Written 02 Nov 2008.

High on Life by Katy Watson

Spacegirl Pukes by Katy Watson, illustrated by Vanda Carter

.....
Katy's novel, High on Life, which I finally got hold of after the funeral further took me back into those painful years of my life. The novel is about a person in the process of kicking the heroin habit. Although I have never taken heroin or been addicted to any illegal substance the novel was strangely reminiscent of my struggles around then. Katy had drawn from pers own experiences in writing the novel. The familiar places in London and the familiar activities took me back to the years before. I do not know how much Katy there is in the main character apart from the politics, the activities and the places. I do know that Katy used drugs, but I did not see anything like what is in the book when I knew Katy. I found it interesting and in a way disheartening that the only support group available in the novel (and I suspect in real life) is a religious one. True to the character the heroine does not attend after the first meeting, although per is tempted a little. Anything for some support even if it comes with an objectionable package. At the end per manages without the support from that source. Good for per!

The reading of Katy's novel was an experience in itself. I wish I had read it before and been able to tell Katy how much I enjoyed reading it. If Katy was still alive it probably would not have been half as painful a read, because there would have been a hope of a renewed friendship.

High on Life by Katy Watson is an important novel about addiction and what it does to a person and how difficult it is to kick it. It is really well written. I had only read Katy's writing in our paper before. So I did not know that Katy could write so differently and so well. It is published by The Women's Press. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get hold of. I first tried to find it when I heard that the book was published. I gave up too easily. I did not know the title at the time. I just put Katy's name in Amazon. Nothing came up and I gave up trying. After the funeral my eldest did the search by Katy's name. Nothing came up. Then per put down the title of the book. All kinds of other books came up, but scrolling down Katy's book was there too. I recommend the book wholeheartedly.

Katy wrote another book too. It is a children's book Spacegirl Pukes. When I told the title to a friend per's expression and words were dismissive. Per did not like the title. I have been thinking of it and decided that it was just the right thing. All the little children go through that experience. I think for them it would be fun to read about it. And to have a girl as a heroine (who pukes) going out to space after getting better is just great. The illustrations are very good too. It is a brilliant book. I shall order one or two before long.