When I read three books in a row by the same author, then you can be assured I love her writing. After reading and reviewing her two diary-styled non-fiction books a couple of weeks ago (Went to London, Took The Dog and Love, Nina) I went looking for other books by Nina Stibbe and came upon the fictional One Day I Shall Astonish The World.

The title is the motto for the British university where the main character, Susan Warren, works as Personal Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor. When she became pregnant as an undergrad and dropped out of university to marry the father of her child, Susan waived the opportunity for a brilliant future as a literary academic. Will she have any regrets?

While working at a neighbourhood sewing and fabric store as a teenager, Susan became best friends with Norma, the daughter of the shop’s owners, and also a student. The friendship grew primarily from Norma’s inherent confidence and her dependence on Susan’s intelligence and knowledge of Norma’s topics of study, English literature.

Years later, Norma is a professor at the same university where Susan works as P.A. to the Vice-Chancellor. Their interdependent relationship ebbs and flows according to their mutual needs but becomes increasingly strained as Susan seems to be more the giver than the receiver in their emotional and life struggles. Norma’s unorthodox and at times unethical approach to life goes against Susan’s sensibilities.

Stibbe’s examination of the nature of female friendships resonated with me because over the years I have consciously eased toxic friends out of my own life for various reasons. At what point do we realize we’re giving far more than we’re getting? Do true friends sap all our emotional energy and leave us feeling confused or lacking in confidence? The author examines the fragility of friendship as Susan tests its endurance.

One Day I Shall Astonish The World is a fitting motivational statement upon entering adulthood. As we form relationships and build friendships, we hope they are lasting and will carry us through life. Some do and others do not. I will be writing more on the topic of friendship in the next BoomerBroadcast blog posting but reading this book as a seventy-something baby boomer, I found it validated many of my own opinions and experiences. The subject is fascinating at any age and I highly recommend this book.

If One Day I Shall Astonish The World by Nina Stibbe is not available at your local bookstore or library (many of these British authors are not) you can have it delivered directly to your door or your tablet by clicking on this link. (FYI: It’s only $3.99 to download in the Kindle version which is how I read it.)

Disclosure: I may receive a teeny, tiny commission. Thank you.