Lulu, Annabelle, Josh, Duncan, Rose, Harry, Annie, Frank,
and Barney – you will feel as though you know all of them after you read Walking
on Trampolines, a charming coming of age story by Australian writer
Frances Whiting.
My favorite part of this book is the conversational tone;
the first person narrative that allows Lulu to speak as if she is sharing a confitory
(confidence and story – like the made-up language of Lulu and Annabelle) with the
reader. This book is indeed delightful
and quirky (the author’s own descriptor in the end notes). Having taken seven
years to write, I did have a sense of separateness to some of the events, but
each of the choices made had major impacts later, just like real life. Phrases,
images and themes (including adultery, mental health, motherhood and
friendship) re-appear throughout the book which begins with a love story, offers
subsequent tales of the working world, and moves towards finding a purpose in
life.
Overall, Walking on Trampolines is a light and
gentle read and received a starred review from Booklist. Read
an excerpt yourself. I enthusiastically recommend it for readers who
enjoyed titles like The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, The
Chaperone by Laura Moriarty, Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult or One
Plus One by JoJo Moyes.
