Went to London, Took the Dog by Nina Stibbe

 

We are in March 2022 so only a couple of years ago. Nina Stibbe is sixty, forty years since she was last in London as a twenty year old Au pair. Writing home to her friend in Leicestershire that became her first book "Love, Nina". Five more novels, all on my shelf, the last being "One Day I Shall Astonish The World" for which Nina attends quite a few book events and literary festivals. But Nina has left her home in Cornwall, maybe for good, at least for a year. That's the time she sets herself for her stay with the seriously successful writer Deborah (Debby) Mogach. Another nine of her novels on the shelf. She finally leaves Truro on 18th April (possibly for ever". No word about her husband, although lots about her children.

I have to say that I found this book mainly tedious. This is not the cheerful young writer from forty years ago. This is a diary of sorts, most of which is completely boring. There is some introspection about her relationships with men, some description of how London has changed from the litter to construction work everywhere and how much everything costs. There is one note that made me laugh about Debby's garden: "her potting compost is actually a bark chipping soil improver which means it drains instead of holding the moisture".

But the book rambles on and on about her daily life. Going to a preview of the theatrical adaptation of Debby's "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is about as good as it gets. By page 130 (and we are not halfway) Nina tells us she is "not settled in London ....... might be time to go back to Cornwall". I just wish someone could have cut out at least two thirds. We do hear about her writing a new novel, but nothing I can find about any future publication. Although there was talk about the jacket design!
By the end of January she is talking about her "year in London almost up".

Then suddenly on 14th March 2023 her last quiz night at the Grafton Arms in Kentish Town. All rather sad. "I'm going to miss my team". Debby tells her "that's the thing about life. It gets good just as you're about to f... off". A last sad bit about getting a reminder from Hampstead Heath Swimming Pools that her season ticket is about to expire. On the 19th March Nina is packed to leave the next morning, but instead heads off so as not to have to say goodbye to Debby. First to the University of Leicester for a literary event and then on the 23rd at Gloucester Services on her way back to Cornwall, thinking about this "eventful" year.

Deborah Moggach and Nina Stibbe.