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Fragments of a Dream by Ruth Larrea.

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                  Fragments of a Dream by Ruth Larrea. "If only Angelos and I could rewrite our lives on a blank page equipped with fresh wisdom and insight." Describing Larrea's debut novel as a simple love story doesn't quite do it justice. Considering the ageing population, marriages that collapse in later years and the need to be loved, it is refreshing that the protagonist is in her senior years, close to retirement. It is a romantic story of people in the third age of life rediscovering themselves and their loved ones. Rosie Burden is a survivor and the novel has a positivity about it in spite of the setbacks. "A lifetime of sacrifices" is how she described putting Harry first. No tell-tale signs that he would leave Rosie for a younger woman. There were tensions throughout their marriage which affected their offspring, Lisa and Matthew but nothing unusual compared to other families. Rosie had seen her marriage as an insurance policy ag

The C Word. TV Drama

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                        The C Word.TV Drama. "Losing someone to cancer really resets your perspective. It makes me value life, cherish my loved ones and be grateful for every day I have with them."(Sheridan Smith) 4.2 million people recently tuned in to watch an outstanding and powerful performance by Sheridan Smith (recently seen in Cilla) and whose credits include the sitcom Gavin & Stacey, Two Pints of Lager & A Packet of Crisps, Quartet with Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon to more highbrow Ibsen. A versatile actress and an accomplished singer. Staring cancer in the face may be construed as a bravado act but it takes a lot of courage. Smith, affectionately known as the queen of the biopic agreed to play Lisa Lynch, a journalist, or more specifically a magazine editor. Lynch was adamant that her alter ego should be played by Smith and only Smith. For the latter it became a "personal labour of love" in spite of being a "uniquely testi