Sara-Jane Arbury introduced her summary for the back cover of ‘Falafels, some frogs and a ferret’ by Simone Mansell Broome with the words – an eye-opener, surprising – and Derek Webb prefaced his with the words – seriously seductive.
‘Falafels, some frogs and a ferret’ is only around 28,000 words long – novella-length, but the 21 chapters of this intimate, personal memoir are packed full of impressions, anecdotes, stories and observations ranging from the seemingly slight and inconsequential to the deeply serious, to the real sadness and challenges underpinning and punctuating an ‘ordinary’ life.
The child is mother to the woman and the foibles, prejudices and frailties of one generation will surface, inevitably, in the next. Simone Mansell Broome was born in Tenby, grandchild to tenant farmers in Begelly, Pembrokeshire, first child of a man with a troubled relationship to his homeland and a hard-working, dynamic, intensely emotional Englishwoman. The memoir dips in and out of the Tenby of Simone’s infancy and early childhood, a later childhood over the border, a turbulent adolescence and onwards into early motherhood.
This is not a purely chronological account. It does not wear its heart on its sleeve or dwell self-indulgently on the bad times. This is a series of surprising, mundane, moving and sympathetic vignettes of family life, of an education in school and in love, which seesaws like the playground and fairground rides she recalls from fun to fear, from sunshine to storms. The chapters are linked by the letter ‘f’. It’s a device to corral and make sense of a large database of life experience; it allows for switches in mood and style, for the reader to sample stories, memories and observations. Even at her most light-hearted moments, she is perceptive, empathetic. Even when quite dark episodes are alluded to, humour isn’t very far away. A couple of the chapters and the revelations therein could startle or trouble the easily startled or easily troubled. All will strike a chord, whatever reminiscence the author is sharing.
This little book is entertaining – a light read but with a steely core. Simone Mansell Broome is an observer, often an outsider, her soul rooted in Wales and her outlook persistently and emphatically positive.
Apparently there are two more to come…
‘A memoir full of interesting, illuminating stories of family life, swinging from laughter to sadness, pathos to pleasure. There is a richness and depth to how everyday occurrences are told, with a wry and sympathetic eye for the nuances of human relationships and connections to each other. The ramifications of choices made and actions taken resound down generations, and the implications and consequences for everyone are deftly and vividly drawn.’
Sara-Jane Arbury, poet, performer, playwright, tutor
Like a literary tapas, this eclectic collection of bite-size stories, reminiscences and anecdotes is one to savour. Read them sequentially, chronologically, alphabetically, haphazardly… or just dive in anywhere you fancy. You’re sure to find something that stirs memories, disturbs, or simply delights.
You’ll nod knowingly and smile often. These are very personal stories but ultimately their truths are universal. All linked by a word beginning with f: some are fanciful, fantastic, frivolous; some fascinating, some funny; but, all in all, a fabulous read.
Derek Webb, author, playwright, poet
