#TheMaidsRoom #FionaMitchell #Review

THE MAID'S ROOM by FIONA MITCHELL 

*My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in return for my honest and unbiased review* 

This is a book that at times might shock you, at other times it might inform you but it will definitely move you, entertain you and ultimately keep you turning the pages as the lives of these women take over your own. These characters are so well depicted and portrayed so vividly it impossible not to love them, or love to hate them. Mitchell introduces us to a delightful cast of women; some are fearsome, cruel and selfish, others are fearless, kind and generous. The dynamics and relationships between them is compelling and fascinating, it will have you reaching for a tissue one moment and raising an enthusiastic fist bump another. 

There was nothing I did not enjoy about this story. Set in modern day Singapore, this is the story of sisters Dolly and Tala, two Filipino maids working for British ex-pat families, sending all their money back home to support their own children that they have left behind. Despite the tough issues that this story raises and the moments of sadness that cannot be avoided in a novel that explores injustice and inequality, the author writes with a witty, sharp humour that will ensure you smile, giggle and laugh at the spirit, warmth and strength of these maids as they fight to have their voices heard. Despite the heavyweight material and the amount of research that the author has undertaken to give her novel authenticity and credibility, this is such an upbeat, uplifting and hugely entertaining read that I can do nothing except highly recommend it. 

Whilst Dolly and Tala are the main characters - well, let's face it, Tala completely steals the show- Jules and Amber are the ex-pats who employ the maids to work for them. Jules does not conform to the stereotype of an ex-pat wife in the community in which she now finds herself and even though she hopes for a new start in this new country, she brings with her sadness, grief and a suitcase full of baggage. But she is thoughtful, kind, considerate and willing to challenge the women she finds herself socialising with. There are some great phrases when we first meet Jules that show how uncomfortable she is amongst these women who seem false and too tightly controlled. When Jules tries to make an ironic comment or imply things are not perfect beneath the veneer of her seemingly polished life, she is met with 'frozen faces' and 'the tumbleweed rolls'. It is not hard for the reader to empathise and relate to Jules and I found her emotional journey moving and poignant as she came to terms with her new life. Jules offers hope to the maids and in her creation, Mitchell is able to voice a range of attitudes and avoids falling into the trap of cliches or trivialising the lives of these women she is representing. 

In contrast, Amber is a woman whose voice is 'full of hard edges and sighs', a woman who has few redeeming features and whose distain towards the maids has you curling your toes and gripping the pages a little too tightly. There is a turning point in the novel - to say anymore would be to ruin the incredibly powerfully written scenes - but this sets Amber off on a road that will eventually lead her to consider her behaviour and question her attitudes. Although not before Mitchell has used Amber to create maximum dramatic tension and develop a delicious mutli-layered plot which Mitchell so masterfully controls.

As I said, this is a story about Dolly and Tala and all the maids who are employed by these wealthy women, left to sleep in cupboards and bomb shelters left over from the 1970s, without windows and without enough space to keep their sparse collection of belongings. Each chapter begins with a quote from the anonymous "Vanda", a woman who writes a blog about the "Life as the Employer of a Foreign Domestic Helper." Vanda shares her Essential House Rules which read like something from two centuries ago. Worse still, from time to time, Vanda will post a photo of a maid, list all their mistakes and add their permit number thus ensuring they lose their job and are never employed again. Following the shocking death of April Joy, who fell after being forced to lean out on a narrow ledge nine floors high in order to clean, and after an accusatory and hateful post against Dolly, Tala retaliates. She becomes Maidhacker. 

"Forget about putting your expensive coffee on the top shelf and worrying about which toilet you allow your visitors to piddle in, Dolly has more important things to think about like paying for her child to eat and go to school."

Tala's blog is fantastic. She articulates her anger so well and says everything that we all hope we would have the courage to say were we in her position. She is risking her job, her livelihood and her permit to stay in Singapore but when she posts her responses to Vanda, the 'number of blog visitors rises before their eyes like a stopwatch'. Tala is a colourful character with spirit, energy, love and vitality. She is sharp, she is observant and she is angry. She is also believable and fallible. As with all the characters in this book, Tala brings with her a backstory and also has to go on her own journey. But she does steal the show. She has a big heart and seeks no thanks from those she 'rescues', just justice and fairness.

The rest of the novel is a rollercoaster of a ride as Tala is determined to save the reputation of Dolly, and all the maids, and to discover the true identity of Vanda. There are also storylines about Dolly, Jules and Amber that become more complex and more interwoven as the novel moves towards the final denouement. I was completely immersed in this novel. I could hear the voices of the characters, I was damp with the sweaty heat of Singapore and the intensity of the plot. I was fully absorbed in the emotional drama of the scenes and caught up in the themes, issues and incredible behaviour of some of the characters. Most of all, I loved the balance of humour and lightness of touch amongst the  hardship which ensures this is a book you do not want to end. 

The Maid's Room has rightfully been compared to The Help and the irony that Amber's book group are reading The Help is not lost on the audience. The Maid's Room is a very well written, contemporary novel full of feeling and full of colourful characters that will not be forgotten in a hurry. I hope there will be a film or failing that, another book from Mitchell! 

It is a real treat to discover a novel that makes you feel and react strongly to characters - whether you love them or loathe them. It is a real treat to discover a novel that introduces you to a situation which provokes a reaction and a lively discussion, and it is a real treat to discover an author who can write about a range of characters with consistency, sustaining a strong sense of humour from the first page to the last. It is a treat to discover Mitchell. 

The Maid's Room is published by Hodder & Stoughton on 16th November 2017.