Forgotten by Susan Lewis

 Comprehensive, Insightful, Intriguing

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance - Theme: I'll Health

Forgotten by Susan Lewis

Lisa and David had first met some twenty odd years ago, a university student and a lecturer. In recent months, whilst both attending the same function, they had seen each other, her a writer and him a prestigious MP. Both times, he had been married and had called time on the relationship the first time around leaving Lisa heartbroken. Now it was her turn to call the shots.

They were now renovating a huge house, their first home together, and planning a lavish wedding. They were set to be the ultimate power couple and life seemed like it had reached its optimum peak. That was, apart from one person who had insisted on making herself a problem within their lives, Rosalind, David's daughter. Her refusal to accept her father's new partner and soon to be bride, born out of David and Lisa's poor timing of their union being not that long after the untimely demise of her mother. David's ex had been aware of Lisa and vehemently opposed to any relationship once she was gone, so Rosalind naturally feels that she has to fight this union on behalf of her mother. However, Rosalind isn't the only one set to ruin things for the happy couple. A more formidable, unstoppable greater force than any person, was about to make its presence felt, one that David wouldn't be able to use his negotiating skills on, or Lisa her nurturing, mothering skills which so far she had only been able to bestow on her niece, now in her late teens. Then, when it matters most, the bravery that the others are struggling to find within themselves appears within the unemotional, straightforward clear logic of a young mind.

This novel was recommended to me by a friend, in as much as I saw that she was reading it on a book review site. I had greatly anticipated what lay between the pages of this story, once I'd read the synopsis. As a narrative that concentrates on people's lives within a family drama, together with a theme that always makes for a good story whether there is a positive or negative conclusion, it had all the components of my favourite kind of read. However, the way in which it was written, felt very laboured and wordy, and consequently there is a lot to unpack in order to fully convey my opinion of this extremely well researched, thought provoking and thorough piece of writing. Rosalind's utter refusal to deal with anything that doesn't go her way or conform to her liking, plus her interminable ability to persist with a grudge was spun out until it was excruciating. The way she treated her husband was, in part understandable, but three years after the affair seemed a bit unreasonable. By that point, if she couldn't get past it, she should have ended the marriage. The constant attempts to see anything bad that happened between her and her father as Lisa's fault were childish. The fact that she was unable to see that it was her immature, bullish behaviour that was poisoning her relationship with both her father and husband was maddening, and her point blank denial of her father's situation was so frustrating that at times I had to stop reading at times.

I like characters that I can relate to, but this was sadly not the case with 'Forgotten'. For the majority of the novel, I actually didn't warm to David or Lisa, and felt them both to be quite pretentious and spoilt individuals, used to getting their own way, especially Lisa. I felt annoyance with David's apparent ignorance of the effects that his actions may have on his daughter, his disrespect for his ex-wife and the arrogance of putting his needs foremost. My sympathy was firmly with his daughter. Interestingly enough though, my feelings towards David soften throughout the book and harden towards Rosalind. I'm not sure that I particularly liked any of the characters in this book except Tony who seemed to be a very laid back, jovial, likeable sort of chap, quite once I'll matched with Lisa I would have thought. He seemed however to be sincere and genuine when it mattered, perhaps a side that he hadn't shown to Lisa before. When she is reminiscing on their time together about the things he did that she took issue with, I though that they were, for a woman in her situation, quite inconsequential considering that she was a woman of means and I should imagine considerable resources. I just couldn't feel sorry for her when she seems to have always been a woman of wealth with no shortage of close family, friends or contacts to help her out of a tight spot. Begging the question then why she chooses him to lean on when lthings get rough. Adisloyal and selfish act taking advantage of others disadvantages.

When David begins to show signs of what the reader ultimately discovers to be the thing that devastates their lives, I felt that Lisa was very slow to realise to realise what is happening to her husband, and when David voices what he suspects as the cause, she is keen to discourage his thinking. After diagnosis, there just seems to be a lot of frustration, misunderstanding, anger and denial coming from Lisa, David and Rosalind at a time a time when there should be understanding, love and empathy. I though at that point, Lisa could have taken a much more active role in mending bridges for David's sake. Instead of one failed phone call, she could have gone to see her step daughter in person and been more persistent for David's sake. I found Lisa to be a very introspective person within her relationship with David, and therefore slow to grasp what was happening to them. Her consideration towards her own blood relatives however appears to be very much more forthcoming as I suppose is natural, but concealing the truth from Amy as she is leaving for Australia and the awkward exchanges between the group at the airport, I thought created unnecessary confusion at a time when openness and honesty were required.

The Epilogue, despite them being together physically, I felt things still weren't quite right between the two women, but there was the potential to grow with time.

I was tempted to give 'Forgotten' three stars, but due to the important subject portrayed in the narrative, and the work and research that has clearly gone into it, I think that is definitely worthy of four stars.