LoveReading Says
Retired nurse Dot is painfully lonely. A widow with no family, she spends her days creating stories of the people she observes-- but never talks to—and trying to extend her meagre budget. The only excitement in her life comes from her penchant for shoplifting, which she does at the local garden centre and Christmas shop.
Even with her thin budget, the one thing she does without fail every week is play the lottery. The six numbers she always plays come from significant moments in her life, which are explained in chapter flashbacks, and the seventh is left to chance.
Max, a young offender doing community service in Dot’s local park, is wearing a number seven football jersey for Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo. His seven becomes her final number. When she wins £1 million in the lottery but has no one to tell, she tracks down Max to share the news, and their unlikely friendship begins.
Despite the age difference, they realise they have more in common then would first appear. Max becomes her self-appointed “Bucket Master”—in charge of all the adventures she can now afford as a millionaire. The bucket list experiences range from the simple—building a snowman—to the speedy—driving race cars-- to the sublime—dancing in a flash mob.
Through these experiences, Dot broadens her world, while also helping Max find a path forward into the future. Charm oozes from every page, and will leave readers feeling happy and inspired.
Maureen Stapleton
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Bucket List Synopsis
Dot is a pensioner who lives her days alone. Max is a young offender doing community service. But a chance meeting in their local park will change everything for this unlikely pair. They soon find they share a wicked sense of humour and a penchant for petty crime.
When Dot wins the lottery, Max helps her make a bucket list of all the things she's always wanted to do but never had the chance. And Dot helps him turn his life around, opening his eyes to his own potential. From race cars and fun fairs to zombie films and random acts of kindness, the pair soon realise they've never been happier. Dot's astonished to find that her actions cause a ripple effect through the community – proving that it's not money that makes a difference, but people working together to make a change.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781846976544 |
| Publication date: |
4th July 2024 |
| Author: |
Russell Jones |
| Publisher: |
Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited an imprint of Birlinn General |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
256 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Modern and Contemporary Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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Russell Jones Press Reviews
'There is pathos and poverty, brutality, and a longing for connection that sings throughout this book. I could not put it down' -- Jane Yolen
'Rarely does one read a novel that so nourishes the soul and completely restores one's faith in the inherent goodness of mankind. Jones is an exceptional writer' -- Tendai Huchu, author of The Hairdresser of Harare
About Russell Jones
Russell Jones is an Edinburgh-based writer and editor. He was the UK’s first Pet Poet Laureate, has published six poetry collections, three fantasy novels, one graphic novel and has edited three writing anthologies. Russell was the deputy editor of Scotland’s only sci-fi magazine from 2015 to 2023, he organises literary cabaret nights in Edinburgh and has a PhD in Creative Writing.
More About Russell Jones
