Gym And Slimline was the debut novel by author and journalist Emma Burstall published in 2008 by Preface Publishing.
If your idea of hell is sweating over a piece of gym equipment that someone else has previously sweated over, then don't worry! The sporty theme of this novel is pushed to the background as the main themes of Gym and Slimline appear to be romantic relationships and girly friendships. Think Sex and the City but with gym gear rather than cocktails! Those of you who love reading novels with a very evident theme of friendship centered around a close-knit group of friends will love Gym and Slimline because that's exactly what you'll find here.
PLOTLINE
When a new gym called Gym and Slimline opens up in South-West London, four women decide to join in a bid to get into shape and make new friends. Four years later, they are now good friends and still active gym members. But it's not just their waistlines they are struggling to maintain - and it's not long before a host of secrets and lies come bubbling to the surface...
AND IT GOES LIKE THIS!
The health and fitness element is actually secondary to the trials and tribulations experienced by the female characters in the novel: the lady with the hard-to-pronounce name, Persephone is distraught to realise that her marriage is on the rocks, leading to a not-so-harmless flirtation and a secret addiction; former ballerina Carmen is desperate to become a mum especially as she's pushing forty - but is her commitment-phobe boyfriend really father material? Stunning Patrice is eager to add to her family but hasn't been intimate with her controlling husband, Jonty, for years. The only lucky one is career woman Suzanne who manages to juggle motherhood with a high-powered job and she's managed to bag a sexy, young husband - but is her wonderful life all it seems..?
WHAT WE THOUGHT...
This book was enjoyable from beginning to end and you'll feel sorry once you've finished reading it (so read slower!) There were moments where you'll laugh out loud; feel anxious for the characters, and feel the tugging of heartstrings. As well as friendships, relationships, and health and fitness, there was also a theme of forgiveness that runs throughout the novel. A very dramatic and life-changing episode occurs in the middle of the novel which puts a huge strain on the women's friendships: it divides two of the women drastically and pulls the other two in different directions. If you're good at reading between the lines, then you'll already have an inkling at the shock twist that occurs which creates the tension among the group. But even when the secret is revealed and the people involved are exposed, it still hits you like a roller-coaster. It was an original idea and very cleverly written.
Going back to the friendship theme, the strength of the women's friendship that was illustrated in the novel is heartwarming - in fact you almost feel as if they're your friends and feel quite protective of them. You'll hate the way Carmen's ex, Simon, tries to worm his way back into her life when it suits him, or how Jonty controls Patrice's every move. Personally, we think she should have dumped him just for being called Jonty! But worst of all was Persephone's - or Percy as she is known as by her friends - predicament. A sweet, dependable lady who's always trying to help other people, she cannot solve her own issues and you really feel for Percy when she becomes deeply entangled in her addiction. There will be times you want to scream at her to stop , so word of warning... don't read Gym and Slimline while using public transport!
A fantastic read - which would definitely make a good TV series.
THE RECIPE GOES A LITTLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS!
FRUITY BREAKFAST OAT SMOOTHIE
To tie in with the gym-theme of Gym and Slimline, we thought we'd come up with a healthy smoothie that you can sip while you're reading; have for breakfast... or enjoy post-workout!
You can use whatever fruit you like, and use your favourite plant-based milk and yogurt instead of the dairy versions if you wish. You can always add more/less yogurt/milk depending on how thick you like your smoothie to be. It also works well as the base for a smoothie bowl.
Although not essential, you could soak the oats and chia seeds in some milk and leave overnight until you're ready to use it the next morning, if you prefer a less coarse texture.
Ingredients
1 cup of oatmeal
2 cups milk
1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
1 small banana
1-2 cups of fruit of your choice
Maple syrup/honey to taste (optional)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
This is how we do it!
1. Throw all ingredients into a blender.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Serve immediately.
Enjoy - the book and the smoothie!
Word cloud by Angel Noire
Sounds like a very intriguing novel. And the smoothie recipe sounds delicious.