Other Side of Beautiful, The
Lock, KimWhen your house has burnt down, most people would agree it's a disaster, when you actually haven't been outside said house for two years, well ... it's possible the universe is giving you a message, Mercy Blain. After Mercy has established she is decidedly unwelcome at her almost ex-husband Eugene's place, then it is time for her to embrace a road trip.
Transportation is organised (a cult classic campervan), companionship guaranteed (Wasabi, her dachshund), and they are off into the wild blue yonder travelling from Adelaide to Darwin.
Exploring issues of mental health with empathy and insight, this poignant and engaging story of self-discovery and adventure in the Australian outback, is quirky, heartfelt and hopeful.
Pages
350
350
Year
2021
2021
Reviews
15-09-2023
The majority of our group loved it. All were inspired to travel around Australia. Some found the topic quite confronting, but an enjoyable and easy read.
13-07-2023
Easy read. Insight into anxiety and mental health issues. Good 'vehicle' for that. A few incidents were serendipitous.
06-06-2023
Most of us became more engaged as the story progressed. We didn't consider her an outstanding writer, but she raised interesting issues that stimulated a good discussion.
22-05-2023
We loved this book. The characters rang true, the topic of mental health was gently handled, the storyline held your attention throughout. The right amount of humour in the writing to balance out the deeper topic of a personal struggle.
11-05-2023
We thoroughly enjoyed this book, and discussing it.
17-04-2023
Half the group was not initially inspired to read it due to style and content. They persevered and the group enjoyed the discussion, which included watching Mercy's growth. Some were disappointed with the ending and wished Mercy had returned to her medical practice from a pragmatic viewpoint - she had so much to offer.
17-03-2023
Easy read - flowed well as the plot slowly unfolded. Led to good discussion about travel, mental illness, mothers, and relationships.