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catrad's review
4.0
I requested this book on Netgalley as the description sounded fun – I had no idea it’s actually a memoir, not fiction. That said, much of the author’s life does sound like it’s come straight out of a soap opera script.
The author is only a few years younger than me but my word she has had some shit to deal with, and this book feels very much like a therapy session. It’s part soap opera, part family history and part pearls of wisdom from the elderly relatives she goes on holiday to India with (incidentally, I would LOVE to go on holiday to India with these ladies too – they sound like a riot!).
I particularly enjoyed the family history sections – there were some fascinating tales of life in the British Raj from when her Nan was in her teens, and the family’s journey ‘back’ to the UK, despite none of them ever having lived there before.
I am truly envious of the close-knit family that the author has, and the amazing relationships she has with the staunch women in the family. It was interesting to read about how life events have affected her, and her determination to not let it beat her down, but to become as staunch as all the ladies surrounding her and supporting her.
The author is only a few years younger than me but my word she has had some shit to deal with, and this book feels very much like a therapy session. It’s part soap opera, part family history and part pearls of wisdom from the elderly relatives she goes on holiday to India with (incidentally, I would LOVE to go on holiday to India with these ladies too – they sound like a riot!).
I particularly enjoyed the family history sections – there were some fascinating tales of life in the British Raj from when her Nan was in her teens, and the family’s journey ‘back’ to the UK, despite none of them ever having lived there before.
I am truly envious of the close-knit family that the author has, and the amazing relationships she has with the staunch women in the family. It was interesting to read about how life events have affected her, and her determination to not let it beat her down, but to become as staunch as all the ladies surrounding her and supporting her.
claire60's review
3.0
I enjoyed the writing style of this book, its very quick to get into and starts like a cheery chatty novel, in fact, I had to check and remind myself it was a memoir. This is the story of when Eleanor went to Goa with her grandmother and three aunts, her grandmother (and aunts) were all born in India and left around the time of partition and this story is as much about them as about her own journey. The books moves between the past of her grandmother and aunts, how it was for them when they first arrived in the UK, how they lived their lives and Eleanor's own history including her long term relationship and the disastrous relationships she had after that finished. The title comes form how Eleanor realises that these elderly women are staunch, that their history has made them tough and strong, and her own journey to realising that she too can be staunch. The parts that focus on Nan, Rose and Ann I really enjoyed from their excitement to being in India again and to hearing about their pasts, I found these held my attention and reminded me of how life was so very different and how it has shaped these women.
With thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
With thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
emmap2023's review
2.0
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to give a true and honest review.
This was not the compelling story of feminine strength I had hoped it would be. I felt their may have been some Bridget Jones esq humour but it sadly just fell flat.
The brutal abuse by her boyfriend physically sickened me and the amazing strong female relatives and the enlightenment of a trip to Goa felt sadly two dimensional and far from as enlightenment (Eat, Pray, Love), it came across more spoilt and indulgent.
The realisation of her lifes lack of direction and issues during therapy were interesting but again nothing that we don't all experience as women during our life.
I was looking for a strong feminist role model and found the author both repetitive at times and excessive in the use of "staunch", ultimately it felt like a means of convincing herself she was ok, and she is very normal but the story itself sadly felt lacking depth and true emotion.
Sadly this was not for me and I felt underwhelmed and disappointed in its conclusion.
This was not the compelling story of feminine strength I had hoped it would be. I felt their may have been some Bridget Jones esq humour but it sadly just fell flat.
The brutal abuse by her boyfriend physically sickened me and the amazing strong female relatives and the enlightenment of a trip to Goa felt sadly two dimensional and far from as enlightenment (Eat, Pray, Love), it came across more spoilt and indulgent.
The realisation of her lifes lack of direction and issues during therapy were interesting but again nothing that we don't all experience as women during our life.
I was looking for a strong feminist role model and found the author both repetitive at times and excessive in the use of "staunch", ultimately it felt like a means of convincing herself she was ok, and she is very normal but the story itself sadly felt lacking depth and true emotion.
Sadly this was not for me and I felt underwhelmed and disappointed in its conclusion.
kdominey's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would from the first few chapters. I thought it was going to be a typical chick-lit kind of book but I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be Eleanor Wood’s memoir and largely set in Goa, a place I have travelled to and enjoyed.
It’s the kind of memoir that every women in her 20s or 30s can see a little bit of herself in and it’s definitely worth a read as it’s relatable.
It’s the kind of memoir that every women in her 20s or 30s can see a little bit of herself in and it’s definitely worth a read as it’s relatable.
miramanga's review
4.0
After losing a step dad, breaking up with her boyfriend and dallying with some unscrupulous suitors, Eleanor Wood escapes to India with her elderly relatives leaving Brighton behind.
Refreshingly frank and honest, her emotions, family revelations and personal realisations are all laid bare. The story takes in her family fleeing to England escaping partition, what it's like to vacation alongside your granny as well as her current romantic situation with a feckless lecturer.
The tone is similar to Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love, with a smidge of Eat, Pray, Love and a pinch of the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for good measure. Would recommend as a perfect holiday read.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for providing an ebook for review.
Refreshingly frank and honest, her emotions, family revelations and personal realisations are all laid bare. The story takes in her family fleeing to England escaping partition, what it's like to vacation alongside your granny as well as her current romantic situation with a feckless lecturer.
The tone is similar to Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love, with a smidge of Eat, Pray, Love and a pinch of the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for good measure. Would recommend as a perfect holiday read.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for providing an ebook for review.
laj_reads's review
4.0
This book came into my life at the perfect timing, I've never read anything quite like Staunch before. Starting off the book I did not realise that it was a memoir, it almost felt like fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was hard not to devour in just one sitting.
I was completely captivated by the narrative of this book and it nearly felt like I was catching up with an old friend, I really liked the chatty style writing and the humour. I just found the story so interesting, there was some great family history and I love learning new things from reading and this book gave me just that.
What I liked more about this book was the focus on female family relationships, I loved their closeness and the exploration of what it means to be a "staunch" woman. I really felt like I was experiencing the journey these women were on with them. What really struck me was that the relationship between the author and her Nan is exactly what I would have wanted with my Nana if she was still alive, I wish she was still around, she was to me the very definition of a staunch woman. I think a lot of women will definitely relate to Eleanor's story.
I think author was so brave in detailing her personal struggles throughout the book.Despite some of the serious hardships throughout the book, I found it very entertaining and life-affirming. My only small gripe was that in stages it was slightly receptive, but other than that I couldn't fault Staunch. Very well written and makes an engaging read, I missed Eleanor for a while after finishing Staunch.
I was completely captivated by the narrative of this book and it nearly felt like I was catching up with an old friend, I really liked the chatty style writing and the humour. I just found the story so interesting, there was some great family history and I love learning new things from reading and this book gave me just that.
What I liked more about this book was the focus on female family relationships, I loved their closeness and the exploration of what it means to be a "staunch" woman. I really felt like I was experiencing the journey these women were on with them. What really struck me was that the relationship between the author and her Nan is exactly what I would have wanted with my Nana if she was still alive, I wish she was still around, she was to me the very definition of a staunch woman. I think a lot of women will definitely relate to Eleanor's story.
I think author was so brave in detailing her personal struggles throughout the book.Despite some of the serious hardships throughout the book, I found it very entertaining and life-affirming. My only small gripe was that in stages it was slightly receptive, but other than that I couldn't fault Staunch. Very well written and makes an engaging read, I missed Eleanor for a while after finishing Staunch.
bookmarked642's review
5.0
I finished this book over a week ago now but didn't get round to writing up this review because so much has been going on. You would've thought the lockdown would bring weeks of relaxation and boredom, but apparently that isn't quite the case in my house.
Anyway, onto the book. I honestly could have read the whole thing and not even realised it's a memoir. It's written in such a fantastic, rather comical way - it is thoroughly entertaining read despite the number of hardships and misfortune the author endures. These difficulties include bulimia, a break-up from a long-term, very serious relationship, surviving and escaping a pretty damn toxic relationship, and having her step-dad (who she is extremely close to) leave her mother, and thus, her.
Wood alternates between the 'current' day, where she is on holiday with three older female relatives in India, and the past - anywhere from her own past experiences to the childhood and history of her family members. It's amazing how much detail she includes, and the anecdotes from her grandmother's and great aunts' pasts sound like stories in their own right. It's quite amazing that it is all based on reality.
Side note, it's quite funny to me that the author's name is also Eleanor, and that she suffered with an eating disorder. It made me feel a kind of connection to her, I guess. I definitely related to her in a fair few ways.
Eleanor offers some surprisingly positive insights and revelations, especially toward the end of the book. For example, she describes how she has begun to accept the uncertainty of life and the impossibility of perfection all the time. She also mentions how she stops relying on disordered eating behaviours, as she realises that there is far more to life than shrinking yourself.
I really, really enjoyed this, which is quite surprising as I don't usually read memoirs or anything like this, really. Eleanor is portrayed as a really likeable and relatable character, and definitely very down-to-earth and raw in discussing her experiences and thoughts. 4.5 stars!
Anyway, onto the book. I honestly could have read the whole thing and not even realised it's a memoir. It's written in such a fantastic, rather comical way - it is thoroughly entertaining read despite the number of hardships and misfortune the author endures. These difficulties include bulimia, a break-up from a long-term, very serious relationship, surviving and escaping a pretty damn toxic relationship, and having her step-dad (who she is extremely close to) leave her mother, and thus, her.
Wood alternates between the 'current' day, where she is on holiday with three older female relatives in India, and the past - anywhere from her own past experiences to the childhood and history of her family members. It's amazing how much detail she includes, and the anecdotes from her grandmother's and great aunts' pasts sound like stories in their own right. It's quite amazing that it is all based on reality.
Side note, it's quite funny to me that the author's name is also Eleanor, and that she suffered with an eating disorder. It made me feel a kind of connection to her, I guess. I definitely related to her in a fair few ways.
Eleanor offers some surprisingly positive insights and revelations, especially toward the end of the book. For example, she describes how she has begun to accept the uncertainty of life and the impossibility of perfection all the time. She also mentions how she stops relying on disordered eating behaviours, as she realises that there is far more to life than shrinking yourself.
I really, really enjoyed this, which is quite surprising as I don't usually read memoirs or anything like this, really. Eleanor is portrayed as a really likeable and relatable character, and definitely very down-to-earth and raw in discussing her experiences and thoughts. 4.5 stars!
ljbentley27's review
5.0
I have a new goal in life. I want to be staunch.
Let me explain.
I like to think that I am not a person driven by fear. I don’t worry unnecessarily. I respond to things rather than over-thinking. However, for the past seven days (at the time of writing) I have been holed up in one room fearing the world. A virus is ripping through the country and because of my weakened immune system and the medication that I take to control my immune system I am not embarrassed to say that I am scared. Terrified, even.
So when I read something as uplifting, as courageous and as heart-warming as Staunch by Eleanor Wood I am genuinely given hope. This story of one woman’s admiration for the brave women in her family made me stop and pause, to reassess. I travelled with these ladies to their mother country. I shared their experiences – both good and bad. I revelled in their victories and had my heart squeezed by their failures. In truth, I lived their stories as I read the page.
It reminded me that whilst things are pretty crappy at the moment (and believe me, they are) that things will get better and easier and there will be things to look forward to eventually. It was the first fluttering in my belly of maybe one day being staunch.
Staunch by Eleanor Wood is available now.
Let me explain.
I like to think that I am not a person driven by fear. I don’t worry unnecessarily. I respond to things rather than over-thinking. However, for the past seven days (at the time of writing) I have been holed up in one room fearing the world. A virus is ripping through the country and because of my weakened immune system and the medication that I take to control my immune system I am not embarrassed to say that I am scared. Terrified, even.
So when I read something as uplifting, as courageous and as heart-warming as Staunch by Eleanor Wood I am genuinely given hope. This story of one woman’s admiration for the brave women in her family made me stop and pause, to reassess. I travelled with these ladies to their mother country. I shared their experiences – both good and bad. I revelled in their victories and had my heart squeezed by their failures. In truth, I lived their stories as I read the page.
It reminded me that whilst things are pretty crappy at the moment (and believe me, they are) that things will get better and easier and there will be things to look forward to eventually. It was the first fluttering in my belly of maybe one day being staunch.
Staunch by Eleanor Wood is available now.