This is a good story of Dominic Kitchen who is a Wedding photographer based in London.

This novel is written through the years of Dominic growing up to be an adult.
He is the youngest of 3 Children from North London.
His Dad is an Arsenal correspondent who reports on all the home games.
His Mother is a housewife.
Dominic doesn't get on with his brother Max but idolises his big sister Victoria.

Dominic is besotted by Victoria they call each other old boy and old girl.
Victoria marries a famous Cricketer, Max works for the Cricketers Dad and they all become super rich.
Dominic plods on with his Wedding photography work he is partners with Daley an older Irishman.
Their Dad slowly slides into dementia and eventually dies.
Dominic marries Lauren and they have a baby girl called Elizabeth.
Dominic and Victoria's relationship progresses to incest even though they both know its wrong and by this point he is married to Lauren.
They don't speak for years, to ashamed to admit what they have done. Slowly but surely Dominic becomes an alcoholic.

They eventually patch things up, Victoria is dying of cancer and she tells Dominic that they are actually half brother and sister as their mother had an affair. Dominic finds it hard to deal with her eventual loss.

Elizabeth is all grown up now and is due to marry her Uncle Max's assistant Roly, Dominic calls him Smooth face. She confesses to her Dad on the Wedding morning that she cant go through with it.
Dominic whisks her away from the House/Church.

The book finishes with an explanation telling Elizabeth about his life.

Easy to read, sad but very entertaining book. ( )

3.5 stars ( )

„Überlebensgroß“ sind auch die Vorschußlorbeeren auf dieses Buch (“Der Roman, der Leben verändern kann“). Natürlich kann alles irgendwie Leben verändern, dieses Buch aber fand ich erstaunlich nichtssagend. Es geht um Dominic, der seine Schwester Victoria zu sehr liebt, sie ist überlebensgroß für ihn. Sein Leben dümpelt daher dahin, es geht eigentlich über Jahrzehnte immer nur darum, ob er es schafft, sich von dieser Liebe zu lösen oder nicht. Dominic ist mir daher auch nicht so recht sympathisch und auch Victoria, die als junge Frau noch irgendwie spritzig war, wird im Lauf der Jahre eigentlich immer langweiliger und unsympathischer. Ich fand das Buch erstaunlich langweilig, banal und oft auch einfach negativ. „Erstaunliche Kraft“, wie auf dem CD-Cover zitiert, konnte ich bei diesem Hörbuch nicht entdecken. ( )

An emotional read that I enjoyed, I think I'll be looking for more from this author ( )

This is the memoir of Dominic, recounting a life spent photographing other people's weddings.

With finely drawn characters, Watson captures with understated humour and writing so good it appears effortless, a very English awkwardness and reticence. Covering class, illness, disappointment and relationships in a believable and poignant way. ( )