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Paper Cup
Listening Length 11 hours and 4 minutes
What if going back means you could begin again?
Rocked by a terrible accident, homeless Kelly needs to escape the city streets of Glasgow. Maybe she doesn’t believe in serendipity, but a rare moment of kindness and a lost ring conspire to call her home. As Kelly vows to reunite the lost ring with its owner, she must return to the small town she fled so many years ago.
On her journey from Glasgow to the south-west tip of Scotland, Kelly encounters ancient pilgrim routes, hostile humans, hippies, book lovers and a friendly dog, as memories stir and the people she thought she’d left behind forever move closer with every step.
Full of compassion and hope, Paper Cup is a novel about how easy it can be to fall through the cracks, and what it takes to turn around a life that has run off course.
What if going back means you could begin again?
Rocked by a terrible accident, homeless Kelly needs to escape the city streets of Glasgow. Maybe she doesn’t believe in serendipity, but a rare moment of kindness and a lost ring conspire to call her home. As Kelly vows to reunite the lost ring with its owner, she must return to the small town she fled so many years ago.
On her journey from Glasgow to the south-west tip of Scotland, Kelly encounters ancient pilgrim routes, hostile humans, hippies, book lovers and a friendly dog, as memories stir and the people she thought she’d left behind forever move closer with every step.
Full of compassion and hope, Paper Cup is a novel about how easy it can be to fall through the cracks, and what it takes to turn around a life that has run off course.
12 pages, Audible Audio
Published September 20, 2022
About the author
Karen Campbell
116 books62 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
November 8, 2021
I strongly believe every book we read changes us in some way. Somewhere between the first page and the last, a small part of your world shifts very slightly. You might not even notice but I truly believe it does. However. There are some books which will change your mind about something. The landscape will be different, your view of it will change, because you've heard a voice you may never have noticed, and that voice has made you explore something you've only ever walked the edges of before. That takes a very special story and Paper Cup is very special indeed. Not only is it *exquisitely* written - and I mean catch-your-breath exquisite - the story is so real and told with such grace and compassion (and humour and sometimes heart-breaking sadness) I feel as though I have not only read about Kelly and her pilgrimage, but I have walked every single step alongside her, Trust me, your world will be a better place for reading this story.
March 22, 2023
This book was set in Glasgow and Scotland, which was a nice change for me. The audio delivery was amazing, and I loved the accents. The story flowed seamlessly and the narrator was in full command of the story. This is where I imagine authors are left feeling their book is in good hands, Caroline Guthrie was the right choice.
Kelly is living rough in all aspects, an alcoholic who seems to have accepted her lot in life, something dreadful has happened with someone she loves dearly earlier in her life, and she will not return home. The way this story unfolds shows simply not how hard it would be to walk a mile in her shoes, or how impossible it would be to sleep on the streets, or how awful one is treated when begging. It is more than that. It shows the desperation of one human being who believes it is what she deserves, the ability for this person to still see good in what she is in the midst of, and the select few who still help and care. The blatant experience with what seemed to me an almost non existant support and welfare agency was frustrating, Kelly certainly was buried deep in loss. One wanted this woman to get there, wherever there was.
Kelly’s story is gently teased out to the reader in small increments, through past drunken stories, childhood memories, and the experiences which led her to where she is today. No possessions, no money, and the constant choice between some hot chips and cheap booze. Kelly has suffered so much, and her ability to see glimpses of positivity made me love this story.
There are parts of human nature which made me shudder. A warm man walking the streets throwing out good food, making eye contact with Kelly, throwing the uneaten portion in the bin. Kelly then having no shame to reach into a difficult access and eat this. She had no choice.
This is a story of desperation, acceptance and tenacity, and the beginning of a journey home on foot, to help another human being who has it all in the eyes of society, a woman opposite to herself in terms of wealth and status.
Kelly seems to give without asking for any return. She will break your heart along the way if you decide to take this journey with her. The book certainly had a portion of whimsy, and things seemed to contain an element of good timing, but this did not detract my sheer delight of enjoying a full five star experience. It simply is a wonderful book.
It’s worth it though, to be free to live exactly as you please. There are no restrictions except her own. Yes there is weather, but weather brings sun as well as rain. There are no roofs, but there is boundless sky. The sky reminds her of the sea and home.
Despite the rest of her bits and bobs, Kelly has endeavoured to keep her teeth clean. Skin you can scourer, hair can be unmatted, but teeth. She bares them here, are like little pearls of permanence. Toothpaste is a luxury, so she uses liquid soap in public loos, applied with a just rinsed finger.
Kelly is living rough in all aspects, an alcoholic who seems to have accepted her lot in life, something dreadful has happened with someone she loves dearly earlier in her life, and she will not return home. The way this story unfolds shows simply not how hard it would be to walk a mile in her shoes, or how impossible it would be to sleep on the streets, or how awful one is treated when begging. It is more than that. It shows the desperation of one human being who believes it is what she deserves, the ability for this person to still see good in what she is in the midst of, and the select few who still help and care. The blatant experience with what seemed to me an almost non existant support and welfare agency was frustrating, Kelly certainly was buried deep in loss. One wanted this woman to get there, wherever there was.
Kelly’s story is gently teased out to the reader in small increments, through past drunken stories, childhood memories, and the experiences which led her to where she is today. No possessions, no money, and the constant choice between some hot chips and cheap booze. Kelly has suffered so much, and her ability to see glimpses of positivity made me love this story.
There are parts of human nature which made me shudder. A warm man walking the streets throwing out good food, making eye contact with Kelly, throwing the uneaten portion in the bin. Kelly then having no shame to reach into a difficult access and eat this. She had no choice.
This is a story of desperation, acceptance and tenacity, and the beginning of a journey home on foot, to help another human being who has it all in the eyes of society, a woman opposite to herself in terms of wealth and status.
Kelly seems to give without asking for any return. She will break your heart along the way if you decide to take this journey with her. The book certainly had a portion of whimsy, and things seemed to contain an element of good timing, but this did not detract my sheer delight of enjoying a full five star experience. It simply is a wonderful book.
It’s worth it though, to be free to live exactly as you please. There are no restrictions except her own. Yes there is weather, but weather brings sun as well as rain. There are no roofs, but there is boundless sky. The sky reminds her of the sea and home.
Despite the rest of her bits and bobs, Kelly has endeavoured to keep her teeth clean. Skin you can scourer, hair can be unmatted, but teeth. She bares them here, are like little pearls of permanence. Toothpaste is a luxury, so she uses liquid soap in public loos, applied with a just rinsed finger.
January 20, 2024
”But sometimes we get stuck, don’t we? In a place, or a thought. Whatever. And that can make us crazy.”
Kelly is used to being starving, to ignoring the rumble in her stomach even when it becomes a roar. Kelly is used to eating out of bins. Carefully watching office workers rush by on their lunchbreak, throwing away half eaten sandwiches.
Kelly is used to living outdoors in all weathers. For relying on herself, despite the craving, the absolute craving to quench the thirst that never leaves her.
Kelly is used to people walking past and ignoring her. To simply see their shoes and legs, rarely their faces. As how do you look a homeless person in the eye? And if you do, what do you say to them?
”Fucking people. They are too complex. Too diverse.”
The opening chapter is the joy and giddiness of a hen’s party. In the wee small hours. The bride to be and her girls are well and truly happily plastered. By a strange twist of fate, or synchronicity, the bride pauses for a moment on a park bench, where Kelly lies sleeping. In high sprits, the girls “take pity” on the tramp lying there, and gift her the coins they’d collected for strangers to kiss the bride to be. And in this exchange, Susan's engagement ring, unbeknownst to her, becomes entangled in the coins.
And so begins a pilgrimage across Scotland, starting in Glasgow to Kelly’s home town, as she is determined to return the ring before the Wedding takes place. I won’t tell you how she knows these details, but the journey is all set up in the first chapter.
As the story progresses, we get Kelly’s backstory. Kelly McCallum. Who studied architecture and engineering at University, and who through a few poor choices, lousy men, the pull of drink and drugs, becomes irrevocably lost. Ending up an alcoholic and living from day to day, hour to hour, on the streets of Glasgow. The "Paper Cup" of the title being the literal one that sometimes got filled with a smattering of change from busy passers by.
We trek with her across the countryside, where she rescues a wee border collie pup, who becomes her intrepid wingman. All sorts of people and situations confront Kelly on this journey, and we discover the hurt and angst of her loved ones, who have for years desperately reached out to try to help her.
This is a book that will have you questioning your life choices. How one or two small mis-steps could take you on a path you never envisaged for yourself. As my dear friend Tracey has often said “There but for the grace of God go I”. And she’s right. As truly, stats suggest that most people are potentially only three paychecks away from potential financial disaster. Which can then spiral into more social upheaval.
I saw a fresh perspective of how difficult it must be for people with no fixed abode. The myriad of social workers who are overrun with case work. Kelly falling through safety net after safety net.
There is a smattering of Scot’s dialect which gave the book a lovely authenticity.
While the story may sound stark, it’s anything but. It has a warmth and humour. It shows the love and friendships that can occur between people of all social stratas. The companionship that animals provide. And how strangers could well surprise you.
I admired Kelly’s determination to return the engagement ring to its rightful owner, and being inside her head and hearing her thoughts. What led her to become who she was, and her want to attempt to make amends and perhaps turn things around.
”Do they think people want to live like this? Crusted with their own filth? Cold and old and hungry. Wanting to be seen, and be unseen. Wanting to be present, even in their self appointed margins. Do they think it’s a choice to be scared and lonely?”
I mean, how incredibly tough would it be to be homeless? To literally have all your possessions on your person. And how much harder to be a homeless woman, with the incidences of violence more prevalent. Not a topic most of us want to think about, and I always despair of the people I see begging on the streets of my beautiful City. It simply doesn’t make sense that this should still be occurring, when there is more than enough to go around. But help is tied up in layers of bureaucracy that people are unable to deal with.
There’s a wonderful line in here about how libraries are “beacons of light”, as they are places where people with no internet access could avail themselves of the library WiFi. As well as the human interaction with the librarians, and a place to come in out of the cold.
The Writer Karen Campbell is a former police officer and press officer for Glasgow City Council. This shows as she succinctly describes the increasing desperation of Kelly’s situation, resulting in her living on the streets, despite the efforts of social workers.
When I returned my copy to my local library yesterday, I felt kind of sad. Like a piece of me was missing. I was so used to seeing it all over the house as I was reading it. I took it everywhere. This is a story that I’ll carry around with me, and ponder on, for a long, long time.
”Maybe hope is the horizon, all teasing and glinting sea-glitter out of reach. Life is the road that waits for you to choose it.”
Kelly is used to being starving, to ignoring the rumble in her stomach even when it becomes a roar. Kelly is used to eating out of bins. Carefully watching office workers rush by on their lunchbreak, throwing away half eaten sandwiches.
Kelly is used to living outdoors in all weathers. For relying on herself, despite the craving, the absolute craving to quench the thirst that never leaves her.
Kelly is used to people walking past and ignoring her. To simply see their shoes and legs, rarely their faces. As how do you look a homeless person in the eye? And if you do, what do you say to them?
”Fucking people. They are too complex. Too diverse.”
The opening chapter is the joy and giddiness of a hen’s party. In the wee small hours. The bride to be and her girls are well and truly happily plastered. By a strange twist of fate, or synchronicity, the bride pauses for a moment on a park bench, where Kelly lies sleeping. In high sprits, the girls “take pity” on the tramp lying there, and gift her the coins they’d collected for strangers to kiss the bride to be. And in this exchange, Susan's engagement ring, unbeknownst to her, becomes entangled in the coins.
And so begins a pilgrimage across Scotland, starting in Glasgow to Kelly’s home town, as she is determined to return the ring before the Wedding takes place. I won’t tell you how she knows these details, but the journey is all set up in the first chapter.
As the story progresses, we get Kelly’s backstory. Kelly McCallum. Who studied architecture and engineering at University, and who through a few poor choices, lousy men, the pull of drink and drugs, becomes irrevocably lost. Ending up an alcoholic and living from day to day, hour to hour, on the streets of Glasgow. The "Paper Cup" of the title being the literal one that sometimes got filled with a smattering of change from busy passers by.
We trek with her across the countryside, where she rescues a wee border collie pup, who becomes her intrepid wingman. All sorts of people and situations confront Kelly on this journey, and we discover the hurt and angst of her loved ones, who have for years desperately reached out to try to help her.
This is a book that will have you questioning your life choices. How one or two small mis-steps could take you on a path you never envisaged for yourself. As my dear friend Tracey has often said “There but for the grace of God go I”. And she’s right. As truly, stats suggest that most people are potentially only three paychecks away from potential financial disaster. Which can then spiral into more social upheaval.
I saw a fresh perspective of how difficult it must be for people with no fixed abode. The myriad of social workers who are overrun with case work. Kelly falling through safety net after safety net.
There is a smattering of Scot’s dialect which gave the book a lovely authenticity.
While the story may sound stark, it’s anything but. It has a warmth and humour. It shows the love and friendships that can occur between people of all social stratas. The companionship that animals provide. And how strangers could well surprise you.
I admired Kelly’s determination to return the engagement ring to its rightful owner, and being inside her head and hearing her thoughts. What led her to become who she was, and her want to attempt to make amends and perhaps turn things around.
”Do they think people want to live like this? Crusted with their own filth? Cold and old and hungry. Wanting to be seen, and be unseen. Wanting to be present, even in their self appointed margins. Do they think it’s a choice to be scared and lonely?”
I mean, how incredibly tough would it be to be homeless? To literally have all your possessions on your person. And how much harder to be a homeless woman, with the incidences of violence more prevalent. Not a topic most of us want to think about, and I always despair of the people I see begging on the streets of my beautiful City. It simply doesn’t make sense that this should still be occurring, when there is more than enough to go around. But help is tied up in layers of bureaucracy that people are unable to deal with.
There’s a wonderful line in here about how libraries are “beacons of light”, as they are places where people with no internet access could avail themselves of the library WiFi. As well as the human interaction with the librarians, and a place to come in out of the cold.
The Writer Karen Campbell is a former police officer and press officer for Glasgow City Council. This shows as she succinctly describes the increasing desperation of Kelly’s situation, resulting in her living on the streets, despite the efforts of social workers.
When I returned my copy to my local library yesterday, I felt kind of sad. Like a piece of me was missing. I was so used to seeing it all over the house as I was reading it. I took it everywhere. This is a story that I’ll carry around with me, and ponder on, for a long, long time.
”Maybe hope is the horizon, all teasing and glinting sea-glitter out of reach. Life is the road that waits for you to choose it.”
September 26, 2023
I'm afraid I'm very much in the minority here, and too right - this is a story worth telling. We are put into the the battered shoes of a homeless person called Kelly. Kelly is an interesting character, she doesn't like to get too close to people she bumps into, and her observations are revealing.
How often do we get the opportunity to experience this? Not at all, I would say - or not very often.
Kelly bumps into a hen's booze-up in Glasgow and ends up with the ring of the bride to be - she embarks on an odyssey to find this lady. I did enjoy her making friends with a beautiful collie pup - called "Collieflower", that pup sounded gorgeous.
BUT - there wasn't enough in this one for me, I did try - but (again) when it becomes an effort, I've decided it's time to bail. I gave it a good go at 180 pages - but I couldn't really engage with the story.
So a DNF for this punter - sorry Nattington!! 🎈
How often do we get the opportunity to experience this? Not at all, I would say - or not very often.
Kelly bumps into a hen's booze-up in Glasgow and ends up with the ring of the bride to be - she embarks on an odyssey to find this lady. I did enjoy her making friends with a beautiful collie pup - called "Collieflower", that pup sounded gorgeous.
BUT - there wasn't enough in this one for me, I did try - but (again) when it becomes an effort, I've decided it's time to bail. I gave it a good go at 180 pages - but I couldn't really engage with the story.
So a DNF for this punter - sorry Nattington!! 🎈
February 24, 2022
As someone who has previously lived in Glasgow and who worked with homeless individuals in the city, I was immediately drawn to this book for obvious reasons.
I can often be critical of books which sentimentalise homelessness and poverty and give an impression of a lovely, wee community of people who are homeless but happy. I enjoyed this portrayal of the city of Glasgow and the descriptive realities that people who are homeless face on the street. The descriptions of the streets, the characters, the services available and staff who work within them were immediately recognisable to someone who has worked within this environment.
The language itself was also beautiful, incredibly realistic and will strike right at the heart of those who live in Scotland, particularly the West of Scotland. I am not sure how other non-natives may feel about it however I don't believe you would get an accurate portrayal of the story without it.
An excellent read from a very talented author I didn't know much about previously. I am now off to systematically go through her back catalogue!
Thanks to Netgalley and Canongate Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I can often be critical of books which sentimentalise homelessness and poverty and give an impression of a lovely, wee community of people who are homeless but happy. I enjoyed this portrayal of the city of Glasgow and the descriptive realities that people who are homeless face on the street. The descriptions of the streets, the characters, the services available and staff who work within them were immediately recognisable to someone who has worked within this environment.
The language itself was also beautiful, incredibly realistic and will strike right at the heart of those who live in Scotland, particularly the West of Scotland. I am not sure how other non-natives may feel about it however I don't believe you would get an accurate portrayal of the story without it.
An excellent read from a very talented author I didn't know much about previously. I am now off to systematically go through her back catalogue!
Thanks to Netgalley and Canongate Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2022
Poignant, heartwarming, and raw!
Paper Cup is a pensive, heart-tugging novel that takes us to Glasgow and into the life of Kelly, a homeless alcoholic estranged from her family who, after finding an engagement ring and witnessing a horrific accident, embarks on a journey south, meeting some interesting characters and visiting some historical places along the way, heading to Gatehouse of Fleet, Galloway to not only return the ring to its rightful owner but to finally confront the demons she fled from and the family she hasn’t seen in years.
The prose is rich and vivid. The characters are vulnerable, flawed, and troubled. And the plot is a memorable tale of unlikely friendships, familial drama, poverty, homelessness, addiction, guilt, compassion, honesty, survival, mental illness, kindness, and ultimately finding your way home.
Overall, Paper Cup is an astute, touching, compelling tale by Campbell that does a beautiful job of reminding us that family is not always those just related by blood but rather those who love, care, support, and accept us.
Thank you to PGC Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Paper Cup is a pensive, heart-tugging novel that takes us to Glasgow and into the life of Kelly, a homeless alcoholic estranged from her family who, after finding an engagement ring and witnessing a horrific accident, embarks on a journey south, meeting some interesting characters and visiting some historical places along the way, heading to Gatehouse of Fleet, Galloway to not only return the ring to its rightful owner but to finally confront the demons she fled from and the family she hasn’t seen in years.
The prose is rich and vivid. The characters are vulnerable, flawed, and troubled. And the plot is a memorable tale of unlikely friendships, familial drama, poverty, homelessness, addiction, guilt, compassion, honesty, survival, mental illness, kindness, and ultimately finding your way home.
Overall, Paper Cup is an astute, touching, compelling tale by Campbell that does a beautiful job of reminding us that family is not always those just related by blood but rather those who love, care, support, and accept us.
Thank you to PGC Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2023
This story gives a name and a face to at least a segment of our unsheltered brothers and sisters. While a complex issue with multiple pathways into it, some are there because of tough circumstances, impulsive decisions, individual challenges, while the stepping stones to finding solid ground again are rife with holes and tilts. It's an unpredictable scrabble out once there.
Meet Kelly. Living on the streets, largely unacknowledged, hungry and dirty, filled with regret and guilt with a daily dilemma of pursuing food or drink. Two random events intersect to pull her into a course of action that lead her step by difficult step towards a reckoning with her past.
That "pilgrimage" gradually reveals memories of where she came from, what got her to where she is, and what has kept her from returning home. Along with Kelly, we experience the challenges of having no resources, of unpredictable weather, of being able to trust or not the people we come into contact with, of dealing with those who are kind and those who are not, of trying to navigate the often nonsensical bureaucracies that exist to provide support but often fall short, creating revolving doors of futility. The backstory comes into view so sporadically that tension is maintained throughout the story, making the reader want to find out all of what happened. Adding interest and a bit of mystery is a reporter who is on the trail to find Kelly, due to one of those random events. Adding a touch of whimsy is a dog she comes to have as a companion.
While this could have been a downer of a read, it was not. There was compassion, humor, tenderness in unexpected places, and a sense of purpose and hope beyond all reason that buoyed the story even as it dealt with harsh realities. Occasional bit players popping in and out broadened the character base and brought more depth to the story.
I listened on audio and found the authentic accent a plus, once I developed an "ear" for it. Initially, it could be confusing due to the jumping around in time and between characters, but once you get into it, this was no longer difficult to follow.
Meet Kelly. Living on the streets, largely unacknowledged, hungry and dirty, filled with regret and guilt with a daily dilemma of pursuing food or drink. Two random events intersect to pull her into a course of action that lead her step by difficult step towards a reckoning with her past.
That "pilgrimage" gradually reveals memories of where she came from, what got her to where she is, and what has kept her from returning home. Along with Kelly, we experience the challenges of having no resources, of unpredictable weather, of being able to trust or not the people we come into contact with, of dealing with those who are kind and those who are not, of trying to navigate the often nonsensical bureaucracies that exist to provide support but often fall short, creating revolving doors of futility. The backstory comes into view so sporadically that tension is maintained throughout the story, making the reader want to find out all of what happened. Adding interest and a bit of mystery is a reporter who is on the trail to find Kelly, due to one of those random events. Adding a touch of whimsy is a dog she comes to have as a companion.
While this could have been a downer of a read, it was not. There was compassion, humor, tenderness in unexpected places, and a sense of purpose and hope beyond all reason that buoyed the story even as it dealt with harsh realities. Occasional bit players popping in and out broadened the character base and brought more depth to the story.
I listened on audio and found the authentic accent a plus, once I developed an "ear" for it. Initially, it could be confusing due to the jumping around in time and between characters, but once you get into it, this was no longer difficult to follow.
April 16, 2022
A young woman is drunk and lost, with sore feet and a potty stuck on her head. She’s on a bench on her own and she doesn’t know how she got there. This is the first chapter of this book and it draws you in from the start. I expected us to follow her, but instead we track her quiet companion on the bench, a homeless woman called Kelly who’s trying to keep warm under some cardboard and newspapers. Introducing us to Kelly through the hen party is a brilliant way of getting us to first see her as others see her, and then gradually getting to know her as she is as we join her on her philosophical and literal journey.
The narrative is a relatively simple one, but many layered and carefully placed so we understand why Kelly does what she does, at least in part. The initial description of her daily tasklist, to keep warm, to get some food, to try and be clean, is exhausting. She has bright spots of nearly but not quite friendship but for each of those there’re three tales of being beaten, abused and/or mocked by people who should be looking out for others, people going out of their way to make her tough existence a little bit worse. I am lucky, I have never felt the crushing worry of being safe and warm, I have a roof and food. I do not think that others are somehow responsible for this life, that they didn’t work hard enough or their actions caused it. We are all 3 pay packets away, on average, after all. Wear through the patience of family and friends and soon enough you’re out of options in all but state support, and as we know, this is few and far between. It’s described in this book as not one net but a series of nets with big gaps to fall through, and some of this hopelessness is in Kelly’s telling of how she got where she is today. A series of unfortunate actions, some horrible people, her own pride - being told she has to be contactable without a phone or power, no access to computers and the ever present threat of ‘sanctions’ from an already meagre benefit.
A set of circumstances pushes Kelly to set off on a mission, of sorts, which sees her follow a pilgrimage trail in the South West of Scotland, setting out from her usual Glasgow spots. Along the way she meets good people, and not, and crucially she makes questionable decisions borne of necessity or driven by her inner demons. It’s a story of hopelessness and ultimately, the humanity that binds us together and keeps that hope alive. It’s also funny - the other characters are sharp witted and dry and there’s a gallows humour which keeps it from being too depressing.
I was rooting for Kelly, along with the people rooting for her whether she knew it or not. It’s so beautifully written and so specifically Scottish, with a smattering of Scots language, that it felt like home. It’s funny, and painful, and poignant and so compassionate. It might be a work of fiction but we all know Kelly. We’ve seen her, or him, sitting outside on the pavement with their paper cup, asking for nothing but 20p and possibly a sandwich. In this world, in 2022, this shouldn’t be happening but it still is - this series of nets lets people slip through. If nothing else, this book casts a light into that shadow and will hopefully encourage readers to volunteer, to add to that cup, to see that person as a person.
Recommended for anyone looking for a story about compassion, about the family you make rather than the one you’re born into. Adjacent to Shuggie Bain with a bit of Trainspotting thrown in.
Thanks to Netgalley and to Canongate books for the DRC. This is available to buy June 2nd 2022 - preorder now!
The narrative is a relatively simple one, but many layered and carefully placed so we understand why Kelly does what she does, at least in part. The initial description of her daily tasklist, to keep warm, to get some food, to try and be clean, is exhausting. She has bright spots of nearly but not quite friendship but for each of those there’re three tales of being beaten, abused and/or mocked by people who should be looking out for others, people going out of their way to make her tough existence a little bit worse. I am lucky, I have never felt the crushing worry of being safe and warm, I have a roof and food. I do not think that others are somehow responsible for this life, that they didn’t work hard enough or their actions caused it. We are all 3 pay packets away, on average, after all. Wear through the patience of family and friends and soon enough you’re out of options in all but state support, and as we know, this is few and far between. It’s described in this book as not one net but a series of nets with big gaps to fall through, and some of this hopelessness is in Kelly’s telling of how she got where she is today. A series of unfortunate actions, some horrible people, her own pride - being told she has to be contactable without a phone or power, no access to computers and the ever present threat of ‘sanctions’ from an already meagre benefit.
A set of circumstances pushes Kelly to set off on a mission, of sorts, which sees her follow a pilgrimage trail in the South West of Scotland, setting out from her usual Glasgow spots. Along the way she meets good people, and not, and crucially she makes questionable decisions borne of necessity or driven by her inner demons. It’s a story of hopelessness and ultimately, the humanity that binds us together and keeps that hope alive. It’s also funny - the other characters are sharp witted and dry and there’s a gallows humour which keeps it from being too depressing.
I was rooting for Kelly, along with the people rooting for her whether she knew it or not. It’s so beautifully written and so specifically Scottish, with a smattering of Scots language, that it felt like home. It’s funny, and painful, and poignant and so compassionate. It might be a work of fiction but we all know Kelly. We’ve seen her, or him, sitting outside on the pavement with their paper cup, asking for nothing but 20p and possibly a sandwich. In this world, in 2022, this shouldn’t be happening but it still is - this series of nets lets people slip through. If nothing else, this book casts a light into that shadow and will hopefully encourage readers to volunteer, to add to that cup, to see that person as a person.
Recommended for anyone looking for a story about compassion, about the family you make rather than the one you’re born into. Adjacent to Shuggie Bain with a bit of Trainspotting thrown in.
Thanks to Netgalley and to Canongate books for the DRC. This is available to buy June 2nd 2022 - preorder now!
January 31, 2024
This is a wonderful story! Kelly is a great character, who you cannot help but care about, and I hope it changes some perceptions for readers. The narrator brings Kelly to life, so I can certainly recommend the audiobook.
January 21, 2023
I really wanted to like this but it felt like a slog to get through it. I really liked Kelly's character. I liked the insights into her feelings, the insights as to her background and how she slipped into homelessness. Some of the minor characters really added to it, thd kind driver, the lovely Clara, the idiot woman who forced the drink. Overall though I just found it painfully slow. I didn't enjoy the pilgrimage element. I felt like I was on one too, and not in a good way. Lots to recommend this book on paper but it wasn't for me.
July 26, 2023
Paper Cup is told in the third person and focuses on a homeless young female called Kelly. Set in Scotland, the book opens with a bride-to-be descending on the park bench where Kelly is trying to sleep. The woman is extremely drunk and has lost her hen party. When the hens eventually find her they donate some money to Kelly but in the haste to get going the bride’s engagement ring is left with the cash.
After trying to part with the ring but not being able to, Kelly suddenly has a purpose, to return the ring to the rightful owner, unfortunately, this takes her back to her hometown a place she swore she would never return to.
Paper Cup, for me, was quite a hard and slow read. It is written in Scottish dialect and sometimes I failed to understand the words, however, it is also a poignant, harrowing, yet incredible read.
I’m not sure you will find a better novel featuring a homeless young woman and hearing everything she goes through daily, from being treated like she is a thief, scum, a nobody or just being invisible to most people who walk by her, Kelly has it tough but she would rather endure this than return to her home.
The descriptions of not only what it is like to be homeless but the beautiful Scottish landscape were so vivid to the mind’s eye. This is a book that will touch your heart and open your eyes at the same time. It is quite simply a beautiful, moving story that will stay with you long after you close the pages.
After trying to part with the ring but not being able to, Kelly suddenly has a purpose, to return the ring to the rightful owner, unfortunately, this takes her back to her hometown a place she swore she would never return to.
Paper Cup, for me, was quite a hard and slow read. It is written in Scottish dialect and sometimes I failed to understand the words, however, it is also a poignant, harrowing, yet incredible read.
I’m not sure you will find a better novel featuring a homeless young woman and hearing everything she goes through daily, from being treated like she is a thief, scum, a nobody or just being invisible to most people who walk by her, Kelly has it tough but she would rather endure this than return to her home.
The descriptions of not only what it is like to be homeless but the beautiful Scottish landscape were so vivid to the mind’s eye. This is a book that will touch your heart and open your eyes at the same time. It is quite simply a beautiful, moving story that will stay with you long after you close the pages.
March 17, 2024
Just………..wow. Set in Scotland about a homeless woman with a sad past and equally sad present. Very very very good, and very Scottish, so be prepared to have a hard time with the language unless you’re familiar with it, as I am.
January 25, 2023
Listened to this story and found the narration great for setting the tone of the story with the Scottish accent. Following Kelly on a pilgrimage to return a ring to its rightful owner, it slowly explains how Kelly came to be homeless and her struggles. Gave great insight into the challenges of homelessness, the support systems and frustrations within it. Heartbreaking and raw in its portrayal, one to read and consider its message.
August 23, 2022
This is one of the most emotional books I’ve read in a very long time and by the end of it I really felt like I’d been through the wringer - but it was totally worth it.
The book starts with a drunken group of women on a hen do in Glasgow, it’s the end of the night and the bride to be finds herself sat on a bench in George Square with a potty wedged onto her head and a hangover already kicking in! At the other end of the bench is Kelly, but she’s not been out partying, the bench is her bed for the night and these women are disturbing her sleep. As a parting gift they leave her with the bag of coins they’ve collected in Glasgow’s pubs but the bag will turn out to be both a blessing and a curse for Kelly.
Throughout the book we get glimpses of Kelly’s past, giving hints at how she ended up on the streets after what seemed like a fairly privileged upbringing. I loved how these parts of the story were randomly inserted into the story, it was almost as if they were thoughts creeping into Kelly’s mind, reminding her of who she was, who she’s become and maybe who she really wants to be. It also shows how easy it can be for people to become homeless but how difficult it can be to escape.
Certain sections of this book were quite traumatic to read and something that happens early on really impacted me as someone who knows and loves Glasgow. I actually had to put the book down for a while and I wondered whether it was a story I’d have to come back to another time. I decided to read on and as the story moves away from Glasgow and towards Galloway there was a physical and emotional shift in the book that brought some lighter moments in amongst the despair - not least when Kelly makes a friend along the way in the shape of the not-very-creatively-named Collie dog - Collieflower! Their relationship could almost be described as a love story and you get the feeling that they are saving each other along the way.
Paper Cup is certainly not an easy read, particularly when it comes to the experience of being homeless but it feels real and authentic. Campbell doesn’t shy away from writing about Kelly’s flaws and actions that can seem shocking at times but we also get to see a side of Kelly that has been broken by a lack of support and being perpetually disappointed by people who have ulterior motives in their supposed kindness. There’s a part in the story where a couple want to help her but she just can’t believe they are genuine and rejects their offer out of fear and suspicion, this part really stood out to me and if felt so sad that people can be so broken down that they can’t even allow themselves to have hope. It’s one of those stories that feels like it should be compulsory reading, to give people who have been unaffected by homelessness a reality check of what it’s like to live on the streets.
I really can’t recommend this book enough and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come.
The book starts with a drunken group of women on a hen do in Glasgow, it’s the end of the night and the bride to be finds herself sat on a bench in George Square with a potty wedged onto her head and a hangover already kicking in! At the other end of the bench is Kelly, but she’s not been out partying, the bench is her bed for the night and these women are disturbing her sleep. As a parting gift they leave her with the bag of coins they’ve collected in Glasgow’s pubs but the bag will turn out to be both a blessing and a curse for Kelly.
Throughout the book we get glimpses of Kelly’s past, giving hints at how she ended up on the streets after what seemed like a fairly privileged upbringing. I loved how these parts of the story were randomly inserted into the story, it was almost as if they were thoughts creeping into Kelly’s mind, reminding her of who she was, who she’s become and maybe who she really wants to be. It also shows how easy it can be for people to become homeless but how difficult it can be to escape.
Certain sections of this book were quite traumatic to read and something that happens early on really impacted me as someone who knows and loves Glasgow. I actually had to put the book down for a while and I wondered whether it was a story I’d have to come back to another time. I decided to read on and as the story moves away from Glasgow and towards Galloway there was a physical and emotional shift in the book that brought some lighter moments in amongst the despair - not least when Kelly makes a friend along the way in the shape of the not-very-creatively-named Collie dog - Collieflower! Their relationship could almost be described as a love story and you get the feeling that they are saving each other along the way.
Paper Cup is certainly not an easy read, particularly when it comes to the experience of being homeless but it feels real and authentic. Campbell doesn’t shy away from writing about Kelly’s flaws and actions that can seem shocking at times but we also get to see a side of Kelly that has been broken by a lack of support and being perpetually disappointed by people who have ulterior motives in their supposed kindness. There’s a part in the story where a couple want to help her but she just can’t believe they are genuine and rejects their offer out of fear and suspicion, this part really stood out to me and if felt so sad that people can be so broken down that they can’t even allow themselves to have hope. It’s one of those stories that feels like it should be compulsory reading, to give people who have been unaffected by homelessness a reality check of what it’s like to live on the streets.
I really can’t recommend this book enough and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come.
June 26, 2022
How often do we get our first impressions of someone else through another? The start of this book introduces us to Kelly, homeless and living on the streets, through the eyes of the hen party that stumble across her.
We meet Kelly in chapter one, through other peoples eyes. But we get to truly know her story through every single page of the book.
It’s raw, honest, humbling and, at times, hilarious. The way that Karen writes will pull you right in so that by the final pages, you will feel as if you’ve walked every step of Kelly’s journey.
We meet Kelly in chapter one, through other peoples eyes. But we get to truly know her story through every single page of the book.
It’s raw, honest, humbling and, at times, hilarious. The way that Karen writes will pull you right in so that by the final pages, you will feel as if you’ve walked every step of Kelly’s journey.
May 8, 2023
“Safe in their hoose with their telly and their walls, they have no concept of a soul’s fragility. Nobody does, until they are made vulnerable themselves. Strip away your trappings, rip off your shell and let’s see how hard you are. When you beg, you have to think of everything. How you look, how you sit. Where you sit. In what manner do you hold out your hand? Cupped (greedy)? Outstretched (pathetic)?”
This book and the characters within it have stolen such a huge piece of my heart. Just like the book, I fell in love with Kelly more with each turn of the page. And that’s the point eh? If you actually strip everything away, actually give someone a chance, treat everyone with patience, kindness and understanding then who’s to say who you would learn to love. Who knows who is under the hard shell?
Kelly is homeless, living on the streets of Glasgow, having left her home town many moons ago and never looked back. However, with a twist of fate and a terrible accident Kelly finds herself making the journey south towards home. Along the way we meet people from very different walks of life… all of whom we judge on the initial meeting just in the same way we would judge Kelly. Some are lovely, kind people… some are the complete opposite. And one will steal your heart forever and will become a trusty companion.
I loved Papercup so much as it shows me someone outwith my lived experience. It shows how fast life can drag you down and how we are all just a fraction away from a circumstance that will take us down that path too. What happened to Kelly can happen to anyone..and underneath it all we are no different. This book highlights how society as a whole, but especially the processes that are put in place to help vulnerable people in society can and do fail. I love the way the book is set out so that we learn small parts of Kelly’s life and past as we go through.. and where at first we think she is a product of her own doing we learn there is so much more to the story.
Having books out there like these makes readers like you and I think deeply about our role in the lives of these people. This journey and the people we meet along the way show just how much one meeting can have an impact in someone else’s life (and likewise how they can impact your own life). We need more people like Kelly and Dexy in my opinion.
Kelly is a beautiful character and not one I will forget in a hurry. I will think of her always when I encounter any of our displaced people on our city streets.
This book and the characters within it have stolen such a huge piece of my heart. Just like the book, I fell in love with Kelly more with each turn of the page. And that’s the point eh? If you actually strip everything away, actually give someone a chance, treat everyone with patience, kindness and understanding then who’s to say who you would learn to love. Who knows who is under the hard shell?
Kelly is homeless, living on the streets of Glasgow, having left her home town many moons ago and never looked back. However, with a twist of fate and a terrible accident Kelly finds herself making the journey south towards home. Along the way we meet people from very different walks of life… all of whom we judge on the initial meeting just in the same way we would judge Kelly. Some are lovely, kind people… some are the complete opposite. And one will steal your heart forever and will become a trusty companion.
I loved Papercup so much as it shows me someone outwith my lived experience. It shows how fast life can drag you down and how we are all just a fraction away from a circumstance that will take us down that path too. What happened to Kelly can happen to anyone..and underneath it all we are no different. This book highlights how society as a whole, but especially the processes that are put in place to help vulnerable people in society can and do fail. I love the way the book is set out so that we learn small parts of Kelly’s life and past as we go through.. and where at first we think she is a product of her own doing we learn there is so much more to the story.
Having books out there like these makes readers like you and I think deeply about our role in the lives of these people. This journey and the people we meet along the way show just how much one meeting can have an impact in someone else’s life (and likewise how they can impact your own life). We need more people like Kelly and Dexy in my opinion.
Kelly is a beautiful character and not one I will forget in a hurry. I will think of her always when I encounter any of our displaced people on our city streets.
February 14, 2024
Moving story, and oh my goodness did I fall in love with cauliflower !
January 10, 2023
This really is a special little book. Kelly has had such a difficult life, everything she touches seems to go wrong, and the drink has its clutches in her every step of the way. She's such an endearing character, clever, strong, witty and unstoppable.
Kelly has been living on the streets of Glasgow and occasionally dropping into the outreach to see Dexy, her kind and supportive friend. When a drunk bride-to-be drops her engagement ring and Kelly finds it, she has to decide if she's ready to take a journey across the country and back in time to face her past and let her feelings in.
This story has so much heart and humour but it also deals with the topics of homelessness and alcoholism in a sensitive way and shines a light on the need for robust services provided by people like Dexy who really know the challenges from the inside. The way some of the characters treat Kelly is unfortunately all too common for people experiencing homelessness and having the last vestiges of their dignity torn away by people's cruelty. It's overall a very positive story of human decency and perseverance and even though it did feel a little disjointed in parts it was a lovely read.
Kelly has been living on the streets of Glasgow and occasionally dropping into the outreach to see Dexy, her kind and supportive friend. When a drunk bride-to-be drops her engagement ring and Kelly finds it, she has to decide if she's ready to take a journey across the country and back in time to face her past and let her feelings in.
This story has so much heart and humour but it also deals with the topics of homelessness and alcoholism in a sensitive way and shines a light on the need for robust services provided by people like Dexy who really know the challenges from the inside. The way some of the characters treat Kelly is unfortunately all too common for people experiencing homelessness and having the last vestiges of their dignity torn away by people's cruelty. It's overall a very positive story of human decency and perseverance and even though it did feel a little disjointed in parts it was a lovely read.
October 16, 2023
It just felt like a load of waffle for what was, essentially, a long walk.
March 19, 2023
Disturbing, heartbreaking and heartwarming exploration of how easy it is to fall between the cracks into homelessness, and our preconceptions of who homeless people are
and what it means to be homeless.
We are first introduced to Kelly through the eyes of a rowdy hen party, which leads to Kelly following a pilgrimage to return the bride's lost engagement ring. But will she be able to return to her hometown and face up to her actions.?
Along her journey we are shown the various challenges and characters she encounters daily, and gradually peel back the layers of how Kelly came to be in this situation.
and what it means to be homeless.
We are first introduced to Kelly through the eyes of a rowdy hen party, which leads to Kelly following a pilgrimage to return the bride's lost engagement ring. But will she be able to return to her hometown and face up to her actions.?
Along her journey we are shown the various challenges and characters she encounters daily, and gradually peel back the layers of how Kelly came to be in this situation.
September 3, 2023
Absolutely loved this book. Loved the main character Kelly. The way the author tackled the turmoil the character feels over alcohol was very powerful. Listened to the audio book which added to the read as the narrator is Scottish and made the read more authentic. Highly recommend!
March 1, 2024
One of the best audio narrations I've heard in a long time. Very moving and full of imagery and impact. Don't think I'd have got as much from reading it myself without the accents and Scottish colloquialisms.
June 25, 2022
Karen Campbell is an extraordinary storyteller. She has a deft touch leading you through the narrative with complete enjoyment. There is not a word out of place or a sentiment that is wrong.
This tale begins with a group of young women on a hen night. They are so drunk that the bride gives her engagement ring to Kelly, a homeless woman, who has been begging on the streets of George Square in Glasgow. They tell Kelly that Susan is getting married to Connor in Gatehouse of Fleet, in Dumfries and Galloway, in a few days’ time. The drunken hen party leave Kelly with the engagement ring.
A businessman passes Kelly eating a panini. Then a driver has a heart attack behind the wheel of a bus, which careens into the crowd in George Square, causing a scene that looks like Armageddon. The businessman appears to have lost his foot, and Kelly tries to look after him. An ambulance arrives and he is taken away. Kelly does not know what has happened to him. So, she decides to return the engagement ring to Susan, and sets off for Gatehouse of Fleet.
Kelly persuades Craig, a young and handsome lorry driver, whose girlfriend is pregnant, to give her a lift. He does this out of the kindness of his heart and delivers her to Portpatrick, where she sets off on her journey to Gatehouse of Fleet. Very soon she rescues a young collie from a brutal owner. So begins a picaresque journey across the south coast of Scotland. Think Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, with Kelly as the Don and Collieflower as Sancho. As in Cervantes, Collieflower has more sense than the hero/heroine.
Meanwhile, back in Glasgow, Kelly’s friends and a journalist, separately, set out to find her. As the book progresses, we learn that Kelly had a childhood companion, Mands, and that something terrible happened to her for which Kelly felt responsible.
That is enough of the plot. Now this is why you should read tis book. It is a joy. It is life-affirming. That is not to say that it does not deal with the darker aspects of life – addiction, homelessness and failed relationships, but it also deals with hope. It is like Pandora’s Box. As long as you have hope you can deal with and overcome the evils of this world.
I am not going to tell you what happens to Kelly. You must read the book for that.
This tale begins with a group of young women on a hen night. They are so drunk that the bride gives her engagement ring to Kelly, a homeless woman, who has been begging on the streets of George Square in Glasgow. They tell Kelly that Susan is getting married to Connor in Gatehouse of Fleet, in Dumfries and Galloway, in a few days’ time. The drunken hen party leave Kelly with the engagement ring.
A businessman passes Kelly eating a panini. Then a driver has a heart attack behind the wheel of a bus, which careens into the crowd in George Square, causing a scene that looks like Armageddon. The businessman appears to have lost his foot, and Kelly tries to look after him. An ambulance arrives and he is taken away. Kelly does not know what has happened to him. So, she decides to return the engagement ring to Susan, and sets off for Gatehouse of Fleet.
Kelly persuades Craig, a young and handsome lorry driver, whose girlfriend is pregnant, to give her a lift. He does this out of the kindness of his heart and delivers her to Portpatrick, where she sets off on her journey to Gatehouse of Fleet. Very soon she rescues a young collie from a brutal owner. So begins a picaresque journey across the south coast of Scotland. Think Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, with Kelly as the Don and Collieflower as Sancho. As in Cervantes, Collieflower has more sense than the hero/heroine.
Meanwhile, back in Glasgow, Kelly’s friends and a journalist, separately, set out to find her. As the book progresses, we learn that Kelly had a childhood companion, Mands, and that something terrible happened to her for which Kelly felt responsible.
That is enough of the plot. Now this is why you should read tis book. It is a joy. It is life-affirming. That is not to say that it does not deal with the darker aspects of life – addiction, homelessness and failed relationships, but it also deals with hope. It is like Pandora’s Box. As long as you have hope you can deal with and overcome the evils of this world.
I am not going to tell you what happens to Kelly. You must read the book for that.
July 26, 2023
For the majority of this, I was completely and utterly in love. I loved our flawed main character, the writing style and the contrast between bustling Glasgow and the small towns of Galloway (especially in the phonetic language, very clever)!
Being a dog lover, Collie of course won my heart, and I loved watching the bond between him and Kelly grow.
It didn’t quite reach 5 stars for me towards the end because of two things:
1. I didn’t like the fact that the story lines of other characters didn’t go anywhere. I felt like their stories had been cut short, and that what had been put in before seemed a bit unnecessary. They could have been told through other characters and not have whole chapters dedicated to them to then lead nowhere.
2. The attraction between Dex and Kelly came out of nothing and it really didn’t stick with me. It seemed very unnecessary again, there was no lead up whatsoever! It’s almost like Dex magically fell in love with her on the drive down 🤦🏼♀️
Pr product as part of the Canongate July readalong
Being a dog lover, Collie of course won my heart, and I loved watching the bond between him and Kelly grow.
It didn’t quite reach 5 stars for me towards the end because of two things:
1. I didn’t like the fact that the story lines of other characters didn’t go anywhere. I felt like their stories had been cut short, and that what had been put in before seemed a bit unnecessary. They could have been told through other characters and not have whole chapters dedicated to them to then lead nowhere.
2. The attraction between Dex and Kelly came out of nothing and it really didn’t stick with me. It seemed very unnecessary again, there was no lead up whatsoever! It’s almost like Dex magically fell in love with her on the drive down 🤦🏼♀️
Pr product as part of the Canongate July readalong
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2023
I read this in January as part of the Another Chapter Podcast readalong and struggled to get through it.
While I commend the author for shining a light on homelessness and centring the book on Kelly, a homeless woman with addiction and mental health issues, I found it agonisingly slow-paced and lacking in character development.
For most of the book, Kelly is on a pilgrimage to return a ring that a drunken bride-to-be misplaced on her hen night. This pilgrimage leads her on a trudge across Scotland, meeting a cast of characters (Collieflower the dog being the highlight) and ultimately her moment of redemption, where the reader finally finds out why Kelly is estranged from her family. There are some harrowing scenes along the way - one particular scene in a pub will be forever etched on my brain.
Many other readers in the group loved the book but it wasn’t for me unfortunately.
While I commend the author for shining a light on homelessness and centring the book on Kelly, a homeless woman with addiction and mental health issues, I found it agonisingly slow-paced and lacking in character development.
For most of the book, Kelly is on a pilgrimage to return a ring that a drunken bride-to-be misplaced on her hen night. This pilgrimage leads her on a trudge across Scotland, meeting a cast of characters (Collieflower the dog being the highlight) and ultimately her moment of redemption, where the reader finally finds out why Kelly is estranged from her family. There are some harrowing scenes along the way - one particular scene in a pub will be forever etched on my brain.
Many other readers in the group loved the book but it wasn’t for me unfortunately.
August 9, 2022
I really loved Karen Campbell’s gorgeous novel Paper Cup. Kelly, a seemingly down and out homeless alcoholic with no substance and a disturbing past is so much more than this and her true worth is revealed as the story builds. She is such a powerful character, I devoured every inch of her physical & emotional journey from Glasgow to Galloway, stopping off at various locations on a physical and metaphorical pilgrimage en-route. Kelly’s journey is full of adventure, trauma and some fun too but it is also a unique insight into Scotland and her political, historical & cultural nuances. Beautifully written book.
February 10, 2023
Forcing the reader to take a walk in someone else's street-living shoes.
4.5 stars
Atticus Finch said, “Never judge a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes." Well, with Kelly we are destined to walk a few more than that. And hitchhike. And sleep rough. And tiptoe back into her past at what brought her to living on the streets.
Clearly educated and bright, it's not obvious what's brought the now older homeless woman to be someone accepting pennies on Scotland's streets. But when a drunk bride-to-be accidentally gives Kelly her engagement ring as well as some coins, she determines to return the sparkler to its owner in time for the imminent wedding. In her home town.
While Kelly hitchhikes and walks around Scotland, a journalist is also seeking HER out, following a seeming act of bravery on the part of the Homeless Heroine. We see a very different Kelly from the one the media is portraying though.
Our 'heroine' is of course, human, She's made mistakes, she's got weaknesses, she's also got her own moral code and can exceed expectations. The 'quest' that takes us through not only Scotland and its residents (human and canine) but also through Kelly's past. Which at times is traumatic.
A voyage of self-discovery, the audiobook encapsulates the vulnerable and very human Kelly in a worldly-wise yet still likeable Scottish voice. It's third person but still works as an audiobook you feel connected to. Kelly's is the life we wouldn't want for our children, the one we often try and ignore when we see it, and it's upsetting to see behind the overcoat and dirt to the person underneath. The person.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.
4.5 stars
Atticus Finch said, “Never judge a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes." Well, with Kelly we are destined to walk a few more than that. And hitchhike. And sleep rough. And tiptoe back into her past at what brought her to living on the streets.
Clearly educated and bright, it's not obvious what's brought the now older homeless woman to be someone accepting pennies on Scotland's streets. But when a drunk bride-to-be accidentally gives Kelly her engagement ring as well as some coins, she determines to return the sparkler to its owner in time for the imminent wedding. In her home town.
While Kelly hitchhikes and walks around Scotland, a journalist is also seeking HER out, following a seeming act of bravery on the part of the Homeless Heroine. We see a very different Kelly from the one the media is portraying though.
Our 'heroine' is of course, human, She's made mistakes, she's got weaknesses, she's also got her own moral code and can exceed expectations. The 'quest' that takes us through not only Scotland and its residents (human and canine) but also through Kelly's past. Which at times is traumatic.
A voyage of self-discovery, the audiobook encapsulates the vulnerable and very human Kelly in a worldly-wise yet still likeable Scottish voice. It's third person but still works as an audiobook you feel connected to. Kelly's is the life we wouldn't want for our children, the one we often try and ignore when we see it, and it's upsetting to see behind the overcoat and dirt to the person underneath. The person.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.
April 29, 2023
3.5 (I think!) - definitely a book to think on for a while. My first Scottish Book Club read.
Really interesting book, it took me a while to get into the narrative properly. I thought the description and thread throughout the book of homelessness and the way the systems work was so well researched and written, and I know it's only a small insight into the world, but there must be an opportunity for us all to do better, especially those with influence in the systems and support available. I also felt challenged as the main character isn't exactly likeable- something I normally struggle with - but the portrayal of her inner struggles with alcoholism, relationships, pain was really well written and I did feel for her, even if and when she make decisions that didn't make sense or I wouldn't have been able to justify
I actually hadn't made the link until I was writing this review but I read This Must Be The Place by Karen Campbell last year on my dad's recommendation and loved it, set in and around Glasgow too, and I think I preferred the story and characters to this slightly - so would absolutely recommend if you liked and would want more of something similar but different
Really interesting book, it took me a while to get into the narrative properly. I thought the description and thread throughout the book of homelessness and the way the systems work was so well researched and written, and I know it's only a small insight into the world, but there must be an opportunity for us all to do better, especially those with influence in the systems and support available. I also felt challenged as the main character isn't exactly likeable- something I normally struggle with - but the portrayal of her inner struggles with alcoholism, relationships, pain was really well written and I did feel for her, even if and when she make decisions that didn't make sense or I wouldn't have been able to justify
I actually hadn't made the link until I was writing this review but I read This Must Be The Place by Karen Campbell last year on my dad's recommendation and loved it, set in and around Glasgow too, and I think I preferred the story and characters to this slightly - so would absolutely recommend if you liked and would want more of something similar but different
August 12, 2023
This book. Hands down the easiest 5 stars I’ve given this year. It was initially on my radar last year and I was meant to go to an author talk in my home town, however family circumstances meant I missed the event. I ordered the novel to collect at a bookshop as soon as it was published in paperback and I finally got round to reading it.
And WHAT A BOOK. Kelly is a wonderful character - completely flawed, has messed up her life and ducks and dives her way around Glasgow, keeping a tough exterior to survive on the streets. However, once I got to know this wonderful soft person and the circumstances which led her to living rough, I was absolutely rooting for her.
Kelly will stay in my head for a long time, and I think we can all learn lessons with her story. Let’s not judge so quickly, let’s humanise those who are struggling and let’s not just turn a blind eye.
Can’t recommend this book highly enough!
And WHAT A BOOK. Kelly is a wonderful character - completely flawed, has messed up her life and ducks and dives her way around Glasgow, keeping a tough exterior to survive on the streets. However, once I got to know this wonderful soft person and the circumstances which led her to living rough, I was absolutely rooting for her.
Kelly will stay in my head for a long time, and I think we can all learn lessons with her story. Let’s not judge so quickly, let’s humanise those who are struggling and let’s not just turn a blind eye.
Can’t recommend this book highly enough!
October 31, 2023
Outstanding!
If, like me you are trying to read more books set in Glasgow or just in Scotland then this is a must. I am late to the Karen Campbell party, but what a party to be at! I saw this book at Paisley Book Festival and it has been on the to-read list for quite some time.
The book is about Kelly a homeless woman living in Glasgow. I will admit, I was a bit confused in the first 30 or so pages as I wasn't used to the way it was written but stick with it I promise. This book is heart-wrenching, funny, uplifting and just a general roller coaster of emotions. I knew I wouldn't have been able to finish it on the train as I would have been a blubbering mess.
The book is so well-researched, well-written and very Scottish. The Glasgow dialect may alienate some readers.
Also, there is a dog! (Not a spoiler as there is a picture of a dog on the cover).
If, like me you are trying to read more books set in Glasgow or just in Scotland then this is a must. I am late to the Karen Campbell party, but what a party to be at! I saw this book at Paisley Book Festival and it has been on the to-read list for quite some time.
The book is about Kelly a homeless woman living in Glasgow. I will admit, I was a bit confused in the first 30 or so pages as I wasn't used to the way it was written but stick with it I promise. This book is heart-wrenching, funny, uplifting and just a general roller coaster of emotions. I knew I wouldn't have been able to finish it on the train as I would have been a blubbering mess.
The book is so well-researched, well-written and very Scottish. The Glasgow dialect may alienate some readers.
Also, there is a dog! (Not a spoiler as there is a picture of a dog on the cover).
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