Dianne Sangster
Author & Poet
Reviews of Flutter
Just fabulous
A close-up, beautiful, raw and joyful account of life as it is really lived, through feelings; delight, grief and, most of all, love. Dianne is a poet and artist and the writing is visual and beautiful. While telling of their life together, she allows Tony to trace his journey through his gambling addiction to recovery, and eye-opening story which spares nothing and ends with great positivity as Tony goes on to help other gamblers. I keenly felt Dianne’s innate love of people and her creativity in art, her nurturing of extended family and many friendships – and her devastating loss when Tony dies. And even then, there is beauty and hope. A truly moving book.
Frances Liardet, author of We Must Be Brave & Think Of Me
I can only say how much reading your book Flutter spoke to me
I can only say how much reading your book Flutter spoke to me. It sometimes brought me to tears. Pete was a fruit machine gambler, but the traits of lying and so on were just as prevalent. It’s written in a way that’s easy to read and will help people realize that gambling can be overcome by going to GA and Gam-Anon and that people can find a new life together with love.
Jill C, Gam-Anon member
A beautiful book
A beautiful book – evocative, poetic and deeply moving. By weaving the hard-won lessons of Gamblers Anonymous with intimate stories of her life with her beloved Tony, the author offers a resource that will help many.
This is a powerful tribute to love, resilience, and the challenging journey through problem gambling
Sandra Parker, PhD. Psychologist and author of Embracing Unrest
This book is a celebration of a beloved marriage
This book is a celebration of a beloved marriage as much as a glimpse into the life of a partner in danger of destroying himself and his family through his addiction to gambling. This is a highly readable and at times brutally honest account of marriage to a gambler. Dianne shares the darkest moments of her life with her husband as well as the life-affirming results of his recovery from addiction.
Highly recommended. The book, despite some of its subject matter, is a pleasure to read.
Alison Clink, author of The Man Who Didn’t Go to Newcastle
I have just read Flutter in one sitting
What a love story shines through the book and demonstrates how you can recover from co-dependency and a gambling addiction if you seek help, especially support from Gam-Anon and GA.
The mighty ripple effect will give hope to many who, like me, have lived with a compulsive gambler.
Teresa
This book is a must read for everyone
This book is a must read for everyone, not just those affected by gambling. It is moving, honest, a real heartfelt love story which will move you to tears, have you laughing and is thought provoking. Highly recommended.
Sarah Spencer Chapman, Registered Osteopath
I read Flutter in two sittings
I could hear the love and honesty in your voice on every page. Well done and thank you.
Bob
Flutter by Dianne Sangster was an excellent book
Flutter by Dianne Sangster was an excellent book very moving and thoughtful. It’s not just a portrayal of the conflict and tension of living with a secret gambler; it outlines everyday moments, triumphs, sadness, joys and in between. Highly recommend.
Eleanor Talbot
Fascinating
Style is light and easy to read.
Brian O'Reilly, Educator
Flutter is brilliant
A real page-turner, I couldn’t put it down. It’s well-written and gripping. I’m going to recommend it to my friends.
Rohan
Flutter is a memoir of a life well-lived
Flutter is a memoir of a life well-lived and a recovery journey that touched many hearts and minds. Dianne’s tribute to her husband Tony, Gamblers Anonymous and the twelve-step recovery programme beautifully showcases the energy and warmth that must have radiated from her husband during his many years of dedicated service to his fellowship. I hope this story of how Tony and Dianne recovered from co-dependency and gambling addiction finds its way into the hands of the people who need it most.
I am deeply touched to realise that by writing it, Dianne is enabling Tony’s legacy of service to his beloved fellowship to continue from beyond the grave. We twelve-steppers stand on the shoulders of giants who have gone before us, and we owe it to them to keep passing it on.
Flutter is a fitting tribute to the memory of Tony, the fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous and the power of the twelve-step programme. It is also an important piece of UK recovery history and especially the history of Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon which ought to be preserved for posterity. I am grateful to Dianne for her service in writing it.
Dr Samantha Duggan, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Twelve-Step Fellowships, and co-founder of Visible Recovery
I’ve just read Flutter in 24 hours
It was very well written by a natural writer. It was instantly accessible and drew me in. It was a privilege to share Dianne and Tony’s story, told with such honesty and vulnerability.
I was moved to tears at Tony’s suffering and last days – it triggered memories of my own losses of friends and family.
The author’s poems were lovely to read, and her lack of self-pity or victimhood is laudable.
Bridget
A gem of a book beautifully written
A gem of a book beautifully written by the wife of a compulsive gambler who saved him from a terrible addiction. A true love story with many tears and heartaches and laughter along the way.
Kay
This book is about one man’s addiction to gambling and how he overcame it
This book is about one man’s addiction to gambling and how he overcame it – but it’s about so much more, too. Tony is a gambler and before he knows it, he can’t settle his debts. He always hopes the next flutter will bring in the big win he needs – but of course, it never does.
Somehow, with Dianne’s help and the support of Gamblers Anonymous, Tony gets his addiction under control, turning his life around and helping others with the same problem. And then tragedy strikes. Dianne’s account is moving and frank, describing how the couple’s lack of money meant they were continually having to move from one rented property to another. Between them they were able to create a welcoming home for Tony’s daughters and the two sons Dianne and Tony had together, but it must have been a struggle. This is essentially the story of one couple’s relationship, their marriage and the events that tested their vows to the limit – in sickness and health.
Sad but not sentimental and definitely not self-pitying, this memoir brings Tony vividly to life. He was so much more than just a man who enjoyed a flutter!
Folk Fan
I found Flutter moving and life-affirming
Some scenes are conjured up so vividly – I almost felt I was there at Tony’s funeral. I’m so glad that was a really good celebration – I know how important that is.
I enjoyed reading about places familiar to me – like Barnes Wetland Centre which my mum used to visit, Kew where my friend works, Corrour where I’ve stayed at the YHA by the Loch, and Lymington where I lived for a couple of years. Your route to publishing makes it an achievement in keeping with the communities of support which Tony gave so much to. What a lovely book.
Nat