Friends of Dorothy, by Sandi Toksvig.
Many years ago in more repressive times,
a Friend of Dorothy was a euphemism for someone who preferred to be with the
same sex – a Gay, queer, homosexual, call it what you will, but it’s the 21st
century now and everyone has moved on with the names, to the extent that two recently
wed women have just bought a house in a slightly run-down part of London,
Grimaldi Square to be exact, and apart from being brand-new property owners, Paramedic Amber is suddenly overtaken by a
huge, impossible-to-ignore urge to be a mother.
Which wife police constable Stevie is understandably gobsmacked
about: a baby is the last thing she is
thinking of, particularly as the old lady they bought the house from (coincidentally
called Dorothy) hasn’t vacated the premises yet. And she doesn’t look in any hurry to do so,
either.
Stevie is feeling ever so slightly under
siege, even more so when she meets their next-door neighbour Mrs Haggerston, a
deeply prejudiced believer in the Old Order of Things. Grimaldi Square might be a harder Gay nut to
crack than first thought. There is also
a decaying Pub across the Square called The Price of Onions – it’s not as
though Amber and Stevie’s life won’t be interesting, but everyday life will be
very different from what they’d imagined, especially as Dorothy is taking her
time to move. Well, where is she going
to move to? And as time moves on, it is
revealed that Dorothy has had a very full life of her own, with not a little
tragedy thrown in. A sleazy ex-husband even makes an appearance, and it takes
some time before he is dealt with satisfactorily enough. (I can
still hear the cheers ringing round the Square when he is finally paid what he
thinks he is owed!)
Sandi Toksvig has created her own loving
little community in Grimaldi Square; every character rings true and those who are
beset by depression and anxiety – it’s time for Stevie to change her job – find
that there are new gardens and new interests for those who thought their lives
were almost over. Well, being a friend
of Dorothy has given Dorothy purpose as well;
she’s no longer just marking time till it’s time to go: she’s got too much to do now changing the
Square to suit all its occupants – even Mrs Haggerston! This is a joyous book: SIX STARS.
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