With the first few chapters of Fine’s memoirs relating to
her somewhat traumatic childhood (whereby she endures parental nakedness, back
garden tepees and inedible quinoa) it is safe to say that a strong rapport is
built between reader and protagonist at an early stage. Regardless whether you
empathise or sympathise, or perhaps a bit of each, Fine recreates a comical
representation of her childhood and teenage experiences that on more than one occasion create positively
toe-curling-face-reddening moments that begs the question; how can one teenager have endured such a plethora
of humiliation and embarrassment in one lifetime?
These extraordinary why-is-this-happening-to-me occurrences
do not cease in the realm of the teenager though, rest assured. Throughout the
entire book, Fine has managed to hand-pick some of the most cringe-worthy tales
of her life and put them to print, causing many a public outburst of laughter
and open-mouthed disbelief.
Nevertheless, this book is not all about Fine’s inability to
hold down a man, or ability to rack up an impressive tally of most-kissed
British countryside rugby players in one evening though: instead it shares an
underlying beautiful concept of self-belief and the importance of following
your dream, irrespective of the obstacles you may encounter. Granted, this may
be a message portrayed throughout the world of literature, however Fine
emanates this effortlessly whilst maintaining a resilient yet endearing lead
protagonist and a modern plot equipped with traditional values. It is her
repeated heartbreak and insecurities that tug at the heartstrings, but her raw
spirit and fierce determination in the face of hopelessness turns this unconventional
love story into an uplifting, fortitudinous journey of self-discovery.
This collection of memoirs reinstalls the childhood fantasy
that dreams can come true: Fine’s portrayal of this fairy-tale notion of
following one’s dreams merges with reality, allowing her memoirs to resonate in
an unorthodox yet heart-warming way.
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