This Holey Life

Sophie is interested in what family is, and how our past shapes our here and now. Memory, childhood, loss and love are recurrent themes in her novels. Sophie taught in primary schools in London
for 14 years and is now a full-time writer and volunteer youth worker in Devon.

Legend Press Ltd, 2 London Wall Buildings,
London EC2M 5UU
[email protected]
www.legendpress.co.uk

Contents © Sophie Duffy 2012

The right of the above author to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data available.

Print ISBN 978-1-9087759-7-9
Ebook ISBN 978-1-9087756-3-4

Set in Times
Printed by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY

Cover design by Gudrun Jobst
www.yotedesign.com

Author photo © Fiona Riches

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to
criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Praise for Sophie Duffy

**Winner of the Yeovil Literary Prize**

**Winner of the Luke Bitmead Bursary 2010**

**Shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Prize**

‘Sophie Duffy has written a powerful first novel and shows huge promise’
Katie Fforde

‘One book I shall certainly be recommending this summer is Sophie Duffy’s
This Holey Life
... By turns deeply moving and funny, the narrative zips along in an
appealing and spirited voice. Duffy is particularly good at describing the power of family scripts, the way contact with parents and siblings can have us all travelling back in time to howling
childhood, no matter how grown up and competent we look on the outside.’
Kate Long

‘A warm, moving, wonderful read’
Wendy Holden

‘An extraordinary story... A born storyteller with a gift for characterisation, she writes with warmth, lovely earthy detail and a pathos which keeps a lump lodged in the
throat... echoes of Victoria Wood and Laurie Graham, it is a cracking first novel’
The Daily Mail

‘Sophie Duffy explores grief and the vagaries of inter-family relationships with her usual blend of warmth, wit and wisdom. A triumph.’
Margaret Graham

‘a brave, bold, warm, rich, amusing, engaging novel which sits well alongside more established authors like Kate Atkinson’s
Behind the Scenes at the
Museum
’
Hello Magazine

‘Deftly written, very moving’
The Bookbag

‘A book you just can’t put down’
Western Morning News

Reader reviews

‘So glad I had this recommended to me... I enjoyed every bit of this book, the characters are excellent, the local references (I live in Devon), the highs and lows, it
was so gripping and easy to read I found myself carrying it around the house with me, literally unable to put it down! And the ending... well, you have to read it for yourself... Highly
recommended!’
Miranda

‘I loved this book. The characters were well drawn and likeable. I felt I knew them and was part of their world. I was so engrossed in reading it one day that I forgot to
get off the train - so Sophie you owe me £5!’
Anne Burnett

‘This is a wonderful read. The flow of the story line combined with the great characters gets you hooked. Born in the same year as the heroine, I found myself reliving so
much of my childhood through this story, so many memorable dates, events and TV shows! It made me laugh out loud and sob uncontrollably. What a great first book, I can’t wait to see what will
come next.’
Jules

‘The novel is heartwarming and beautifully written... A heartwarming tale, this is a book with broad appeal although several issues are dealt with in a sensitive and
engaging way.’
A.J. Dugdall-Marshall

‘The story is well told, there’s plenty of twists and turns, and the characters are wonderful. I know it’s a cliché to say that I couldn’t put
this book down, but in this case it’s true. I can’t remember the last book I read which had me so completely and utterly absorbed. So absorbed that I suddenly realised I’d been
reading until 3am. Oops!’
Jacqueline Vincent

‘What a fantastic first novel. I couldn’t put it down and became completely engrossed in the lives and experiences of all the compendium of characters... A
wonderful read. Funny and sad, uplifting and moving. All my book club are reading and raving about it.’
Nicky Bowerman

‘I read
The Generation Game
over two days. I started it on Saturday afternoon and didn’t stop reading until 2 the next morning... I loved the flashback to
the 70s and the 80s and I also loved the crazy and wonderful family that Phillipa acquires in Torquay. For me this is the real charm of this book - I challenge you not to fall in love with Wink and
Bob. You won’t be able to help yourself any more than I was.’
Glenninexeter

‘
The Generation Game
was one of our book club books and I’m so pleased we all had the pleasure of reading it! What a great first novel, the twists and turns
throughout were captivating and I couldn’t put it down.’
Paula

‘What a lovely, heart-warming novel! For anyone who remembers the 1970’s when Saturday night television was Bruce Forsyth, Larry Grayson and Morecambe & Wise
rather than Sir Bruce, Ant and Dec and Gary Barlow, this is the book for you.’
SRJ

‘If you don’t have time to read anything else read this - you won’t regret it. It was recommended to me by a friend and so I bought it to take in holiday with
me. I couldn’t put it down... the story grips you in such a manner that you want to know what happens next.’
Book Bug

‘Well, didn’t Sophie Duffy do well! I thought this was an excellent book, a real trip down memory lane. I found I could really relate to this tale - it was an
entertaining, amusing, at times moving and nostalgic read... So, to coin a couple of phrases, it was nice to read it, to read it, nice! And I will not be shutting the door on any future work by
this author, in fact I am eagerly looking forward to Sophie Duffy’s next book.’
Vanessa

‘There were moments where I cried but more times where I laughed out loud. Growing up in the 70s, I totally related to the popular cultural references and it brought back
my own memories.’
Deb

‘I also enjoyed the story itself & found myself reminded in places of one of my favorite authors, John Irving, who also skillfully weaves his books around the lives
of his characters, often with very thought provoking results. High praise indeed! If you belong to a book club, I recommend this for your short list - it will get you all talking for sure.’
VCP

‘A friend recommended this book & as soon as I picked it up I couldn’t put it down & I totally welled up at the end. It is a great story about life and all
its twists & turns, about love, loss, forgiveness & hope. I also agree that if you enjoyed
One Day
you will probably enjoy this more, primarily because of the social references &
the gentle humour.’
Louise

‘This is an astonishingly assured and intricately plotted novel from a debut author. It held me in its narrative grip from the first page to the last, as the heroine
Philippa unravelled the mysteries of her past and worked out what (and who) she wanted in life.’
Lally

‘I believe that
The Generation Game
is The Book to read for 2011. I recently read it during my holiday and completely loved it. Sophie Duffy tackled many subjects
in her debut novel. Relationships, marriages, birth, parenthood, friendship and death - but all were done so in a feeling and often amusing manner that just kept the reader turning the
pages.’
Michelle Rutter

Acknowledgements

Big thanks are due to the following for their support, encouragement and help:

To Elaine Hanson, Luke Bitmead’s mother. And to Pip Cantwell, a keen supporter of the Bitmead Bursary. For walking with me on my writing journey.

To the Legend Press trio, Tom Chalmers, Lauren Parsons and Lucy Boguslawski for their unstoppable enthusiasm and energy.

To Broo Doherty, my lovely agent.

To the Harry Bowling Prize. And to Harry Bowling who said ‘above all, write from the heart’.

To the Romantic Novelists’ Association, in particular to Katie Fforde. To the amazing Exeter RNA local chapter.

To Margaret James and Cathie Hartigan for early reads and invaluable feedback.

To all those vicars’ wives (and husbands, of course) for shining a light, day in, day out. This includes Louise Stenner, Karen Wilson and Liz Redfern. And the once reluctant curate’s
wife, Harriet Ryan.

To my large, extended family near and far for their love and good wishes.

To my two big brothers: Rhys, for teaching me to write my name, ride my bike and bowl overarm. And Peter, for teaching me to be tough by holding me upside down by my ankles over the stairwell
and using me as target practice for his air rifle (though not at the same time).

To my two awesome mothers-in-law.

To Mum for continuing to look after me.

To Johnny, Eddy and Izzy, my three teenagers, for keeping me on my toes.

To Niall, for putting up with much and giving me more than I deserve.

To Mum, with love.