THE PORCUPINES DILEMMA

',Like a condemned man, ageing focuses the mind. ', &ldquo,A wonderfully observed story about Irene who, in the twilight of her life, finds herself surrounded not only by her children and grandchildren but also by their personal crises and uncertainties. Mapstone&rsquo,s detailing of the tensions between Irene&rsquo,s failing body and her healthy recalcitrant mind which insists on maintaining her independence and her dignity, is one of the highlights of this absorbing read. A remarkably accomplished, wholly absorbing portrayal of family, the love and tensions that bind them, and ultimately, an old woman&rsquo,s gracious retreat from life. The Porcupine',s Dilemma is not only about ageing and dying, but also about life