THe Spare Room

I've read the touching novel The Spare Room by Helen Garner. A dying friend comes to stay and her hostess does her best to accommodate her and help her. Nicola, has travelled from Sydney to Melbourne to attend a "clinic" promising to eradicate her cancer and her friend Helen is torn between helping her and trying to convince Nicola that the "clinic" is a con and offers her only false hope through its dubious "procedures". The novel explores friendship and what is expected of a friend. Should Helen force Nicola to face the truth about her illness? This is beautifully written and makes the reader happy to see the bond of friendship, sad to see the tragedy of terminal illness and angry to see those that exploit these vulnerable people. It is a small book, easy to read and highly recommended. 4/5