Kristen's review Oct 07, 13
4 of 5 stars bookshelves: first-reads
Read from October 03 to 07, 2013
I was fortunate enough to receive this charming novel as a part of the goodreads First Reads giveaways.
This novel, which takes place during a time period of roughly a week, provides us with a rather humorous (if it’s not you) take on what happened when one woman falls ill and her family is left to pick up the pieces. And things most certainly fall to pieces. One thing after another, after another happen right up until the very end where we get our resolution to the story arc.
Here are some of my favorite things about this novel:
•I simply adored the Englishness of this novel. The rather unique idiosyncrasies of British English snuck their way into this text and added an extra source of amusement. Add in a potentially unhealthy obsession
with Tea on Grant’s behalf and I was thoroughly charmed.
•In this case, the different layers of the text are revealed by different perspectives from the characters—Alex, businesswoman extraordinaire, at least until a mystery illness hits, Grant, the husband who tries to do it all and fails, her children, Emma, Jack, Aaron, or Alex’s parents, Dot and Charlie. I enjoyed that it allowed the reader to really experience the whole story and not just the one-sided narration that can sometimes occur in other single perspective books.
•I could feel Grant’s annoyance at Dot’s meddling—something I’m sure that a lot of people feel about their mother-in-law. Personally, I admire his will power to put up with her, and her good friend Evelyn who lives across the street, meddling in his life.
There is just simply so much action that takes place in a mere 325
pages and it makes this novel a worthy read. I feel that this would make a
great read curled up with a cup of coffee on a rainy Sunday afternoon, or tea. Whatever floats your boat.
See the review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/717733022
4 of 5 stars bookshelves: first-reads
Read from October 03 to 07, 2013
I was fortunate enough to receive this charming novel as a part of the goodreads First Reads giveaways.
This novel, which takes place during a time period of roughly a week, provides us with a rather humorous (if it’s not you) take on what happened when one woman falls ill and her family is left to pick up the pieces. And things most certainly fall to pieces. One thing after another, after another happen right up until the very end where we get our resolution to the story arc.
Here are some of my favorite things about this novel:
•I simply adored the Englishness of this novel. The rather unique idiosyncrasies of British English snuck their way into this text and added an extra source of amusement. Add in a potentially unhealthy obsession
with Tea on Grant’s behalf and I was thoroughly charmed.
•In this case, the different layers of the text are revealed by different perspectives from the characters—Alex, businesswoman extraordinaire, at least until a mystery illness hits, Grant, the husband who tries to do it all and fails, her children, Emma, Jack, Aaron, or Alex’s parents, Dot and Charlie. I enjoyed that it allowed the reader to really experience the whole story and not just the one-sided narration that can sometimes occur in other single perspective books.
•I could feel Grant’s annoyance at Dot’s meddling—something I’m sure that a lot of people feel about their mother-in-law. Personally, I admire his will power to put up with her, and her good friend Evelyn who lives across the street, meddling in his life.
There is just simply so much action that takes place in a mere 325
pages and it makes this novel a worthy read. I feel that this would make a
great read curled up with a cup of coffee on a rainy Sunday afternoon, or tea. Whatever floats your boat.
See the review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/717733022