Review of Dear Bob by Annie Porthouse
My life as a fresher, kept secret for twenty years, was suddenly staring me in the face on the pages of Dear Bob. The accidental hash incident, the crush on the CU president, the Marilyn Manson clone next door, the doubts about God, the flute-playing sister, and the ultimate realization that... (don't let me spoil the ending for you).
Dear Bob is written as a diary from Jude Singleton to her future husband, describing her life as a fresher. It makes great use of txt language providing a fun and easy read, with some laughs along the way, and an enormous number of enjoyable anecdotes and observations on life. I loved the story of the driving test second time around, the fattening fact that stressed backwards is desserts, and Jude's relationship with old Maisie!
It was so clearly descriptive of my life at University twenty years ago that I wonder if freshers today will find it quite as relevant. Video recorders, walkmans and Adrian Mole could feel like a foreign language now. But there are other dilemmas that are timeless. I am sure many people will relate to attempting to keep up the smiles for their Christian friends while inside they are struggling with doubts and guilt and wondering whether their best friend is bisexual or if they will ever meet the man of their dreams.
I would definitely recommend Dear Bob to new students and ex-students like me. Unlike other books written for freshers, this is no 'How to' guide to life as a Christian at University, but adopting the 'Bridget Jones' school of honesty, it helps to relieve the feelings of guilt and aloneness when it comes to those everyday decisions about church, dating, sex, drugs, alcohol, essay deadlines and relating to friends who do not believe the same as you. I've heard there is a new book out and I can't wait to read what happens next!
Review by Miriam Kandiah - author, foster carer and mother
Purchase from Eden Books
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