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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Angela Fytton (éée Lister) is the perfect wife and mother. Involved and interested in her husband Ian's business, capable mother, utterly together housewife and--even after two children--demon, cellulite-free lover. So it's rather a shock to her system when she's dumped for the younger, determinedly helpless dentist Belinda (Binnie), who Ian meets when she trips over her stilettos in front of him at a conference.
But Angela is a very resourceful woman and she's determined to get Ian back. Abandoning her two standard-issue selfish teenagers Claire and Andrew to their father and "fluffy" new stepmother (or more accurately, vice versa), she quits West London for the pure, spiritual country delights of Somerset; as she explains to Ian, Claire and Andrew over dinner, "You know, ancient forces drawing me back to my roots and all that ...".
Here, she believes, the people are unspoiled, honest and steeped in tradition. Or so she thinks. What is it that Wanda and Dave-the-Bread next door have got to hide? What's elderly Dr Tichborne up to with his binoculars? Why doesn't Sammy the pigman bother to wear his false teeth? And is the new young vicar really screened by the shrubs when he exercises starkers in the vicarage garden?
From Mavis Cheek, prize-winning author of Pause Between Acts, Janice Gets Sexy and Three Men on a Plane, a laugh-out-loud tale of self-discovery, women's history (check out the epigraphs at the start of each chapter), the comforts of tradition and joys of progress--and the benefits of getting it wrong. Just occasionally. --Lisa Gee --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Angela Fytton (née Lister) is the perfect wife and mother. Involved and interested in her husband Ian's business, capable mother, utterly together housewife and--even after two children--demon, cellulite-free lover. So it's rather a shock to her system when she's dumped for the younger, determinedly helpless dentist Belinda (Binnie), who Ian meets when she trips over her stilettos in front of him at a conference.
But Angela is a very resourceful woman and she's determined to get Ian back. Abandoning her two standard-issue selfish teenagers Claire and Andrew to their father and "fluffy" new stepmother (or more accurately, vice versa), she quits West London for the pure, spiritual country delights of Somerset; as she explains to Ian, Claire and Andrew over dinner, "You know, ancient forces drawing me back to my roots and all that ..."."
Here, she believes, the people are unspoiled, honest and steeped in tradition. Or so she thinks. What is it that Wanda and Dave-the-Bread next door have got to hide? What's elderly Dr. Tichborne up to with his binoculars? Why doesn't Sammy the pigman bother to wear his false teeth? And is the new young vicar really screened by the shrubs when he exercises starkers in the vicarage garden?
From Mavis Cheek, prize-winning author of Pause Between Acts, Janice Gets Sexy and Three Men on a Plane, a laugh-out-loud tale of self-discovery, women's history (check out the epigraphs at the start of each chapter), the comforts of tradition and joys of progress--and the benefits of getting it wrong. Just occasionally.Lisa Gee --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book perfectly shares the experience of living in a country village. The shock of a dramatic change in life circumstances, followed by self - imposed exile in order to ostracize demons and restore self - esteem is beautifully and amusingly recounted. The descriptions of country people - in cases caricatures of the way we idealise the countryside and its inhabitants - are hilarious and yet very poignant. I found that I could not put this book down, and it explained some of the goings on in my roof space too! Some country recipes sounded gorgeous, while others were definitely not to be tested. The reality of a country existence during hardship was only too realistically conveyed. Yet, the ideal of a country idyll was created and inspired. I know now why I too live in a rural environment - despite the rain! A wonderful book, that is a must on any readers list.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Nice book. You find out that things are not always what they appear and every one of us, no matter who we are learn that lesson at one time or another.
This book has a few extremely funny bits mixed in with deeper and darker truths about what we see and how we preceive it.
The quotes that preface each chapter give you a hint of what may or may not happen in a cryptic fashion that keep you guessing but not too much. The writing style is easy to follow and you actually feel like you are living in Church Ale House in the County Somerset.
This book is an excellent read and I am very eager to read more books by Mavis Cheek.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a wonderful book especially if you are a little tired of the pat solutions in other light women's books. Her style reminds me a little of Katie Fforde. I took it on holiday and devoured it in a sitting - get it for a funny,different take on the 'Superwoman grows up' theme.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gave up after 35 pages
When you start flicking pages and you're only on page 35, it's a bad sign.
I had forgotten that I'd reviewed another Cheek book until I logged on here to review this... Read more
I had forgotten that I'd reviewed another Cheek book until I logged on here to review this... Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2009 by Anna
THE BAD LIFE TURNED GOOD!
Mavis Cheek shows us once again why she is our funniest and one of our most thought provoking women writers - the realities of country life behind the picture book facade are... Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2007 by M. Drake
enjoyable
I did think this book was enjoyable but it didn't sparkle enough for me. There are other more cleverly constructed books out there. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2007 by Wendy Johnston
Disappointing.............
I'm halfway through this book and quite frankly I'm struggling with it. The only thing that is keeping me going is the fact that I hate not finishing a book and also... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2006
Why doesn't this author do her research properly?
This was the second Mavis Cheek I'd read. The first (Patrick Parkers Progress) was ok - I read it because it was on the list for my book group - rather implausible but OK apart... Read more
Published on 31 July 2005
The dumped wife hits back again!
I enjoyed this tale of a dumped wife reacting positively to one of life's unfairest blows, and winning, more or less. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2004 by Russell Telfer
Country Life expained at its best
Well I have to say that I have now read this book twice, and each time I've read it I've belly laughed myself through to the next chapter. Read more
Published on 18 July 2003
Best post-feminist laugh I've had for ages!
The storyline of a woman losing her husband to a younger woman in her mid-40s is nothing new. However, her experiences while trying to get her husband back are a laugh a minute. Read more
Published on 5 May 2001
Country Life?
Ok, so you can all see where I'm from, and I must say that I didn't recognise Somerset at all in this novel, so for me the satire didn't work at all, and the geographical... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2001
Intelligent, quirky, unpredictable - and a fabulous ending!
Laid up in bed after a c-section - nothing can really take your mind of a the demands of a new baby and major surgery - until Mavis Cheek! Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2001
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