The Shift bookclub with Cathy Rentzenbrink

Welcome to The Shift bookclub with Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of this month’s bookclub pick, Ordinary Time.

Cathy is the author of six books including her Sunday Times bestselling memoir, The Last Act of Love, her guide to writing memoir, Write It All Down, and her debut novel, Everyone Is Still Alive.

In her follow up, Ordinary Time, we meet Ann, a reluctant vicar’s wife who tries and fails to live up to the expectations of her husband, Tim, and his congregation and to answer her son’s increasingly awkward questions all while losing sight of herself. Then a distress call from her brother opens up another path, one laden with temptation.... (drumroll!)

It’s been described as “Funny and heartbreaking” by Nina Stibbe, Philippa Perry compared Cathy’s writing to Anne Tyler and Meg Mason, author of the 2022 smash hit, Sorrow & Bliss, says “Here is the absolute truth about love, told with wisdom, heart and humour.”

Which sounds like a big ask, but she’s not wrong. This is a book about marriage and expectation that makes you feel seen as a woman in midlife, vicar’s wife or not!