"When John Thaw, the star of The Sweeney, Inspector Morse and Goodnight Mister Tom, died in 2002, a nation lost one of its finest actors. Sheila Hancock lost a belowed husband. In thisunique double biography she chronicles their lives - personal and professional, together and apart, growing up and growing older. Written with honesty, wit and intelligence, The Two of Us is a remarkable book; a biography of a born actor and the complex man behind the roles; a portrait of a passionate marriage that weathered drink, separation and cancer; a raw, heartbreaking and sometimes bleakly humorous diary of life after bereavement and, above all, a wonderfully vivid evocation of two lives lived to the utmost."

I really enjoyed this book, their personal and professional lives and Sheila's emotional journey makes for very interesting reading. Such huge emotions that some of us just never really feel and what an interesting and full life they have both experienced together and apart, sometimes difficult but never dull.

Decided that I'd like to share this book with some more bookcrossers so have offered it up on my first bookring:-

1. molekilby
2. Inver
3. LindyB28 - UK only
3. BabyFlylady

Received today. Thanks Tuftynut. This is a book on my wishlist that I can now cross off. Will start reading this week.

I found this book quite remarkable. Although I admire the work of Sheila Hacock I hadn't quite realised how witty (either in praise or a put down) she could be. The little pictures of her life with John Thaw, give a well rounded appraisal of the situation, not just (and sometimes not even) a list of what work they both did.

The fact that diary entries intersperse the main text means that the book has in effect two strands. This, I felt, was a great way of expressing the situation without having to have a 'difficult' to itself. It's quite obvious the love and devotion that both felt for each other.

Thanks Tuftynut for sharing. I shall ask for the address of the next person and send on early next week.

Arrived today. Thanks for the postcard Jase. Sorry about the delay of sending it on due to me going on holiday. It is next on the list for bookring reading. Will get to it soon.

26/8/06.....am about 3/4 way through this.

Awaiting address from LindyB28.

Enjoyed this very honest and moving account of both their lives. Was very touched as to how they both struggled through life, but got the help they needed at the right time. Unfortunately they couldn't reap the benefits of all this later in life. The diary entries written were very personal to them both but definitely added something to it all.

Thank you Tuftynut for sharing this book with us.

Posted on to 'LindyB28' 28/08/06

Thanks for sending this on. I'm looking forward to reading it, having heard some of the serialisation on Radio 4 last year.

After listening to the Radio 4 serialisation, I thought I wanted to read this, but I've held onto it for too long now without rushing to pick it up and read it, which I guess means that it isn't for me. Sorry for disrupting the ring, but I'll post it onto Babyflylady asap.

Was waiting for me when I got home today. I have a couple in front of this but will get to it as soon as possible, as we are on holiday next week!! Hurray!

Thanks for sharing Tuftynut.

RELEASE NOTES:

On it's homeward journey. Sorry for keeping it so long and thanks for sharing.

Back home again, thank you - glad those who managed to read it enjoyed it.

In the Function Room by the cafe