28 May 2005
The English Bookshop

Sara Maitland called it 'An extraordinary piece of writing' and Orange prizewinner Maggie Gee said it was 'a riveting, truthful, touching read that tells us about the secret lives of children.' A major new talent in fiction, London novelist, playwright and non-fiction writer Valerie Mason-John will talk on her debut novel Borrowed Body (published by Serpent's Tail) and described as The British Colour Purple'. Books will be on sale and the talk will be followed by a signing...

Borrowed Body:
'I could have been born and raised in Africa. But my Spirit was in too much of a rush to be reincarnated... At six weeks I was chucked out into the new year of 1965 which wasn't prepared to welcome an African baby, abandoned on a harsh English winter's day.'

So begins Pauline's spirited and moving story of her childhood and teenage years in and out of foster homes and detention units, and back and forth to Dr Barnardo's 'Village' in Essex. Her Barnardo's 'family' was ruled by an unlikely trio - Aunty Claire, a born-again Christian; her laconic husband, the German Uncle Boris; and the cook, Aunty Morag. Woven into this feisty, quirky account are Pauline's angel and spirit companions - Sparky, Annabel and the Snake - who play havoc helping her to survive in the 'real world'. The Barnardo's good times are shattered by the sudden visits of her mother, who she calls Wunmi and with whom she goes to live in a London highrise. Wunmi's method of refashioning Pauline into a dutiful African child is literally to knock the English out of her. But survive she does...

Note that a share of the profits from sales of this book will be donated to a children's charity.

This event is part of the Amsterdam Literary Festival.

Visit www.amsterdamliteraryfestival.com for more info and online reservations.