Missing You Already

by Pauline McLynn

A man who looks after the lost property at a railway station in the West Country finds an abandoned urn containing someone's ashes, sitting on a bench on the platform. Who could have forgotten to pick it up when boarding the train? Meanwhile, a young woman is coming to terms with the fact that her mother has Alzheimer's

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Pauline McLynn (born 11 July 1962) is an Irish actress, comedienne and author, best known for playing Mrs Doyle on the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. McLynn was born in Sligo but grew up in Galway. She studied History of Art and Modern English at Trinity College, Dublin. She was heavily involved in Trinity's Dublin University Players (college drama society). She is married to the producer and agent Richard Cook. She supports both Aston Villa and Bohemian F.C.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, I need a 4.5 stars rating. It was really good but not amazing!
Not a simpering tale of dealing with a parent who has Alzheimers or a soppy love story but it could have been written as either. The tale is not unemotional, far from it but weighs up the good feelings with the bad, the need to vent with the need to love.
A sort of good ending which the author reasures without words that the continuation of the lives of the Fulton family and those around them will continue to get better - in some cases and easier in others. Also in this tale is the reasoning that all must move on whether it's the failing health of a relative or the ending of a love affair.

I've read Pauline McLynn Before just the once and found her to be a good,compassionate author who does inject humour into a more serious tale.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written, enjoyable story by author and comedy actress Pauline McLynn.
The main character Kitty has a dead end job and a mother suffering from Alzheimer's. She succeeds in seeing the bright side of things and deals with her mother's illness and everything else life throws at her with great compassion and humour.
A poignant, moving but also at times humorous book.
I will definately look out for more books by this author.

[Maha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just so easy to read and you feel how every character is feeling. Made me tear up a few times but also made me laugh in others. The relationship between mother and daughter and what they had to go through together was wonderful to be a part of.

[David Proffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Pauline McLynn's books. I like the gentle humour she brings to what are often challenging and emotional subjects. In Missing You Already, McLynn's heroine Kitty Fulton faces the break down of a long-term relationship and the problems of dealing with her mother's fight with Alzheimer's.

Hardly what you would expect from a respected comedy actress, but that is what I find so appealing about her work.

Watching a loved one with Alzheimer's slowly fade away is heartbreaking. Anyone who has had to cope with what has to be the cruellest of all illnesses will understand the pain and anguish Kitty faces as her mother drifts away from her. Whilst it does seem a rather odd choice of subject, and a very difficult one, McLynn seems to be at her best when confronting things no one else really wants to talk about. And of course, there is humour to be found in even the most tragic of circumstances. What comes through in this story is an incredible optimism and a wicked sense of humour that keeps the story buoyant and light.

Of course, there is a romantic twist to the story, although not in the typical rom-com style. Kitty has to deal with a lot of baggage from her past before she can consider making any new plans for her future. 

For me, this is one if Pauline McLynn's best, with a page-turning combination of tragedy, humour, heartbreak and joy. An excellent read from an outstanding writer. 

[Mandi Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I approached this book with some trepidation, thinking surely this woman Pauline McLynn can't be good at writing too. Yes she is. The characters were the right combination of vulnerable, irritating, lovable and flawed to soon be like an array of mates that you're rooting for and exasperated by in equal measures. I really enjoyed having them all around. Don't pick this up thinking it's chic kit ,in fact the only slight problem I have with it is the title which I feel doesn't do it justice as literature rather than a simple easy read. It's a great story ,good characters and a believable feel good ending with a slice of real life bitters. Read it.

[Mandy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5,I didn’t give a 4 because I have enjoyed other 4 rated books more and some parts such as Simon researching was a bit boring. I did enjoy most of this book though and loved Kitty and May,some of May’s condition was funny but overall very sad,I’m glad the author had the funny parts in there! I also enjoyed it when May went back to her childhood. Dan was a complete weakling and I was glad when Kitty met Simon,I hated that Kitty felt guilty to Donna because Donna stole Dan from her in the first place and was a bitch but Kitty is a nice person so I can understand her feeling bad.

[Pauline Moseley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the usual type of book I read. I could relate to it in parts and it was well written but just not exciting enough for me

[Shanoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it's difficult to rate this book, because it has two sides. One side is the fantastic description of Alzheimer, not soppy, not dramatic, but a nice mixture of rational and emotional. I love the relationshop between mother and daughter and how they try to cope. The other side is Kitty's personal life and I simply don't get it, why she's been acting like she did all this time, this unhealthy status quo. All in all it was a good read - but not what you expect when reading chick lit, because it was too serious, there were barely funny scenes.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a life-changing nor a particularly memorable read but enjoyable enough.

I don't usually read this kind of "chic-lit"-esque fiction but something about it just caught me one day. Can't say what it was exactly but anyway, I bought it. Basically the whole way through, I was feeling for Kitty (our protagonist). Her life is pretty bad: crap job in a nothing town, the man she loves is married to her best friend and her mother has Alzheimer's. Things really could get a bit better for her right? And we do get there, we do, after a few more mishaps. But it sort of feels like we're only just starting to turn things around when BAM here's the end of the story. It's a very open-ended, anything is possible kind of ending which I'm ok with. Kitty has seen enough hardship so I'm just going to keep on believing that it all works out for her and I'm ok with that.

Whilst not something I would usually read, if other books are like this then perhaps it would not be so bad to dabble in the genre every once in a while.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always really enjoy Pauline McLynns books and I was very excited to get my hands on it! I found it quite difficult to get into to begin with and I started to worry that I wasnt going to enjoy it at all, but when I did get into it I loved it! It lacks the humour of Pauline's earlier novels but I loved the characterx and found the whole story very touching and believable! The story was told by different narrators that switched without warning, sometimes this could be confusing but this actually only enhanced the novel as far as I was concerned as one of the main storylines is about May Fulton and how she suffers Althemiers (I know I haven't spelt that right!!!) so the confusion reflects her story very well!! It is a good book and I now start my next impatient wait for her next novel! lol!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it is just my current mood but this book is so lovely. It tells of heartbreak and loyalty and faithlessness and love in a way that is deep but never maudlin.
It tells the story of what could be a million people, just ordinary, not-so-important people but shows us the shape and shade and nuances of each life and in doing so, allows us to see the story of each one.
The author moves between narrators so that we see within each person, each person is allowed their own "I" and in doing so, the author reminds us that each person has a battle to fight.
This book shows us the harshness of life but remains uplifting without ever succumbing to fluff.
I really, really enjoyed this book.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, this is an extremely touching story, the relationship of a daughter and her mother, who has Alzheimer's disease -- I am learning a lot about the disease and also about the vigilance etc necessary for a caretaker -- and about the love the daughter hs for her mother -- I don't know what the outcome will be but the book warns that tissues will be necessary. I just finished this book and recommend it highly. Although it's sad as the mother's Alzheimer's disease progresses, life goes on thru good and bad. It is extremely well written and easy to read.

[Cheryl Bellingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me in the palm of its hand I really felt for kitty and the position she found herself in. The loss of such an important figure in kitty's life will ring bells with so many readers and also for the ones who still have loved ones surrounding them it urges you just to reach out and express how dear they are. Above all the book demonstrates beautifully that you never know what is round the corner and where you can find love and laughter. Will definitely read more from Pauline mcLynn

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read some of Pauline McLynn's earlier novels, and found this one in the library. Think that I was probably initially drawn to the strange idea that Mrs Doyle from Father Ted was writing detective novels...

This one isn't a crime novel, and appears to be set in England. We'll see how it goes.

Jan 10 - skipped through this to the end, just to see what happened. Didn't find it so engaging as her others.

[Rosalind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual type of read, but I really enjoyed this. Pauline McLynn has a lovely style of writing and although the book tackles an extremely sad subject, she kept plenty of humour and hope in the book.
I'll be looking out for some of her other titles now.

[Fibrelady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Change of pace - slow start but enjoyed.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story and a gentle depiction of old age and dementia.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually not read. I got so far and the voice of the main character drove me crazy. Maybe it is a problem of timing, having read so many good books recently but the character annoyed me so I gave up.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A touching story and concept but lacking in any narrative drive. Still, a nice little read that's worth it.

[Kiwileese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audio book (the joy of driving for a living) so i loved the narrators Norfolk accent it brought the whole book to life. A beautiful story

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very poignant but also funny book about living with someone suffering from Alzheimer's, well written and also well narrated on Audible.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well written and very easy to read. A good insight into how life might be like caring for a parent with Alzheimer's.

[Louise Coventry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did nothing for me.