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A review by libbysbookshelf
A Taste of Honey, a Play by Shelagh Delaney
A TASTE OF HONEY by SHELAGH DELANEY
I read this short play because one of my tutees is studying it for his GCSEs.
Can I just say, this is brutal?! I kind of got Shuggie Bain vibes, only a little more lighthearted in its presentation i.e. there was a lot of comedy. But the subject matter; a single mother from a working class northern town who drinks a lot and leaves her child regularly, was exactly the same. The difference is the relationship between mother and daughter is not quite as tender; in fact, they tear into each other, thus creating the dark humour.
It’s a tricky one because I know this is a highly regarded play, but I didn’t enjoy reading it. It made me uncomfortable, which means I give a huge credit to the writer, but I can’t say I would want to spend time in this world. I can imagine it being a juicy play to analyse for GCSEs, though.
Overall I’d call it an impressive play that deals with themes of prejudice in the form of racism and homophobia, as well as mother daughter relationships and teenage pregnancy.
Have you read or seen this and what did you think?
#atasteofhoney #shelaghdelaney #book #play #drama #literature #gcseenglishliterature #gcseliterature #bookstagram #books #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookstagramcommunity #booklover #booklove #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookrecs #bookreviews #bookphotography
I read this short play because one of my tutees is studying it for his GCSEs.
Can I just say, this is brutal?! I kind of got Shuggie Bain vibes, only a little more lighthearted in its presentation i.e. there was a lot of comedy. But the subject matter; a single mother from a working class northern town who drinks a lot and leaves her child regularly, was exactly the same. The difference is the relationship between mother and daughter is not quite as tender; in fact, they tear into each other, thus creating the dark humour.
It’s a tricky one because I know this is a highly regarded play, but I didn’t enjoy reading it. It made me uncomfortable, which means I give a huge credit to the writer, but I can’t say I would want to spend time in this world. I can imagine it being a juicy play to analyse for GCSEs, though.
Overall I’d call it an impressive play that deals with themes of prejudice in the form of racism and homophobia, as well as mother daughter relationships and teenage pregnancy.
Have you read or seen this and what did you think?
#atasteofhoney #shelaghdelaney #book #play #drama #literature #gcseenglishliterature #gcseliterature #bookstagram #books #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookstagramcommunity #booklover #booklove #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookrecs #bookreviews #bookphotography