The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes: A Novel - Softcover

Hogan, Ruth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1643853538 ISBN 13: 9781643853536

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books, 2020

Synopsis

They say friends make life worth living...

Once a spirited, independent woman with a rebellious streak, Masha's life was forever changed by a tragic event twelve years ago. Unable to let go of her grief, she finds comfort in her faithful canine companion Haizum, and peace in the quiet lanes of her town's swimming pool. Almost without her realizing it, her life has shuddered to a halt.

It's only when Masha begins an unlikely friendship with the mysterious Sally Red Shoes, a bag lady with a prodigious voice and a penchant for saying just what she means, that a new world of possibilities opens up: new friendships, new opportunities, and even a chance for new love. For the first time in years, Masha has the chance to start living again.

But just as Masha dares to imagine the future, her past comes roaring back...

Like her beloved debut, The Keeper of Lost Things, Ruth Hogan's second novel introduces a cast of wonderful characters, both ordinary and charmingly eccentric, who lead us through a moving exploration of the simple human connections that unite us all.

About this title

About the Author

Ruth Hogan was born in Bedford in a house full of books where her parents still live. As a child she was always reading something including the back of cereal packets and gravestones. She loves dogs, seaside piers and potatoes, and has always had a fascination for cemeteries. She lives in a large, rambling house north of London ( and close to her local cemetery) with her long-suffering husband and two rescue dogs.

Review

Praise for The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes:

"[A] compelling second novel, a powerful story about loss and healing...Fans of Karen White and Marian Keyes will especially enjoy Hogan’s storytelling style."
—Booklist

“Subtle and poignant.”
—Good Housekeeping

“Warm and wise...With her bestselling 2017 debut, The Keeper of Lost Things, Hogan won fans for her astute portrayal of grief and the human capacity for recovery. It is territory she revisits here, adding to her themes that of community and its power to heal. Her passages on loss are vivid and visceral...But hope is never lost and catharsis is to be found in unlikely places.”
—The Guardian

“This is a work that packs in plenty of substance alongside the sweetness...Despite tackling such huge topics as bereavement and cancer, Hogan’s work is filled with hope and the power of friendship.”
—“Best uplifting books to read this summer,” Evening Standard

“A whimsical, wistful affair.”
—Sunday Express

“We were huge fans of Ruth Hogan’s The Keeper of Lost Things, and her second book is just as brilliantly written—though you may need tissues at the ready!”
—Sun

“Will soften even the hardest of hearts.”
—Red

“From the author of breakout hit, The Keeper of Lost Things, this is a book to really love...Hogan writes welcoming prose that makes reading a joy.”
—Stylist

“A novel that looks at how to live life to the full, even if you have suffered tragedy.”
—Daily Mail

Praise for The Keeper of Lost Things:“From the attention-grabbing opening paragraph, to the joyful conclusion, Ruth Hogan has stirred together a charming fairytale in which the people may be more lost than the things; and generosity and compassion may be the key to finding a way home. Also there are dogs. Delightful.”
—Helen Simonson, author of The Summer Before the War and Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

“A beautiful story of love, loss, and the redemptive power of friendship.”
—Catherine Hall, author of The Proof of Love

“Warm and quirky characters and the mystery of each lost item impel the reader forward.”
—Booklist

“Whimsical...characters have spunk and wit to spare...Readers looking for some old-fashioned storytelling with a sprinkling of magic will find it here.”
—Kirkus

“Hogan’s debut pulls in readers with each crafty chapter. Memorable minor characters add to the plot in this excellent selection for discussion groups.”
—Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
• Publication date: 2020
• ISBN 10: 1643853538
• ISBN 13: 9781643853536
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352