What book is this?

[Nerf]

Read it some years ago, by a 'good' author name began with M maybe. Woman retires and is given a diary as a leaving present which scuppers her plans to kill herself. Then she starts filling it and making herself do what she has written?

Mabel? Don't think Muriel spark. Might be the same person who wrote an old woman and her cat?

Oooh I've read that!!!! But years ago and no recollection of author. Watching with interest.

Doris Lessing?

She wrote the cat one.

The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing?

I haven't read it but I'm googling plots

I don't think it is this but May Sarton wrote about an older woman with plans to kill herself. As we are now, it's called. But sounds gloomier than the one you mention.

OOOh thank you - I don't think its the golden notebook, because my mum was with me when I was thinking out loud and she mentioned that in a 'its not this' way! Someone 'good' like Muriel Sparks or Doris Lessing though. Dizzy - think! think!

A Five Year Sentence by Bernice Rubens!!!!!

None of these are ringing a bell- I rang my mum because it seemed like the kind of thing she would know and she suggested Doris Lessing too but googling the plots isn't coming up with anything

My one is Bernice Rubens. But I know I read something by a really good 'm' author and can't remember it!

The book you're talking about is definitely "5 Year Sentence". I used to read a lot of Bernice Reubens, and loved that one.

Thank you!

That's the one!!!! Thank you