Vinegar Street

by Philip Ridley, Philip Ridley; Stephen Lee

...here--on Vinegar Street--nothing about Poppy alarms anyone. No one bats an eyelid at her ankle-length black dress (decorated with a pattern of white skulls) or her long silk gloves (black, naturally)or her hair (very long, very straight and very black). And as for her shoes (the clumpiest, highest and--you've guessed it!--blackest platforms you've ever seen) ... well, amongst the rubble and weeds of Vinegar Street, Poppy fits in just fine.

Vinegar Street is no ordinary street and Poppy Picklesticks is certainly no ordinary girl, but the two complement each other perfectly. So when Mandy Nylon--all blonde hair, perfect make-up, neon-white teeth, look-at-my-curves dresses and a backside that wiggles so hard you could attach cocktail shakers to it--moves into the street, Poppy's world is rocked. Everyone is charmed by the newcomer but Poppy and the tingling voice inside her head are pretty sure that there is more to this woman than meets the eye and a battle of wills that leaves the reader pretty breathless ensues.

Philip Ridley certainly has a way with words and in Vinegar Street he lets rip with a barrage of snappy dialogue and crafty prose that runs like a river of poetry across the pages and into the imagination. Older readers will simply love the sharp and snappy humour, and the tight characterization that drives the unusual and intrepid plot as it races towards its conclusion.

A dream of a book for readers like their fiction with a twist, Vinegar Street is a confident and unforgettable story that lets the imagination fly. Age 11 and over. --Susan Harrison

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite childhood book and the only one I made sure to keep hold of.

The story follows the gothic Poppy Picklesticks, living on the rickety, broken and tattered 'Vinegar Street' with the wackiest bunch of family characters. Tingle Voice is a mysterious voice inside of Poppy that talks to her and one day senses danger when the nasty Mandy Nylon pulls up next door and announces herself as her new neighbour. Mandy has everyone under her 'charm' and wants to change the neighbourhood into a generic, bland landscape. What all the neighbours don't know is Mandy has a secret, and Poppy has to reveal it in order to get everyone to realise the truth about Mandy Nylon. Will Poppy have success or will she have to move out of the one home and neighbourhood she's ever lived in and loved.

This is a wonderfully, zany, fast-paced children's book that has the most captivating writing style with action on every page. It's a magic-filled wonderland with a fantastic characters who stick with you. I recommend everyone to read it!

[Valentina]

Difficile valutare un libro del genere. Quando lo lessi 20 anni fa lo trovai uno dei libri più belli mai letti. È stato un libro che mi ha segnato più di quanto potessi immaginare e solo rileggendolo ora me ne sono accorta.

Rileggendolo ora mi rendo conto di quanto sia diversa la narrazione per ragazzi rispetto a quella per adulti. È l'esempio perfetto di come il nostro giudizio vari anche a seconda dell'età che abbiamo quando affrontiamo una determinata lettura.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very wacky. A really fun read. The characters are ridiculous, but it's amazing how attached you become to Poppy!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i used to love this book haha. breezed through it in one sitting just now, can't really write an objective opinion because every time something familiar came up it just brought back good feelings/memories. maybe a 3.5? just because it was kind of fun and imaginative, but a bit superficial?

[Charon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interestingly written book; uses elements of poetry within a prose. The end, especially, is a sight to be read AND heard.

[Muriel Detal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first Philip Ridley book that i bought, since i haven't read it that time. Where i had to force my mom let me buy it at Magrudy's bookstore Deira Dubai City Center. She agreed anyway because she really did expose me & my sisters into buying ton's of books if we wanted to, instead of unnecessary stuff. :)

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a childhood favourite of mine that I have recently received as a gift and re-read. I find the story so magical and heart warming! A story about being true to yourself and sticking by family and friends. This book touches on serious issues without being too serious at all. Will leave you feeling magical and mysterious!

[Lucy Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opened up a new world for me when I was a child. Pure, delicious escapism. I imagined astral travelling all over the world because of this book. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone, but especially children. A great way to exercise the imagination is to read a book by Philip Ridley :)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books as a child! Absolutely fantastic read, very surrealist, enchanting and fantastical. I was so drawn into the magic bubble world this book created for me. Very sad it is now out of print and quite difficult to get hold of as it is so incredible!

[Dacil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This used to be my childhood favorite!! I love the way Phillip Ridley twists reality

[Ken Ficara]

http://steelbrassnwood.livejournal.co...

[Mariam K · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you're a sad, lonely and slightly delusional escapist kid like me, these books were meant for you.


not read in 2015