happiness. A compromise would have meant that she could still keep her promise and also not ruin her own life.
It was an ok book. There were some lovely moments of emotion throughout the story, and parts that tugged on my heart as I read of the grief and sorrow at the circumstances they all faced but In the end, I felt the plot line was unrealistic and the characters were too, and it all fell just a little bit flat for me.
March 31, 2024
Louise writes complex emotions incredibly well. This book has so much pain, yet every character’s experience is different. Lives are intertwined, and souls are embroiled in a mixture of fate and horrendous circumstances, yet there are genuine moments of love and care throughout the book, too.
If you love your books to have soulmates and insta-love, it will hit all the right points for you. But be prepared for heartbreak, too.
This was an epic story of all the twists and turns life can take, and each moment was brilliantly crafted and shared with fantastic descriptions. I couldn’t see what would happen next, so it kept me fully invested until the end. It was brilliantly written in the first person, yet each character was rounded and had their own motives and needs.
I look forward to hearing more from Louise.
If you love your books to have soulmates and insta-love, it will hit all the right points for you. But be prepared for heartbreak, too.
This was an epic story of all the twists and turns life can take, and each moment was brilliantly crafted and shared with fantastic descriptions. I couldn’t see what would happen next, so it kept me fully invested until the end. It was brilliantly written in the first person, yet each character was rounded and had their own motives and needs.
I look forward to hearing more from Louise.
January 5, 2022
brilliant
This book is one of the main reasons I enjoy Indie books. A thrilling and sad book with many twists and turns, you don’t know when they are coming or if they will at all. It goes through all the emotions, happiness, joy, sadness and despair. Beautifully written in the first person from the perspective of Mimi from a child through to middle age. An important lesson about making decisions which seem the right thing but further down the road have many life changing implications.
This book is one of the main reasons I enjoy Indie books. A thrilling and sad book with many twists and turns, you don’t know when they are coming or if they will at all. It goes through all the emotions, happiness, joy, sadness and despair. Beautifully written in the first person from the perspective of Mimi from a child through to middle age. An important lesson about making decisions which seem the right thing but further down the road have many life changing implications.
August 15, 2021
This was such a beautiful story. I related so much with Mimi and empathized with many of her struggles and fears. The author did a fantastic job representing such complex emotions and feelings. This book reached out and squeezed my heart in the best way. Very well done, Louise!
May 2, 2024
Really enjoyed this. Made even better by meeting the author at our book club. It was truly eye opening to learn about the time & effort invested into writing a book. A strong story line with key messages, twists & turns.
April 23, 2022
I loved this book from start to finish. Definitely worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews