llioalun's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
r2drippy's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
always_need_more_books's review against another edition
5.0
Grandmothers is the story of three very different women and their relationships with the younger generation.
Nan is a well respected poet but writes under a pen name so no one knows her true identity. She has a brilliant relationship with her cheeky grandson Billy. They like to visit Kew Gardens together and she gives him great advice. Nan is quite keen to get things in order, he even helps her choose her coffin!
Glamorous Blanche is the grandmother of Kitty and Harry and as the story opens her son and daughter in law have forbidden her to see them as it came to light she had a glass of wine while looking after them. She is absolutely heart-broken and starts to self destruct, drinking heavily and shoplifting.
Minna is a retired teaching assistant who has a wonderful relationship with one of her ex-pupils Rose, and has become a surrogate grandmother. Rose loves to visit Minna in her shepherds hut, where they play with toys together and share their love of books.
I adored The Librarian at the beginning of this year and was very excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint. For one thing it really made me think about the role of grandparents in our lives. It took me back to when I was a child and I would visit my grandparents and help in the garden, play with my granddad’s train set or stick in stamps together!
This book covers a year in the life of these women. All three dote on their grandchildren and are all very different. Their paths overlap: Nan and Blanche meet when Nan spots her shoplifting and takes her for a cup of tea and Nan and Minna meet on a holiday in Weymouth when Billy and Rose also become friends. The relationships with their grandchildren was just wonderful – all different but all an equally important part of their lives. I found the children of Nan and Blanche didn’t come across at all well at all, often taking advantage of them. Blanche’s daughter in law was particularly awful – banning her from seeing her grandchildren but then demanding money from Blanche for school fees!
There is humour in Vickers’s writing: I especially liked the thought of Billy sitting in Nan’s coffin to watch TV! Grandmothers is a fantastic character study, unusually looking at the older generation who aren’t generally represented in literature. Vickers really gives life to her characters. I found this charming novel hugely enjoyable.
And if you are shallow like me, it is worth noting that the hardback edition is stunning with beautiful end papers and even a little ribbon bookmark! I have a paperback copy of The Librarian but will be upgrading to the hardback edition soon!
Nan is a well respected poet but writes under a pen name so no one knows her true identity. She has a brilliant relationship with her cheeky grandson Billy. They like to visit Kew Gardens together and she gives him great advice. Nan is quite keen to get things in order, he even helps her choose her coffin!
Glamorous Blanche is the grandmother of Kitty and Harry and as the story opens her son and daughter in law have forbidden her to see them as it came to light she had a glass of wine while looking after them. She is absolutely heart-broken and starts to self destruct, drinking heavily and shoplifting.
Minna is a retired teaching assistant who has a wonderful relationship with one of her ex-pupils Rose, and has become a surrogate grandmother. Rose loves to visit Minna in her shepherds hut, where they play with toys together and share their love of books.
I adored The Librarian at the beginning of this year and was very excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint. For one thing it really made me think about the role of grandparents in our lives. It took me back to when I was a child and I would visit my grandparents and help in the garden, play with my granddad’s train set or stick in stamps together!
This book covers a year in the life of these women. All three dote on their grandchildren and are all very different. Their paths overlap: Nan and Blanche meet when Nan spots her shoplifting and takes her for a cup of tea and Nan and Minna meet on a holiday in Weymouth when Billy and Rose also become friends. The relationships with their grandchildren was just wonderful – all different but all an equally important part of their lives. I found the children of Nan and Blanche didn’t come across at all well at all, often taking advantage of them. Blanche’s daughter in law was particularly awful – banning her from seeing her grandchildren but then demanding money from Blanche for school fees!
There is humour in Vickers’s writing: I especially liked the thought of Billy sitting in Nan’s coffin to watch TV! Grandmothers is a fantastic character study, unusually looking at the older generation who aren’t generally represented in literature. Vickers really gives life to her characters. I found this charming novel hugely enjoyable.
And if you are shallow like me, it is worth noting that the hardback edition is stunning with beautiful end papers and even a little ribbon bookmark! I have a paperback copy of The Librarian but will be upgrading to the hardback edition soon!
carolines's review
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ewc's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
100percent_ballerina's review
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
What happened at the end?!
This book has some lovely moments, and I enjoyed reading about the three very different women, although I wasn't always sure that I liked them. Although I sensed they would meet up in some way, it still came about fairly naturally. The children didn't always quite ring true to me - sometimes sounding either a lot older, or a lot younger, than they were. But it's a gentle read, with some moments of humour and some that are quite emotional. I wasn't sure I liked how much these 3 women's lives had been defined by men - even when they'd escaped those men (or been rejected) they were still an ever-present factor in their lives, or had been replaced by other sons or relations or male acquaintances. I felt the female friendships would have played a greater role, but that wasn't the focus for the story.
What frustrated me most, however, was the ending, which seemed to bundle along in a rush and a jumble before I was quite ready, and no clear answer as to what, exactly, had happened. I think I felt cheated. I'd invested in the lives of these women, and I'd expected just a little more clarity at the end.
With thanks to Net Galley.
This book has some lovely moments, and I enjoyed reading about the three very different women, although I wasn't always sure that I liked them. Although I sensed they would meet up in some way, it still came about fairly naturally. The children didn't always quite ring true to me - sometimes sounding either a lot older, or a lot younger, than they were. But it's a gentle read, with some moments of humour and some that are quite emotional. I wasn't sure I liked how much these 3 women's lives had been defined by men - even when they'd escaped those men (or been rejected) they were still an ever-present factor in their lives, or had been replaced by other sons or relations or male acquaintances. I felt the female friendships would have played a greater role, but that wasn't the focus for the story.
What frustrated me most, however, was the ending, which seemed to bundle along in a rush and a jumble before I was quite ready, and no clear answer as to what, exactly, had happened. I think I felt cheated. I'd invested in the lives of these women, and I'd expected just a little more clarity at the end.
With thanks to Net Galley.
chiaraco79's review against another edition
3.0
This book is the story of three women who are grandmothers or look after children and how the relationship with them and their children affects their life. The three women are very different and had led different lives, however they meet and create a bond.
I find the story interesting, because it explores an age that it is rarely found in books, but it is such a big part of our life. The three women have had (or not) a career, a family, a partner, and now need to find themselves again, to feel they are still individuals with their own interests and skill set, Sort of a second coming of age story.
The style is smooth, kept me interested. The characters are well described although I noticed there isn't almost any mention of health issues they might have, which makes it less realistic and misses the point a bit.
Overall a good book, well written, based on a good idea that couldn't have been explored more deeply.
I find the story interesting, because it explores an age that it is rarely found in books, but it is such a big part of our life. The three women have had (or not) a career, a family, a partner, and now need to find themselves again, to feel they are still individuals with their own interests and skill set, Sort of a second coming of age story.
The style is smooth, kept me interested. The characters are well described although I noticed there isn't almost any mention of health issues they might have, which makes it less realistic and misses the point a bit.
Overall a good book, well written, based on a good idea that couldn't have been explored more deeply.
_jasper_394's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.5
This book took me months to get through because it was so boring