A Hope-Filled Tale About Claiming Agency in Your Own Life

Three generations of women. Three crossroads. One quietly moving novel.

What stood out:

72-year-old Elizabeth, living in aged care, decides she isn’t done yet and simply walks out.
Three generations of women face their own crossroads in this warm, gently told novel
A great pick for book clubs, with discussion questions included

After returning two books unread to the local library, I found myself scanning the shelves on my way back to the exit. That’s when I came across Simply Beside Herself.

That’s right, I chose it for the cover. And perhaps for the title. Neither let me down. What I discovered inside was the intertwined story of three generations of women, all facing significant turning points in their lives.

At seventy-two, Elizabeth is living in an aged care facility. It is well managed by caring staff, but it’s a small world and one she doesn’t need to be confined to yet. After coming across a dead body one evening in the local park, she finds it difficult to get anyone to listen to her story. This life of semi-invisibility is like a straitjacket for Elizabeth, and she’s ready to break free.

All it takes is the prompting and assistance of another resident for Elizabeth to simply walk out.

From that moment on, we see her character emerge as she starts to find her voice, rediscover who she is and what she wants out of life. From jumping on a train without a ticket, to befriending a stranger and reconnecting with old friends, each step takes Elizabeth closer to her younger self as she claims agency in her own life.

At the same time, Elizabeth’s daughter Lara and granddaughter Evie are at their own crossroads. Circumstance and choice will bring change to their lives too. Gradually this remote family will draw closer, drop their masks and see each other for who they truly are, perhaps for the first time.

I’ve always liked a sliding doors story, one where hope comes from the opportunity to break free of the present.

While each character has their own imperfections, I found myself deeply invested in their stories, cheering them on through their escapades and hopeful that each one would seize the moment and opportunity for change.

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I’ve always liked a sliding doors story, one where hope comes from the opportunity to break free of the present, to discover what’s possible on the other side and step into it.

Simply Beside Herself definitely ticks that box and more. It’s a gently told story of what it means to value your place in the world, to find your voice and use it. To be who you were created to be in the here and now.

And for anyone in a book club, it even includes a set of questions to get your next gathering talking.

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Feature image: Supplied (CanvaPro)