A magical book by debut novelist, Sally Tissington where three generations of women s lives are dominated by a carousel in their back garden. This is not just any carousel the only horse is an injured, bloodied war horse, a model of a vulture rips up meat for its chicks under the shadow of the Gates of Death and there is even a giant crocodile with a hook through its mouth. The monstrous carousel contains a message, a reminder that life comes with suffering. This is a lesson the three women have learnt through the pain of illegitimacy, bullying and betrayal. The carousel will never let them forget that life is not about being happy but knowing that there will come a time when happiness ends. But can Amanda change her fate and find love or will someone have to suffer first? The ending will be worse than any of them ever imagined and it all started with a candle, gently floating down the river in a tin foil dish, outside a country pub.
Crocodile on the Carousel
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
About the Author
Sally Tissington is a Writer in Residence near her home in Leamington Spa. An accomplished artist, this is her first novel.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Evergreen
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great novel. Explodes off the page. Very well-written and dryly funny. Tells the powerful tale of Gran, enemy of all that is fluffy, and of those whose lives are misshaped by her unprocessed grief for a lost lover and child. She installs a carousel inspired by the Book of Job at the bottom of the garden whose purpose is to testify to the presence of pain in her world, a symbol that lets little escape its grim reach. In her anger, however, Gran holds this book together. She hugely vibrant, life-enhancing and glorious in her eccentricity. The book is narrated by her granddaughter Amanda as she attempts to work out her own life and disentangle it from her mother and grandmother's pasts, not an easy thing to do once the complexity of the plot becomes clear. Crocodile on the Carousel manages to be about both youth and experience at the same time and had me hooked from the start. Like all good books it creates its own world and I was sorry to leave it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By S. Breuer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A recent purchase through the new releases on Amazon, Crocodile on the Carousel was a page-turner from the word go. Author Sally Tissington has a fantastic turn of phrase, sometimes dark but always succinct in its delivery. Her characters are well formed and instantly accessible. I think we all know a Michael, a Susan and even Gran although sometimes we wish we didn't.
The plot line was ingenious with the carousel and the family dynamics of three generations of women - I had no idea where it would end but was pleasantly surprised when it was revealed.
It's been such a long time since I was this engrossed in a book. I found it a real joy to read and I look forward to reading more from the author.
The plot line was ingenious with the carousel and the family dynamics of three generations of women - I had no idea where it would end but was pleasantly surprised when it was revealed.
It's been such a long time since I was this engrossed in a book. I found it a real joy to read and I look forward to reading more from the author.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Anna
Format:Kindle Edition
I loved it. A beautifully written book with some intriguing and highly original characters; a plot that draws you in and keeps you hooked; a startling finish. There is no soft sentimentality in this book. I highly recommend it to anyone and can't wait for the next one!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Ess
Format:Hardcover
Sally Tissington's early efforts as a creative writer were mainly short, memorable pieces, notable for their unusual subject matter and innovative imagery. Her intriguing first novel, Crocodile on the Carousel, builds on those foundations. The writing here is still highly inventive, but there is also a detailed and fascinating storyline that keeps the reader involved and eager to know more.
As with all good tales, the opening is immediately engaging, and the narrator, Amanda, soon gains our attention and trust. The plot concerns three generations; however this book is unlike any other family saga I have ever read. Tissington's characters are decidedly quirky, and their behaviour is often outrageous; yet there is definitely a sense of authenticity in the descriptions (as other reviewers have already noted).
The crocodile in the title is just one of many awesome creatures on a huge carousel owned by Amanda's Gran. Its fellow travellers include a vulture, goats, a hawk, a lioness and `a monstrous, warped hippopotamus'. The carousel maker was inspired by `The Book of Job', consequently the question of suffering is at the very heart of the novel. This does not mean that the text is unutterably depressing; far from it. The `message' is leavened throughout with generous measures of humour.
Apart from the stimulating subject matter, careful craftsmanship, distinctive characters and evocative settings, I would like to comment on the quality and stunning appearance of this sturdy, well-bound volume. The cover is vivid, and the reason for the colour scheme becomes apparent as we read.
I warmly recommend Crocodile on the Carousel, and hope that Sally Tissington's writing reaches the wide readership it deserves. She has a genuine gift.
As with all good tales, the opening is immediately engaging, and the narrator, Amanda, soon gains our attention and trust. The plot concerns three generations; however this book is unlike any other family saga I have ever read. Tissington's characters are decidedly quirky, and their behaviour is often outrageous; yet there is definitely a sense of authenticity in the descriptions (as other reviewers have already noted).
The crocodile in the title is just one of many awesome creatures on a huge carousel owned by Amanda's Gran. Its fellow travellers include a vulture, goats, a hawk, a lioness and `a monstrous, warped hippopotamus'. The carousel maker was inspired by `The Book of Job', consequently the question of suffering is at the very heart of the novel. This does not mean that the text is unutterably depressing; far from it. The `message' is leavened throughout with generous measures of humour.
Apart from the stimulating subject matter, careful craftsmanship, distinctive characters and evocative settings, I would like to comment on the quality and stunning appearance of this sturdy, well-bound volume. The cover is vivid, and the reason for the colour scheme becomes apparent as we read.
I warmly recommend Crocodile on the Carousel, and hope that Sally Tissington's writing reaches the wide readership it deserves. She has a genuine gift.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Dog lover
Format:Hardcover
This is a remarkable book, beautifully written with believable characters. It's by a first-time novelist, Sally Tissington, and I look forward to reading what she writes in future. I bought it because of the striking cover and quirky title and it's now one of my all-time favourite books. It reminds me of Kate Atkinson's writing. I think we all know a Susan Rink and I loved seeing her played against Cath and get her claws into Amanda. Cath Furnish is one of the most interesting characters I've ever read - admirable and despicable at the same time!
The Furnish women lived in the shadow of a monstrous carousel, a parable reminding them never to trust in happiness. Amanda's mother had refused to believe its warning and escaped from her domineering mother, Cath to become the 'Happy Lady', determinedly showing strangers on TV that you really can be happy if you embrace it. But it's all an act, hiding her lonely childhood and betrayal.
Amanda is determined to find her own way in life, whilst learning from her grandmother's mistakes and teachings but she's bound to the past and the dire warnings promised by the carousel - can she escape and find love or will she be lucky enough to find her own way in life?
The Furnish women lived in the shadow of a monstrous carousel, a parable reminding them never to trust in happiness. Amanda's mother had refused to believe its warning and escaped from her domineering mother, Cath to become the 'Happy Lady', determinedly showing strangers on TV that you really can be happy if you embrace it. But it's all an act, hiding her lonely childhood and betrayal.
Amanda is determined to find her own way in life, whilst learning from her grandmother's mistakes and teachings but she's bound to the past and the dire warnings promised by the carousel - can she escape and find love or will she be lucky enough to find her own way in life?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is simply a super book. Sally Tissington tells the story of three generations of women with great originality and humour. Gran is a wonderfully unconventional character who plonks a terrifying carousel at the bottom of her garden to help her get over a devastating bereavement but are her strident beliefs smothering her granddaughter who dreams of white wedding cakes and finding love?
I read a great deal but I haven't read a book which has made me think so hard about the challenges of being a strong women in a conformist society, about grief and about acknowledging the past but not being broken by it. I hope I haven't made this sound dry and theoretical, though, because this is the last thing this novel is. The characters sing off the page and I felt shocked and genuinely cheated when I reached the final page and was ejected from this engaging world.
Buy it, read it, and tell all your friends!
I read a great deal but I haven't read a book which has made me think so hard about the challenges of being a strong women in a conformist society, about grief and about acknowledging the past but not being broken by it. I hope I haven't made this sound dry and theoretical, though, because this is the last thing this novel is. The characters sing off the page and I felt shocked and genuinely cheated when I reached the final page and was ejected from this engaging world.
Buy it, read it, and tell all your friends!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book club review
Sally Tissington's first novel was a quirky and inventive debut. It is an unorthodox story concerning three female generations of the Furnish family. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Potton book club
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magical and funny
As well as being magical and full of great surprises and twists and turns, Sally Tissington's novel is darkly funny. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Fran
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
