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Life, Death and Vanilla Slices [Paperback]

Jenny Eclair (Author)

4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (139 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Publication Date: 5 July 2012

Poor Jean Collins.

She stepped out into the road without looking and now lies broken in hospital. But what distracted her? And why was she carrying a box of vanilla slices, the cream cakes she only ever bought for special occasions? Jean's daughter Anne travels back up north to find out. But her mind is on her teenage sons in London - boys on the brink of becoming not very nice men. What damage could they do in just a few days? (Quite a lot, probably.)

Meanwhile there are secrets waiting for Anne and Jean, back at the old family home. Secrets that were buried a long time ago . . .

Jenny Eclair is celebrated for her unflinching black humour and brilliantly sharp observations. In her extraordinary new novel, she has also created a compelling and heart-breaking family drama that feels as rich and honest as real life.

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Poor Jean Collins.

Meanwhile there are secrets waiting for Anne and Jean, back at the old family home. Secrets that were buried a long time ago . . .

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Product details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Sphere (5 July 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1847444938
ISBN-13: 978-1847444936
Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 2.6 x 24.5 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (139 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 16,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

Very dark and very funny. I had it glued to my face until I'd finished it (Jo Brand )

Of course it's funny, but it's also dark, honest and totally compulsive reading (Jenny Colgan )

Utterly compelling, brave, angry and melancholy all at once. It is brutal about the female experience, but also beautifully observed about the subtle complexities of being a woman. I thought Jean was an amazing character - and it is testament to Jenny's skill as a writer that despite some awful behaviour, the reader never actually loses sympathy for her. Most of all, it's just a great, honest piece of writing. I want to read her others now (Jojo Moyes )

Book Description

* Brilliant black comedy from the ultimate Grumpy Old Woman!

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars

4.7 out of 5 stars

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Life death and vanilla slices. 10 July 2012

By Pammy

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having raved over Camberwell beauty and Having a lovely time,I have regularly searched for,yet lamented, that Jenny Eclair had decided to write no more novels. It was sheer delight to stumble across this little gem! In my opinion it is even better than the others. The characters are instantly alive from the opening chapters. The story line is powerful. It interweaves characters and lives,both past and present. Hilarious,with witty,succinct descriptions yet equally poignant. As we get to know these people better,we are able to understand them the more and forgive them their transgressions.

My Sister and I are completely hooked on Jenny Eclair and we have long chats about her books. I think this Novel will take readers by storm.
Please do not leave it so long for the next one and furthermore can we have her other works in Kindle format?
Read it,review it,and put on the pressure if like us you are amazed by such talent!

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book, laughed and cried 20 July 2012

By Suzi A

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Have greatly enjoyed Jenny's previous books and the new one doesn't disappoint.

A real page turner, I couldn't put it down, but did't want to finish it either. There was total realism in the unfolding stories of Anne and Jean, and unlike many books, here was one where you really cared about the characters and what happened to them.

Jenny's style is so natural, her narrative so beautifully crafted, that she is a total joy to read.

a definite five star book. Please give us more !

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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Staggered 5 July 2012

By Mr. B. Hargreaves

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Bought for me - fantastic surprise - a reall book not chic lit - real themes - sad funny tragic- laughed cried and thought. Really original and entertaining and massively shocking at end. Her writing is far more erudite and considered than stage persona. Better and more literate than previous books. Great story and involving characters. Super stuff !

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Flippin' marvellous!! 9 Sep 2012

By Sayithowitis

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Pitching straight into the horrors of being a middle aged woman with uncanny accuracy, Jenny Eclair's novel had me hooked from the first page. Each chapter, revealed more and more detail about the main characters. There was so much packed into the novel - I loved the way that I was taken back to the 1960s, Jean's early married life and how attitudes to women and women's attitudes and expectations were seen to shift over time. Some dark connections between mothers, sisters and daughters - as well as with husbands and sons - were brilliantly explored. The detail, humour and great storytelling kept me reading into the wee small hours. Thanks to this book, I am going to making some changes re the teenage son. A flippin' marvellous book!

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a read 21 July 2012

By Spencey

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Heard about this book on the Graham Norton radio show when Jenny Eclair was a guest. Couldn't put it down once I started. Not an over complexed story but one of those stories that you have to get to the end of and what a twist at the end - realy enjoye it. But god help any mums out there who have boys like Anne's.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Acute Observations 18 Aug 2012

By Highly-Strung

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I devoured this book over two nights. It was totally amazing. Jenny has once again shown she has a real talent for fiction. Her acute observations of fraught family relationships, class differences and Middle Class anxieties combine beautifully with a compelling plot, deft characterisation and pathos mixed with laugh out loud funny one liners. More fiction please, Jenny. Her knack of getting her characters to voice what people fearfully leave unsaid is exceptional and shows a woman who's observational skills are immense. This book is a gem.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book, do not miss it 30 July 2012

By Lynne p

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this ,I just could not put it down. I can't wait to read more of Jenny's books. The characters feel real and there are so many things to make you laugh and cry especially if you are of a similar age to Anne....

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read 25 July 2012

By Gilly

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this book very much, and would say that has everything in it that you could wish for, i didnt know Jenny wrote novels, but i wish she would write some more!
Very very true to a lot of womens lives,i think thats where she has scored a hit myself.
It was dark, funny, and sad in places.
Waiting for another one now!

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› See all 139 customer reviews (newest first) on Amazon.co.uk

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› Go to Amazon.com to see all 6 reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great holiday read

Loved loved this book. A touching tale of mother daughter relationships, full of humour, trauma, life and laughs. Read more

Published 14 days ago by sarah young

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant

A well written, touching story about real life mixed with a touch of Jenny's humour and observations of real life. I would definitely reccomend reading.

Published 19 days ago by Pauline

3.0 out of 5 stars Bit disappointing

I think I was expecting a lot more from Jenny Eclair as I find her humour very funny. An enjoyable light read

Published 21 days ago by ZBL

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing much happens but you are gripped throughout!

Another brilliant book by Jenny Éclair, and I hope she's already onto the next one as I can't wait to read more! Read more

Published 28 days ago by Mrs. Karen Anderson

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent as Usual

So very dark and so well observed. Jenny Eclair is such a good story teller; every line is well crafted to the extent that I read passages over and over again. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Catskicakes

3.0 out of 5 stars Book Club choice

I wouldn't have read this, but that it was a book club read. It was ok, quite moving in places, funny in others. But I wasn't blown away by it. An easy read, pleasant enough.

Published 1 month ago by carolintheforest

4.0 out of 5 stars So well written

This book was recommended and I've really liked it although it is incredibly sad at times. Need a happy book to read now.

Published 1 month ago by Debfoster

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh so funny, with a tear too

Well done Jenny, i loved the way the story panned out, it was humorous with a tad of sadness too , nice twist

Published 1 month ago by Ms. S. E. Warmley

5.0 out of 5 stars Different

Different, a good read, sad, believable, life with all its twists and turns, could be any of us, makes you wonder!!

Published 1 month ago by Barbara Darby

4.0 out of 5 stars engaging characters

Good depiction of characters and interesting story told from past and present viewpoints. Humour made up for the times when I lost patience with the main character!

Published 1 month ago by HELEN DAVIES

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