Marg F

This would have to be the most irritating novel I have read in all of my 75 years and I have read many novels over that period. The author has the narrator, Lucy, telling readers a story. For some unknown reason the readers are considered to be lacking intelligence. There is a huge overuse of expressions involving the use of the verb 'to mean'. For example, on page 19: "I mean the way...."; "this is what I mean"; "I mean she was tall..." page 23: "is what I am saying." There are many more examples, too numerous to include here. Surely, decoding a novel is part of the pleasure to be derived from it. If the author thinks extra explanation is needed, then maybe a rewrite is required. Where was the editor? Marg F