Aphrodite's Workshop for Reluctant Lovers
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Review
'Wise, witty and wonderfully accurate about the state of modern love' --The Times
`Pure romantic comedy, but underlying it is same acerbity that made Shooting Butterflies and Guppies for Tea such an unexpected joy ... Mordantly witty, touching and perceptive, one of those rare books that consoles even as it tells us the truth about love' --Independent
`A delight; deftly told, light in tone, and both amusing and charming'
--Guardian
`Pure romantic comedy, but underlying it is same acerbity that made Shooting Butterflies and Guppies for Tea such an unexpected joy ... Mordantly witty, touching and perceptive, one of those rare books that consoles even as it tells us the truth about love' --Independent
`A delight; deftly told, light in tone, and both amusing and charming'
--Guardian
Review
'A sharp, funny and dazzlingly clever novel, so stuffed with wit and clever apercus that is not fair on other novelists. But, don't be misled by its exuberance, there is a serious purpose at its heart - and courage in tackling one of society's most enduring myths ' Elizabeth Buchan 'Her touch is light but acute, her tone easy but flecked with real, black sharpness' Observer 'Accurate and telling. Her avoidance of sentiment makes this reader feel that she really cares for her subject' Elizabeth Jane Howard
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Aphrodite's Workshop for Reluctant Lovers is the novel for you if you've just broken up with the love of your life, or celebrated 25 years plus of happy marriage, or just started a new relationship. The book's theme of love is a universal one and is treated with intelligence and respect while at the same time being a great read.
Rebecca Finch is an engaging and likeable heroine, a romance writer who no longer believes in love with a self destructive streak a mile wide that threatens to destabilise her life. I had a lot of sympathy for John Sterling and admired his open mindedness when meeting with his misnamed therapist Angie Bliss. I loved to hate Bliss, the clinical psychologist, treating both John and Rebecca; a ghastly, meddling character who behaves unprofessionally.
Life with Aphrodite and the Gods is like a modern day snapshot of life with the Walton's, cosy yet bizarre. Eros has a lot to answer for with his chaotic firing of arrows.
This is a wonderfully written, witty novel full of insight with a feel good factor that remains long after the book has been finished. I shall definitely be reading more novels by this author.
Rebecca Finch is an engaging and likeable heroine, a romance writer who no longer believes in love with a self destructive streak a mile wide that threatens to destabilise her life. I had a lot of sympathy for John Sterling and admired his open mindedness when meeting with his misnamed therapist Angie Bliss. I loved to hate Bliss, the clinical psychologist, treating both John and Rebecca; a ghastly, meddling character who behaves unprofessionally.
Life with Aphrodite and the Gods is like a modern day snapshot of life with the Walton's, cosy yet bizarre. Eros has a lot to answer for with his chaotic firing of arrows.
This is a wonderfully written, witty novel full of insight with a feel good factor that remains long after the book has been finished. I shall definitely be reading more novels by this author.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wasn't sure that this was the book for me, but it was a gift and so I gave it a try.
When I saw the prologue though I was a little worried. God on Mount Olympus overseeing the affairs of men. Was it cliché time?
"Life was getting tough for mother, otherwise known as Aphrodite, goddess of love. It was commonly thought that she was failing in her work and that love was being brought into disrepute. The inhabitants of Great Britain were of particular concern. The statistics were appalling, with one in three marriages ending in divorce and a growing number of children being brought up in single-parent families. so mother was freaking, blaming me, Eros, who quite frankly had enough to deal with, being just a kid and going through a difficult phase, not just because of the confusion over who my father was but also because of the rumours going around that I didn't actually exist, being a phenomenon, an idea, not a person at all."
No actually, it wasn't. The treatment felt fresh, with Aphrodite and son Eros caught up in the machinations of a family business dropping in and out of the story, observing and trying to steer events.
Rebecca Finch was the main cause of Aphrodite's problems. A romantic novelist who is having doubts about love - and when I met her soon to be ex boyfriend I understood why. I liked Rebecca, but she had an unfortunate tendency to say a little too much, to be a little too honest. And that had some rather unfortunate consequences.
So Aphrodite had to put things to rights. And she steered Rebecca towards a man she had crossed paths with years before. John Sterling. He wasn't an obvious romantic hero - a divorce lawyer, a divorced weekend father, a basically decent man who had made a few mistakes and probably needed a good friend to have a firm word and point him in the right direction. I did like him though.
Rebecca and John are both wonderfull believable, and their stories are told with warmth, wit and honesty. Along the way Marika Cobbold makes some wonderful observations about love, life and romantic fiction.
I have to say though that I could have done without Rebecca's reappearing childhood imaginary friend. Gods plus a great supporting cast were more than enough to fill out the story.
It was simple story, but well executed, and packed full of wonderful observations and striking moments.
And as a book it works very well
When I saw the prologue though I was a little worried. God on Mount Olympus overseeing the affairs of men. Was it cliché time?
"Life was getting tough for mother, otherwise known as Aphrodite, goddess of love. It was commonly thought that she was failing in her work and that love was being brought into disrepute. The inhabitants of Great Britain were of particular concern. The statistics were appalling, with one in three marriages ending in divorce and a growing number of children being brought up in single-parent families. so mother was freaking, blaming me, Eros, who quite frankly had enough to deal with, being just a kid and going through a difficult phase, not just because of the confusion over who my father was but also because of the rumours going around that I didn't actually exist, being a phenomenon, an idea, not a person at all."
No actually, it wasn't. The treatment felt fresh, with Aphrodite and son Eros caught up in the machinations of a family business dropping in and out of the story, observing and trying to steer events.
Rebecca Finch was the main cause of Aphrodite's problems. A romantic novelist who is having doubts about love - and when I met her soon to be ex boyfriend I understood why. I liked Rebecca, but she had an unfortunate tendency to say a little too much, to be a little too honest. And that had some rather unfortunate consequences.
So Aphrodite had to put things to rights. And she steered Rebecca towards a man she had crossed paths with years before. John Sterling. He wasn't an obvious romantic hero - a divorce lawyer, a divorced weekend father, a basically decent man who had made a few mistakes and probably needed a good friend to have a firm word and point him in the right direction. I did like him though.
Rebecca and John are both wonderfull believable, and their stories are told with warmth, wit and honesty. Along the way Marika Cobbold makes some wonderful observations about love, life and romantic fiction.
I have to say though that I could have done without Rebecca's reappearing childhood imaginary friend. Gods plus a great supporting cast were more than enough to fill out the story.
It was simple story, but well executed, and packed full of wonderful observations and striking moments.
And as a book it works very well
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As always Marika Cobbold has confected a story which makes you laugh and think at the same time. Tackling one of our greatest cultural preoccupations, she has her wicked and magical way in her cunning, clever and touching treatise on modern love.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Go back to the workshop
I really enjoyed Cobbald's earlier works, in particular Frozen Music but this novel was not Cobbald at her best. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Yvonne Moore
Very good indeed!
Some great characters in this novel - I'm torn to choose a favourite between Eros and Coco. I think the latter just has the edge - he made me smile often. Read more
Published 15 days ago by A Norfolk Broad
A refreshingly funny and original look at love
This story of mortals on the path to finding their true love, with a helping (or not so helpful) hand from the gods on Mount Olympus, is a joy to read. Read more
Published 7 months ago by sue
Maybe it's me...
I love Marika Cobbold's books. I've just finished Frozen Music and I loved it. I loved it so much I think it will make the list of my all time favourite books. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2010 by Mrs. J. L. Howard
Great fun
I am hooked by Marika's writing 'voice' and will now quite happily read anything she writes. This was a wondefully funny and thought-provoking exploration of the meaning of love,... Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2010 by P. Ashley
light weight compared to her other books
Marika Cobbold 's books have never been hard to grasp, challenging, intellectual stories and it is very well that it should be so as they are also very entertaining. Read more
Published on 20 May 2009 by H. Lacroix
The perfect present for a single female friend
I have many female friends who - as middle age approaches - have found themselves single and looking for a man. Read more
Published on 18 May 2009 by Poppy Hall
Send in the clowns . . .
Well one clown to be precise - Coco. He is Rebecca Finch's 'imaginary friend' who will insist on commenting on her life. Read more
Published on 17 April 2009 by Damaskcat
Witty and engaging, but I have a few reservations....send in the...
I have loved Marika Cobbold's work, ever since 'Guppies for Tea' and I've read everything she's written, 'Frozen Music' being my favourite, and her best novel, in my opinion. Read more
Published on 13 April 2009 by Goth lady
a joy to read
This delightful novel is about love in its various manifestations. Most whimsically, as a game of the gods. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2009 by Lady Dahrendorf
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