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August 2019 | REDONLINE.CO.UKreads
Author of the book that inspired The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,
Deborah Moggach is back with her new novel, The Carer.
She talks to Anna Bonet about writing, reading and ageingWhat inspired you to write The Carer? My mother had
dementia for two years before she died, which involved
three round-the-clock carers. I was fascinated by the intimate
relationship between these people and your nearest
and dearest, and it seemed like the perfect subject for
an exploration of guilt, resentment, gratitude and class.
Why did you feel that now was the right
time for this story? I’m a patron of Dignity In
Dying, because I believe in having control over
death and the way you want to go. Recently,
there has been an increasing number of cases in
the news about people who feel their lives are
being prolonged, so I thought it was very timely.
How do you feel about ageing? I think The
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was such a success
because it was about how we’re no different as
we age; we have the same loves and resentments,
fears and joys, but we’re a bit more wrinkly. My
generation are reinventing old age. I went online,
found this bloke, got married at 65 – and that’s not unusual!
How was the process of writing The Carer? I wrote it
quickly over a period of about four months. It was familiar
territory to me: it’s middle class, it’s about an old person and it’s
set in places that I know, so I didn’t have to do much research.
I cantered through it in high spirits because, although it tackles
something dark and important, I had rather good fun with it.
Do you have a writing routine? I write in the mornings, never
in the afternoons. In the afternoons, I go shopping or take the
dog out. I work in a chaotic study with papers all over the
floor, but I know where everything is. I try to work for
three-and-a-half hours and sometimes I’ll have hardly written
anything in that time, but it mounts up if you do it daily. I’m
rigorous in doing it every day. Both my parents were
writers and they were disciplined and never made
a fuss about it, so they were a good example for me.What do you think makes a good beach read?
Something you can’t put down. I’m reading Nick
Hornby’s How To Be Good. It’s just so readable,
you can hardly stop. I think a ‘beach read’ makes it
sound rather shallow, but I wouldn’t separate it from
a wonderful novel. In fact, I would say a beach read
is a novel that you actually have time to read at last.Do you read your reviews? Oh yes! Sometimes
I agree with them, even if they’re not very good.
Other times, I get cross. Don’t believe any author who tells
you that they don’t read reviews. I bet they do – it’s human
instinct – they just don’t like to admit it.What’s next for you? I’m turning The Best Exotic Marigold
Hotel into a play for the Chichester Festival Theatre. I’m going to
have a rickshaw on the stage. It’s going to be so much fun to do!
The Carer (Headline, £16.99) by Deborah Moggach
is out 11th July‘My generation are
reinventing old age’
PLATE EXPECTATIONS
What we eat defines the moments and memories that make
up our lives. Three writers serve up their stories...
One More Croissant For
The Road by Felicity Cloake
(Mudlark, £14.99, out now)
Felicity Cloake’s travelogue/recipe
book is dedicated to that most
culinary of countries: France.
On a gastronomic grand
tour, Cloake discovers each
region’s signature dish and
writes evocatively about her
cheese-infused journey.
Dinner With Edward by Isabel
Vincent (Pushkin, £12.99, out 29th
August) US journalist Vincent and
her 93-year-old neighbour Edward
build a bond as they grieve for their
lost marriages over dinner.
Edward’s home, with
its views of Manhattan,
becomes a refuge of juicy
steaks, sugar-dusted apple
galettes and profound truths.A Half Baked Idea by Olivia
Potts (Penguin, £14.99, out 25th
July) As her mother died, Olivia
Potts was making a cake, unaware
of what was happening. Grieving,
Potts turned from her job as
a barrister to baking in her
kitchen before finally quitting
her career to attend Le Cordon
Bleu. A life-affirming tale
of loss, love and lemon curd.