PHILOMENA : A MOTHER, HER SON, AND A FIFTY-YEAR SEARCH
by Martin Sixsmith

When you read the FOREWORD of this book (written by Dame Judi Dench), you think you're going to be swept up by this extraordinary story. Nothing is further from the truth. The fact that the film was taken from the book is crazy. I don't believe that Dame Judi Dench even read it. If she had, she would have been stunned.
The title is a sham. Philomena barely appears; just a little bit in Part One and even less in Part Four.  Most of what is in between is about Michael Hess and the excruciating details of his homosexuality and politics ad nauseum. It's enough to make anyone uncomfortable.
The book is poorly written and reads like a trashy novel. There is very sloppy editing, missing words, and misplaced punctuation. Many times I felt as if I should stop reading the thing because it became repetitious and boring. The characters are just not interesting to even care about. There are many dialogues and conversations and it turns out that author Martin Sixsmith made them up. Is this book even true?
What I do know is that it was a total waste of time.
Not recommended.