A Desirable Residence
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Product Description
Review
"Wonderfully entertaining."
--"Daily Telegraph"
--"Daily Telegraph"
Book Description
An early bestseller from the fabulous author of the Shopaholic series
Inside This Book
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've recently enjoyed reading Madeleine Wickham's first book "The Tennis Party", but felt it lacked bite, but I was optimistic that this would change as she went on, and this, her second book, proved it. It largely concerns Jonathan and Liz Chambers who have decided to set up their own tutorial college, and have got themselves into an alarming state of debt in the process. Estate agent Marcus Witherstone, a middle-aged smoothie with some dubious business deals on the side, steps in to help them. Liz finds herself becoming smitten by his charms and the two embark on an affaire. Meanwhile her daughter, Alice, is having a bad case of teenage blues, and starts to spend more and more of her time with Piers and Ginny, the trendy London couple who move in to her parents old house. Piers is a good-looking but failed actor, and Alice inevitably gets a crush on him. Also in the mix is Marcus's wife, Anthea, an ambitious woman who has set frighteningly high standards for their two sons (Wickham writes very engagingly about the two little lads, and has a real understanding of children). This is one of those very rare books these days that I actually wished was longer. Liz's affair is very real and very sad, as we see this woman deluding herself that she's about to embark on a new and glamorous life. Wickham is branded as a light author (i.e presumably not serious and heavyweight like Anita Brookner for instance), and yet she writes about human relationships with a lot more insight and credibility than many so-called quality authors. A good read all round.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Those who enjoyed the over-the-top popular Shopaholic series will be delighted to find that Madeline Wickham (who wrote the Shopaholics as Sophie Kinsella) has returned with her trademark tart wit, unerring eye, and imagination to introduce us to Liz and Jonathan Chambers who find themselves thigh-high in debt thanks to two mortgages, sky rocketing bills and an unknowable, impossible young daughter, Alice.
Set in suburban London Liz and Jonathan see no way out of their financial troubles until Marcus, a realtor, appears (more than appears as he and Liz begin an affair). Marcus is a busy guy - he also suggests that Jonathan and Liz rent their unsold home to a couple from London, wonderful idea until the tenants arrive - Ginny and Piers Prestice.
Ginny is a glam gal with a PR job, and husband Piers is a wannabe actor who may or may not land a top spot on an upcoming soapie. Thus begins the merry mix-up (think a Noel Coward comedy of errors and characters). Surprisingly, Alice takes a liking to the Prentices; Anthea, Marcus's wife thinks Jonathan can do no wrong; Marcus regrets a past not-too-smart business deal There is an assortment of woes, enough for all and more.
If we're still thinking of a Noel Coward comedy, it's Act III and Ginny hosts a party on the eve of Piers's all-important audition. You're going to have to listen to hear the fireworks at this festive event.
Voice performer Kate Kellgren is the perfect performer to bring this cast of characters to life - she has perfect comic timing and a range that allows listeners to quickly and easily distinguish Liz from Ginny and Alice from Althea, etc.
Loads of wily Wickham fun! Enjoy.
- Gail Cooke
Set in suburban London Liz and Jonathan see no way out of their financial troubles until Marcus, a realtor, appears (more than appears as he and Liz begin an affair). Marcus is a busy guy - he also suggests that Jonathan and Liz rent their unsold home to a couple from London, wonderful idea until the tenants arrive - Ginny and Piers Prestice.
Ginny is a glam gal with a PR job, and husband Piers is a wannabe actor who may or may not land a top spot on an upcoming soapie. Thus begins the merry mix-up (think a Noel Coward comedy of errors and characters). Surprisingly, Alice takes a liking to the Prentices; Anthea, Marcus's wife thinks Jonathan can do no wrong; Marcus regrets a past not-too-smart business deal There is an assortment of woes, enough for all and more.
If we're still thinking of a Noel Coward comedy, it's Act III and Ginny hosts a party on the eve of Piers's all-important audition. You're going to have to listen to hear the fireworks at this festive event.
Voice performer Kate Kellgren is the perfect performer to bring this cast of characters to life - she has perfect comic timing and a range that allows listeners to quickly and easily distinguish Liz from Ginny and Alice from Althea, etc.
Loads of wily Wickham fun! Enjoy.
- Gail Cooke
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As an avid fan of Sophie Kinsella, I hoped that the books written as Madeleine Wickham would prove to be,if not as good, then at least a good read.
I read 'A Desirable Residence' and was not disappointed...so went on to buy the rest of the books by this author.
Madeleine had proved, time and time again that she understands how people 'tick' and can write a great story about the simplest of events.
All her books are well written, she has an enviable talent, and if they do not prove to be 'classics' they certainly do what they set out to do,they entertain the reader...every time!
I read 'A Desirable Residence' and was not disappointed...so went on to buy the rest of the books by this author.
Madeleine had proved, time and time again that she understands how people 'tick' and can write a great story about the simplest of events.
All her books are well written, she has an enviable talent, and if they do not prove to be 'classics' they certainly do what they set out to do,they entertain the reader...every time!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
snore !!
I tried I really did but this book did nothing for me, It didnt grip me from the start and I fell asleep twice when reading it.Sorry to slow and dull for me, It was not for me.
Published 22 days ago by karen
light hearted reading
I bought this book because I had read and enjoyed the shopaholic series and other novels by Sophie Kinsella so I thought I would try this one. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Gallagher
different style of writting
A more serious book to the usual sophie kinsella writting style. Good story line, similar to real life. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Little miss t
A really good read
I love Sophie Kinsella, she never lets me down with her view on life. I'm a real fan anyway so it didn't take much to convince me this would be a good read and I'm glad to say I... Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. D. Johnson
very disappointed
i am a huge fan of madeleine wickham but i was very disappointed when i read this book..i would not recommend this book, as i found it to be soo boring after a few chapters!
Published 4 months ago by Dee
Not great
I usually love Sophie Kinsella's books, but not this one. To me it felt like it finished very abruptly and with no resolution. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sarah
A Desirable Book?...
A Desirable Residence centres around Liz and Jonathan Chambers and their new business venture, a tutorial school. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Steph
Disappointed
As a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella/Madeleine Wickham this is the only book that has let me down. Not as 'gripping' or 'page turning' as the others.
Published 16 months ago by Zoe Fawcett
A desirable Residence
I didnt enjoy this book, I read The Wedding Girl and then this one straight after, but its not my type of book, I didnt finish the book.
Published 19 months ago by Lu
A Desirable Residence
I love Sophie Kinsella and when I realised she had written under another name I thought I've got to read them. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Karen Gooderham
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