Sedating Elaine

This is one of those 'What am I reading!!' books and I loved it.

The storyline is told from Frances point of view. She's struggling with life and finds a lot of things overwhelming, and she's far from thinking straight.

It's quite dark and disturbing in parts, then funny and totally crazy in others. The ending was beautiful and uplifting.

The narrator captured the voices of Frances and Elaine perfectly. I always love it when a narrator goes that extra step to bring the story to life. I don't think I'll look at the monkey bars again without hearing urangu-fran!!!

Great, quirky read which brought a smile to my face

I was lucky enough to listen to Sedating Elaine in exchange for an honest review.
Dawn Winter is funny and the calm way the book was narrated added to the books appeal. I am fairly new to audio books, but I am a big fan. Having the right narrator is key, and this was definitely achieved here.
The book is fresh, modern and quirky - all things I like. Francis was a complex character and my views on her changed throughout the book, which is a good sign that the author has written a believable character. I don't want someone I consistently like. My views swung between annoyance, sadness and empathy and shock at her behaviour. By the end I cared what happened.
* * * * Four stars from me.

Darkly humorous, madcap and unexpectedly poignant.

Frances is still under the spell of her ex-girlfriend when she meets Elaine, who instantly falls head-over-heels in love with her. Despite feeling smothered and still yearning for her ex, Frances invites Elaine to move in with her so she can surreptitiously raise the money to pay her drug dealer. When this makes Elaine even more amorous, Frances decides the only way she can get some peace is to sedate Elaine.

Events quickly spiral, and we follow an increasingly desperate Frances as she heads towards rock bottom before seeing her relationships in a new light and eventually coming to terms with her past.

An entertaining, engaging and surprising listen, with great narration.

I enjoyed listening to the audio version of this book. The book outline caught my attention:. an absurdist way of dealing with all your problems - sedating your partner. As psychotic an idea as the different story lines the author brings together. I found the dark humour I hoped for, the absurdity in the sedating and its consequences and the interactions with larger than real characters to amuse. Always at the back of my mind - absurd, but could someone really do this? But underneath the cover Dawn Winter, the author, brings a story of the crippling mental emotional roller coaster, from the main character’s fall out from rejection, and of trying to fill the void and lose the pain with untruthful words ‘I love you’ said to others and herself. Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I listened to this audio version, brilliantly read by Marisa Calin. It had me snorting with laughter and staring open-mouthed at the action.

I'd never heard of this debut even though it seems to have been out a year. I cannot think why because Dawn Winter definitely has a way with words and a vivid imagination.

Sedating Elaine tells the story of Frances who is a broken-hearted she'll of a woman for more reasons than most. Her mother is "gone", her father has died, her new girlfriend (Elaine) is driving her mad and her ex is constantly on her mind. But to really top things off, she's in deep with Dom the very unfriendly drug dealer whose bill she cannot pay and has promised a visit from the vicious Betty who does agonising things with household objects to those who can't cough up what's owed.

If that doesn't get you interested then maybe I can entice you with the good writing, the honest characterisations and a healthy dose of pathos.

This is not an elegant novel, it's very in-your-face. Thankfully the audio really enhances the words. I really enjoyed listening to it although anyone anywhere near me might not have enjoyed me sniggering away to myself as I listened.

Recommended if you like a debut author whose writing pulls no punches. Thanks to Netgalley (and Bolinda).