Paper Cup

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Overall, Paper Cup is an astute, touching, compelling tale by Campbell that does a beautiful job of reminding us that family is not always those just related by blood but rather those who love, care, support, and accept us. The great Scottish poet Robert Burns is referenced once, and once only, in Karen Campbell’s wonderful, empathetic, timely and moving new novel Paper Cup. But the truth is that while reading Karen’s book I couldn’t get him out of my head. The words on the dust cover say that your world will be a better place for reading this story. It may or may not be. But the novel is a reminder that, should we wish, it can be. We have choices. Agency. Despite these coincidences, Paper Cup is often a poignant and harrowing read. Campbell gambles on our empathy when she shows Kelly at her worst, and she wins because she has written, without judgment or criticism, an original and memorable protagonist; one who moves through a landscape described with love and care, and whose interior voice will continue to ring in the reader’s head even after the long journey’s end is reached. This book started so confusingly I nearly stopped. There was a hen do and some weird characters and it felt like different timelines, but about a third way in, things got a bit clearer and Kelly going on a pilgrimage to try and return this engagement ring to the woman about to get married, and meeting many interesting people on the way. A set of circumstances pushes Kelly to set off on a mission, of sorts, which sees her follow a pilgrimage trail in the South West of Scotland, setting out from her usual Glasgow spots. Along the way she meets good people, and not, and crucially she makes questionable decisions borne of necessity or driven by her inner demons. It’s a story of hopelessness and ultimately, the humanity that binds us together and keeps that hope alive. It’s also funny - the other characters are sharp witted and dry and there’s a gallows humour which keeps it from being too depressing.

Glowing with empathy and wry intelligent wit. Let Kelly into your life. She'll change you, and you won't forget her." - Kirstin InnesTo turn an old John Major soundbite on its head, we should condemn a little less and understand a little more. Kelly bumps into a hen's booze-up in Glasgow and ends up with the ring of the bride to be - she embarks on an odyssey to find this lady. I did enjoy her making friends with a beautiful collie pup - called "Collieflower", that pup sounded gorgeous.

Iced Coffee Lovers Acrylic Cup, Coffee on the Go, Book Lover Coffee Cup, Iced Coffee Cup, Coffee Tumbler, Cold Drink Tumbler, Funny Skeleton While Kelly hitchhikes and walks around Scotland, a journalist is also seeking HER out, following a seeming act of bravery on the part of the Homeless Heroine. We see a very different Kelly from the one the media is portraying though. This really is a special little book. Kelly has had such a difficult life, everything she touches seems to go wrong, and the drink has its clutches in her every step of the way. She's such an endearing character, clever, strong, witty and unstoppable.While the story may sound stark, it’s anything but. It has a warmth and humour. It shows the love and friendships that can occur between people of all social stratas. The companionship that animals provide. And how strangers could well surprise you. It also reminds you that friendship can come in many forms, like a four legged friend, your sister or someone that has taken you in when you have nowhere else to go. On her journey from Glasgow to the south-west tip of Scotland, Kelly encounters ancient pilgrim routes, hostile humans, hippies, book lovers and a friendly dog, as memories stir and the people she thought she’d left behind for ever move closer with every step.

It’s worth it though, to be free to live exactly as you please. There are no restrictions except her own. Yes there is weather, but weather brings sun as well as rain. There are no roofs, but there is boundless sky. The sky reminds her of the sea and home. Paper Cup is told in the third person and focuses on a homeless young female called Kelly. Set in Scotland, the book opens with a bride-to-be descending on the park bench where Kelly is trying to sleep. The woman is extremely drunk and has lost her hen party. When the hens eventually find her they donate some money to Kelly but in the haste to get going the bride’s engagement ring is left with the cash. It’s like that wonderful maxim of not judging a person until you walk a hundred miles in their shoes. Kelly’s story is gently teased out to the reader in small increments, through past drunken stories, childhood memories, and the experiences which led her to where she is today. No possessions, no money, and the constant choice between some hot chips and cheap booze. Kelly has suffered so much, and her ability to see glimpses of positivity made me love this story. Then at the balance let’s be mute / we never can adjust it / what’s done we partly may compute, but know not what’s resisted”.Kelly seems to give without asking for any return. She will break your heart along the way if you decide to take this journey with her. The book certainly had a portion of whimsy, and things seemed to contain an element of good timing, but this did not detract my sheer delight of enjoying a full five star experience. It simply is a wonderful book. Throughout the book we get glimpses of Kelly’s past, giving hints at how she ended up on the streets after what seemed like a fairly privileged upbringing. I loved how these parts of the story were randomly inserted into the story, it was almost as if they were thoughts creeping into Kelly’s mind, reminding her of who she was, who she’s become and maybe who she really wants to be. It also shows how easy it can be for people to become homeless but how difficult it can be to escape. Failed asylum seekers? Imagine failing at that. Just failing at asking for help. That has to be be pretty low. That’s why she rarely put themselves in the hands of others. Why let them unskin you more?” This tale begins with a group of young women on a hen night. They are so drunk that the bride gives her engagement ring to Kelly, a homeless woman, who has been begging on the streets of George Square in Glasgow. They tell Kelly that Susan is getting married to Connor in Gatehouse of Fleet, in Dumfries and Galloway, in a few days’ time. The drunken hen party leave Kelly with the engagement ring.

Swim Meet Digital Organization, Swimming Goals, Swim Team Planning, Swim Mom, Swimming Pool Chart, Swimming Gift, Freestyle, Breast Stroke This is one of the most emotional books I’ve read in a very long time and by the end of it I really felt like I’d been through the wringer - but it was totally worth it. Paper Cup, for me, was quite a hard and slow read. It is written in Scottish dialect and sometimes I failed to understand the words, however, it is also a poignant, harrowing, yet incredible read. Book Stamp Personalised | Coffee Mug Book Embosser | Made in UK | 1.5 inches | Rubber Stamp, Self Inking Stamp or Embosser | SKU: STL114For the majority of this, I was completely and utterly in love. I loved our flawed main character, the writing style and the contrast between bustling Glasgow and the small towns of Galloway (especially in the phonetic language, very clever)! This book was set in Glasgow and Scotland, which was a nice change for me. The audio delivery was amazing, and I loved the accents. The story flowed seamlessly and the narrator was in full command of the story. This is where I imagine authors are left feeling their book is in good hands, Caroline Guthrie was the right choice. How often do we get our first impressions of someone else through another? The start of this book introduces us to Kelly, homeless and living on the streets, through the eyes of the hen party that stumble across her. Clearly educated and bright, it's not obvious what's brought the now older homeless woman to be someone accepting pennies on Scotland's streets. But when a drunk bride-to-be accidentally gives Kelly her engagement ring as well as some coins, she determines to return the sparkler to its owner in time for the imminent wedding. In her home town.