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Guppies for Tea
Amelia Lindsey is an exceptional young woman. She shares her days between a grandmother whom she loves, a mother whom she tolerates with patient fortitude, and Gerald. They had fallen in love with Amelia two years earlier, when he was in his artistic phase, and had begged her to move in with him. Now (no longer in his artistic phase) he is showing signs of irritation. And suddenly Selma, the talented and much-beloved grandmother, has become old. As life - and Gerald - begins to collapse all round Amelia, she is determined that the one person who will not fade is Selma. Fighting a one-woman battle against Cherryfield retirement home, Gerald's defection and her mother's obsession with germs, Amelia finds herself capable of plots, diversions, and friendships she has never imagined before.
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First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Marika Cobbold
13 books37 followersI was born in Gothenburg Sweden into a family of readers and writers. My father is a newspaper editor and columnist, as is my brother. My mother, who stayed at home looking after the family, furnished the walls of every room with shelves full of books. We were a family that read and discussed and whereas there were restrictions about what we were allowed to watch on TV, and comic books were discouraged, books were a different matter; basically, the rule was that my brother and I could read whatever we could reach. (It was a happy day when, standing on a chair, I got hold of Fanny Hill.)
Ours was a liberal and tolerant household but some sins, I had imprinted on me, were beyond the pale, book burning and censorship of the written word were two of them. Hanging on his wall at his office at the newspaper my father had a quote from Voltaire. Translated from French into Swedish and then by me, into English, it went something like this: 'I may well not agree with your opinion, but I will defend to the death your right to state it.'
Growing up I was pretty well the standard embryo writer - you know the kind? Prone to daydreaming, constantly reading, feeling as if I were on the outside looking in, finding the world of books more relevant than the 'real' world I lived in.
Aged nineteen I married a British naval officer and moved to England. Before the move I had had just one year at university so, arriving here, I had no idea of what I was going to do with my life. But not for long as my son was born the following year and three years after that, my daughter. Life as a naval wife was a mix of periods of loneliness and periods of great fun and adventure. But as we settled in the Hampshire countryside, having decided that following the fleet was not so practical with two school age children, I began to think about writing. I had always been a great 'trier outer' of things, and it has to be said, also a great quitter, but almost the minute I sat down to write I felt as if I had come home. I had never kept a diary, not for longer than a week anyway (although I bought many, especially those which had a little tiny gold key) or written stories as a child- thought them up yes, but written them down no - but here I was, feeling as if I had walked straight through a doorway marked, Life's Work.
Of course, as the weeks and months became years I realised that it would be much more of a struggle to persuade the world (other than my family who were hugely supportive) that I was a writer than it had been convincing myself. But finally, when I was thirty-five, my novel Guppies For Tea, a story about growing old and fighting back, was accepted for publication. Several other publishers had turned it down saying no one was interested in reading about old people. Luckily, as it turns out, they were wrong. Even so, if it had not been for the help of my friend the writer Elizabeth Buchan, and that of Hilary Johnson of The New Writers' Scheme, whose interest in, and support of new writing went well beyond that which was purely romantic, I might never have been published. This taught me that luck and the goodwill and support of others is essential in the writing business as in so much else.
Oddly enough, instead of feeling the euphoria I had expected once my dream of being a published author had come true, I went into a kind of prolonged sulk. I spent many hours thinking up plans for how to minimise the humiliations I was sure would follow publication, including working out how many copies of my own book I could afford to buy up and stash away in the garage.
As it turned out, Guppies For Tea, was rather a lucky book. It was picked for the first W.H. Smith's Fresh Talent promotion, ensuring nationwide review coverage, massive distribution and the kind of support most new writers can only dream of. Following that the book was short-listed for The Sunday Express Book of the Year and after that it was serialised on Woman's Hour. As one a
Ours was a liberal and tolerant household but some sins, I had imprinted on me, were beyond the pale, book burning and censorship of the written word were two of them. Hanging on his wall at his office at the newspaper my father had a quote from Voltaire. Translated from French into Swedish and then by me, into English, it went something like this: 'I may well not agree with your opinion, but I will defend to the death your right to state it.'
Growing up I was pretty well the standard embryo writer - you know the kind? Prone to daydreaming, constantly reading, feeling as if I were on the outside looking in, finding the world of books more relevant than the 'real' world I lived in.
Aged nineteen I married a British naval officer and moved to England. Before the move I had had just one year at university so, arriving here, I had no idea of what I was going to do with my life. But not for long as my son was born the following year and three years after that, my daughter. Life as a naval wife was a mix of periods of loneliness and periods of great fun and adventure. But as we settled in the Hampshire countryside, having decided that following the fleet was not so practical with two school age children, I began to think about writing. I had always been a great 'trier outer' of things, and it has to be said, also a great quitter, but almost the minute I sat down to write I felt as if I had come home. I had never kept a diary, not for longer than a week anyway (although I bought many, especially those which had a little tiny gold key) or written stories as a child- thought them up yes, but written them down no - but here I was, feeling as if I had walked straight through a doorway marked, Life's Work.
Of course, as the weeks and months became years I realised that it would be much more of a struggle to persuade the world (other than my family who were hugely supportive) that I was a writer than it had been convincing myself. But finally, when I was thirty-five, my novel Guppies For Tea, a story about growing old and fighting back, was accepted for publication. Several other publishers had turned it down saying no one was interested in reading about old people. Luckily, as it turns out, they were wrong. Even so, if it had not been for the help of my friend the writer Elizabeth Buchan, and that of Hilary Johnson of The New Writers' Scheme, whose interest in, and support of new writing went well beyond that which was purely romantic, I might never have been published. This taught me that luck and the goodwill and support of others is essential in the writing business as in so much else.
Oddly enough, instead of feeling the euphoria I had expected once my dream of being a published author had come true, I went into a kind of prolonged sulk. I spent many hours thinking up plans for how to minimise the humiliations I was sure would follow publication, including working out how many copies of my own book I could afford to buy up and stash away in the garage.
As it turned out, Guppies For Tea, was rather a lucky book. It was picked for the first W.H. Smith's Fresh Talent promotion, ensuring nationwide review coverage, massive distribution and the kind of support most new writers can only dream of. Following that the book was short-listed for The Sunday Express Book of the Year and after that it was serialised on Woman's Hour. As one a
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 15, 2011
Selma Merryman believes she is moving to Cherryfield Nursing Home for rest and recuperation, not realising that her son Robert has sold her home and is moving to Brazil. Meanwhile Selma’s granddaughter, Amelia, is starting to realise that her relationship with Gerald has run into difficulties. Amelia’s mother Dagmar has always struggled with OCD so it falls to Amelia to make regular visits to Selma and try to keep from her that her home has been sold and she will not be going back.
This book manages to deal with the truth about getting old and declining health in a humorous and entertaining way. The characters are entertaining yet completely recognisable. The author manages to express hard truths while keeping a comic atmosphere and it works. There are some wonderfully comic scenes, yet ones that we might identify with. Dagmar is sure she should have lived a different life but while normal mothers fretted over the Cold War and what Mick Jagger’s lips might do to their daughter’s innocence, she had spent precious hours worrying whether or not a door handle could pass on a deadly disease. Amelia feels she always had to compete for her mother’s attention with dog’s mess, germs, worms and things that needed wiping down in the night.
Selma has been the one who was always there for Amelia and now she tries to repay that as her grandmother slips into senility. She thinks that life which once seemed quite a decent length now appears pitifully short. At the end it doesn’t seem more than a moment, perhaps it never does. In spite of dealing with subjects which seem depressing this book was delightful, funny and thoroughly entertaining. Although written in the 1990s it does not seem at all dated. I loved it.
February 16, 2010
This was a book that I really found interesting and a change from many of the stereotypical novel settings. Perhaps a reason that I could relate so well to it is because my own mother is in her late eighties and petrified of being moved to a nursing home and also of dying. The novel really brings out the plight of the elderly: their physical helplessness, the lack of hope for life changing for the better and the loneliness that exists in between sparse visits from family or friends.
The author fleshes out the main character quite well so that the reader is able to relate to her, see her crazy side and continue to believe that she will succeed in her attempt to make life better for her beloved grandmother.
I loved the interplay between other characters as well and the insight that the author showed in many situations which we all face in our lifetimes. Some of the things that Amelia thinks and feels are akin to our own but we squash them because they seem wrong. But Amelia states them and continues on in her own fashion, doing finally what seems to be the only possible alternative to giving her grandmother hope and dignity.
The author fleshes out the main character quite well so that the reader is able to relate to her, see her crazy side and continue to believe that she will succeed in her attempt to make life better for her beloved grandmother.
I loved the interplay between other characters as well and the insight that the author showed in many situations which we all face in our lifetimes. Some of the things that Amelia thinks and feels are akin to our own but we squash them because they seem wrong. But Amelia states them and continues on in her own fashion, doing finally what seems to be the only possible alternative to giving her grandmother hope and dignity.
February 16, 2025
Guppies for Tea is about wonderful characters that you rapidly care about. There’s Amelia, whose relationship is drawing to a close against her wishes, and her recently widowed grandmother who’s been put in an old people’s home against her wishes. There’s Amelia’s mother whose life is blighted by OCD and there’s Henry, a chaplain who, like Amelia, is a regular visit to Cherryfield.
This delightful book made me smile as often as it made me sad. The issues and situations are often serious; failing health, old age, mental health issues, dementia and death but there is also a lot of joy, love and care here too. This is a beautifully written, warm, life-affirming read. Perfect escapism and highly recommended!
This delightful book made me smile as often as it made me sad. The issues and situations are often serious; failing health, old age, mental health issues, dementia and death but there is also a lot of joy, love and care here too. This is a beautifully written, warm, life-affirming read. Perfect escapism and highly recommended!
October 22, 2010
This was a really good book. If not slightly depressing. Makes you dread getting old and all the horrible bits that come with it. When Selma starts forgetting things it not only affects her but everyone around her. Gets across the amount of guilt and saddness that a family would feel about putting another family member in a home. Amelia was a bit dense when it came to Gerald. He was horrble. Even his name is horrible. As well as feeling sorry for Amelia and Selma, I also felt for Amelia's mother. Being slightly obbsessed with certain things sometimes, I can understand how frustrating it is for the person who is obbsessive and how annoying it is for others and I don't even have it that bad. She basically lets it ruin her whole life and any chance of happyness :( Quiet sad. I wished for this book becuase they read it in 'The Reading Group'
January 7, 2014
Superb. Really superb - as well as incredibly moving, and also very funny in parts.
July 3, 2019
The title of this book intrigued me so I picked it up at a book sale for $1 , and I must say that it was a very good read for me. It deals with a young woman who has been living with her boyfriend, whom she thinks loves her and she is just waiting to make it official. Meanwhile, her grandmother, who really raised her, has just been checked into an assisted living facility because she recently injured her leg and her son (the woman's uncle) doesn't think she will bounce back --- and this is just easier for him, to lock her up in assisted living. The young girl finds herself much happier looking after her grandmother in the home, than staying with her boyfriend, and the story further evolves from there. I liked it at my stage of life because it was interesting to see ways to allow the grandmother to keep her dignity and continue living her life, even though so many people in her life have decided she is checked off their list. I would think a young person in life might find this book good for the soul, as well, because this lead character, who is well delineated in the book, meets all kinds of life's questions throughout her journey befriending her grandmother in the later stages of her life. I give this 4 stars and recommend it. But it is terribly british, with lots of brit expressions, but a good sense of humor.
May 25, 2018
'Guppies For Tea' is full of believable, complex and relatable characters. Cobbold's description of ageing, dementia/Parkinson's was also accurate and moving, and really resonates with me. It was never too heavy or too fluffy, but instead a perfect in-between reality littered with fleeting touching moments. My main critique is the novels ending. It felt as though Cobbold was suddenly in a rush to get through the last two chapters, where the writing turned clunky and many of the key plot points were left entirely unanswered. Personally, I'm not a fan of loose endings, I feel like I am wasting my time as a reader becoming invested in a story which is never fully explained. However, the ending was in many other ways fitting and emotional.
July 25, 2023
This book is a truthful and touching depiction of how cruel old age can be. Amelia is in despair as to how to care for Selma, her widowed grandmother with quickly developing dementia. Selma's son, Robert, has tricked her into moving into an "Elderly Care Facility", sold her house and buggered off to South America. Amelia is thrown over by her man and to top it all off her mother has mental health issues.
Marika Cobbold describes how looking after an infirm elderly relative requires the same care as for an infant...without the cuteness.
An amazing first novel. I will look for more.
Marika Cobbold describes how looking after an infirm elderly relative requires the same care as for an infant...without the cuteness.
An amazing first novel. I will look for more.
July 23, 2018
Pretty good, especially for a book that has several story lines and all of them are terribly depressing. Grandma's old and losing her mind and her leg, Uncle's sold Grandma's house without telling her and moved to Brazil with the money, Mom's OCD leads to her scrubbing hangers in the closet while guests wait and ruining relationships before they start, Boyfriend is a jerk who isn't in love anymore but not man enough to tell you, and on top of all that, you're kind of a wishy washy mess. It took a little while to get through this one but I'm glad I did. The end really picked up.
July 2, 2021
What a sad depressing book. The main character Amelia is weak and ineffectual. I wanted to shake her. Her boyfriend Gerald is a rat and does not cover himself in glory in the way he treats her but I can understand why he was breaking up with her. The story revolves around Amelias poor grandmother who is put into a nursing home. Her son Robert leaves her there lying that she is there just for a few weeks , sells her house, and disappears to Canada. Oh lord, a complete lack of respect and dignity!
November 22, 2019
Poignant and sad, but also funny in many ways, as Amelia walks through her grandmother's aging process. Being put in an assisted living home doesn't appeal to Selma, who probably needs to be there, honestly. The comparison of a baby who needs constant care and an older adult who also does was eye-opening.
May 1, 2021
This book made me chuckle in parts and is so true to life.
Sad in parts and a little bit exaggerated with the incident of spending Christmas in your old home were someone else now lives. A lovely gesture though.
Amelia was a bit of a drip at times a ditherer not able to decide what to do with her life but had a heart of gold.
Sad in parts and a little bit exaggerated with the incident of spending Christmas in your old home were someone else now lives. A lovely gesture though.
Amelia was a bit of a drip at times a ditherer not able to decide what to do with her life but had a heart of gold.
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September 10, 2025a book that has me this confused on who's who, how everyone is related to one another, and what the f is going on all in the first chapter is not a book for me. and i'm just not a fan of third person writing like this
dnf
dnf
August 19, 2019
A sweet little book about a woman having to deal with a lot. Normally the sort of story I wouldn't read... a story mainly about relationships but this was good none the less.
May 10, 2020
Lovely, and very moving. I may write a proper review sometime.
May 13, 2021
A subject close to my heart - poignant and I could recognise my home life in many parts. It brought in to focus the care situation for many which is sadly overlooked.
March 17, 2022
Beautifully written and heart wrenching account of the descent into dementia and the effects on loved ones.
November 18, 2024
highkey kinda ass but the author is from gothenburg so spiritually this is the best book i’ve ever read
October 8, 2018
Amelia is a 30-something journalist with an unfaithful (though she doesn’t yet know it) boyfriend called Gerald, who seemed to me to be the most boring person in Christendom just through the few pages that brought him to life. The relationship breakdown should be sad, but it is actually ridiculously amusing even though it leaves Amelia potentially with nowhere to live and her dreams of being a mother in the dustbin.
Amelia’s upbringing with an eccentric mother has been strange to say the least so I can see why she is hanging on to Gerald for security. But her real security has come from her grandmother Selma. She has always been there for her, but now feels she has failed in returning the favour. Selma’s in an old people’s home and doesn’t want to be; she wants to go home to her own bed.
But Robert, Amelia’s bullying uncle, Selma’s son, has sold the house behind her back, installed her in the home whilst lying to her it is a temporary measure and “scuttled off to Brazil”. So how does Amelia manage to pull it off? With sneakiness, aplomb and a lot of well-intentioned lies. The Christmas scenes are sweet and you can’t help but love them. It made Amelia feel happy about her relationship with her grandmother and gave her a much needed fresh start.
This book was 25 years old when I picked it up and I had never heard of it before. I reviewed it immediately after Three Things About Elsie, and both of these books feature old ladies in nursing homes and the invisibility with which they are often relegated to. Both these books do a good job of bringing them into the light, and it’s an important message. It’s charming, humorous, and whilst set firmly in the early 1990s still profoundly relevant.
Amelia’s upbringing with an eccentric mother has been strange to say the least so I can see why she is hanging on to Gerald for security. But her real security has come from her grandmother Selma. She has always been there for her, but now feels she has failed in returning the favour. Selma’s in an old people’s home and doesn’t want to be; she wants to go home to her own bed.
But Robert, Amelia’s bullying uncle, Selma’s son, has sold the house behind her back, installed her in the home whilst lying to her it is a temporary measure and “scuttled off to Brazil”. So how does Amelia manage to pull it off? With sneakiness, aplomb and a lot of well-intentioned lies. The Christmas scenes are sweet and you can’t help but love them. It made Amelia feel happy about her relationship with her grandmother and gave her a much needed fresh start.
This book was 25 years old when I picked it up and I had never heard of it before. I reviewed it immediately after Three Things About Elsie, and both of these books feature old ladies in nursing homes and the invisibility with which they are often relegated to. Both these books do a good job of bringing them into the light, and it’s an important message. It’s charming, humorous, and whilst set firmly in the early 1990s still profoundly relevant.
July 7, 2020
This was surprisingly good! It has been on my shelf for 10 years or so, donated to the expat club’s book boxes. I had planned to release what I thought of as a light, fluffy, romance, maybe a humorous look at active people in care homes. I took it to the recent BookCrossing convention in Mainz, but it wasn’t registered and I ran out of time. I started to read it on the train on the way home and realised it was more substantial than I had thought. It covers a lot of ground: aging, dementia, the physical indignities of age, mental health issues and OCD, the lies people tell. Marika Cobbold could have played it for laughs. Instead she produced a well-nuanced story that raises a great many issues, without becoming heavy and somber. In fact, it made me cry, but not where I feel I should have cried.
The main character, Alice, has learned to mould herself to what other people expect of her, but disappoints her commonlaw husband, Gerald, who once fancied himself as an artist, but has settled for being a village solicitor. He is irritated by her scattiness and myriad enthusiams. As the novel progresses, Alice’s relatively restful life starts to disintegrate. After her grandfather Willoughby dies, her fiercely independent grandmother Selma seems to spiral rapidly into decline and is admitted to a care home. Meanwhile, her uncle sells Selma’s house and moves to Brazil and her mother Dagmar is no help: she has an extreme form of anxiety, which would now be termed OCD. Amelia is left to pick up the pieces, but feels guilty when she promises Selma that she will take her home for Christmas.
The main character, Alice, has learned to mould herself to what other people expect of her, but disappoints her commonlaw husband, Gerald, who once fancied himself as an artist, but has settled for being a village solicitor. He is irritated by her scattiness and myriad enthusiams. As the novel progresses, Alice’s relatively restful life starts to disintegrate. After her grandfather Willoughby dies, her fiercely independent grandmother Selma seems to spiral rapidly into decline and is admitted to a care home. Meanwhile, her uncle sells Selma’s house and moves to Brazil and her mother Dagmar is no help: she has an extreme form of anxiety, which would now be termed OCD. Amelia is left to pick up the pieces, but feels guilty when she promises Selma that she will take her home for Christmas.
July 18, 2011
When you move an elderly person into 'care' the result is often a decline in condition, possibly due to the energy required to learn everything new about living - new living space, new rising time, new people, new routine, new everything. I watched this happen with my mother so I have every sympathy with Amelia and her grandmother. This book is fiction but it reads like a documentary it is so realistic. Along the way we meet the Admiral, who is such a calm person, and his son the Chaplain, who is even calmer, the head nurse, who is trying her best, but perhaps ought to be in a different sort of facility, and Gerald, who understands how Amelia's mind works but isn't able to do anything positive with her. SPOILER ALERT She was so very lucky to have been able to take her grandmother back to her own house to die, even if she had to bar the door to the real owners, and the Admiral's son was lucky, too, in having memories only of his father as a competent person. This was a very moving and helpful book for anyone who is dealing with dementia in their family, to say nothing of parts of it being almost hysterically funny. The title incident could so easily happen and what could anyone say?
September 19, 2011
Amelia has been losing everyone that it is meanful to her. Her mother's self involvement and OCD has always made their relationship distant, her boyfriend Gerald has dumped her as he has dumped his ambition to be an artist. And now most heartbreaking of all she is losing her much loved grandmother Selma to the ravages of old age.
Her cousin has sold Selma's beloved house and moved her into a care home, where she quickly declines as she loses her not only her home but all the people and things that made her life worth living.
I know that this sounds terribly depressing and it is sad; but this book is more about funny and tender hearted Amelia's coping with the changes in her life, then Selma's various ailments. Amelia meets other people in the care home, the Admiral who leads an improptu protest when the residents of his favourite fish tank are evicted in a shocking way, Mrs. Hudd who collects food for a possibly imaginary pet rabbit. She also meets the Admirals kind son, a Naval Chaplin named Henry that cares about her and tries to encourage her in some of her dreams.
This book is both sad and funny, which is some kind wonderful trick, a very good read.
Her cousin has sold Selma's beloved house and moved her into a care home, where she quickly declines as she loses her not only her home but all the people and things that made her life worth living.
I know that this sounds terribly depressing and it is sad; but this book is more about funny and tender hearted Amelia's coping with the changes in her life, then Selma's various ailments. Amelia meets other people in the care home, the Admiral who leads an improptu protest when the residents of his favourite fish tank are evicted in a shocking way, Mrs. Hudd who collects food for a possibly imaginary pet rabbit. She also meets the Admirals kind son, a Naval Chaplin named Henry that cares about her and tries to encourage her in some of her dreams.
This book is both sad and funny, which is some kind wonderful trick, a very good read.
March 3, 2008
Synopsis
Amelia Lindsey is an exceptional young woman. She shares her days between a grandmother whom she loves, a mother whom she tolerates with patient fortitude, and Gerald. They had fallen in love with Amelia two years earlier, when he was in his artistic phase, and had begged her to move in with him. Now (no longer in his artistic phase) he is showing signs of irritation. And suddenly Selma, the talented and much-beloved grandmother, has become old. As life - and Gerald - begins to collapse all round Amelia, she is determined that the one person who will not fade is Selma. Fighting a one-woman battle against Cherryfield retirement home, Gerald's defection and her mother's obsession with germs, Amelia finds herself capable of plots, diversions, and friendships she has never imagined before.
Amelia Lindsey is an exceptional young woman. She shares her days between a grandmother whom she loves, a mother whom she tolerates with patient fortitude, and Gerald. They had fallen in love with Amelia two years earlier, when he was in his artistic phase, and had begged her to move in with him. Now (no longer in his artistic phase) he is showing signs of irritation. And suddenly Selma, the talented and much-beloved grandmother, has become old. As life - and Gerald - begins to collapse all round Amelia, she is determined that the one person who will not fade is Selma. Fighting a one-woman battle against Cherryfield retirement home, Gerald's defection and her mother's obsession with germs, Amelia finds herself capable of plots, diversions, and friendships she has never imagined before.
September 6, 2014
As the cover says, this was a delightful read. An old lady suffering from memory loss is moved into an old people's home and her home is sold by her son who returns to his home in the States. Her Granddaughter Amelia visits and is upset to see how the home affects her Grandmother. At the same time her Mother is having a nervous breakdown as she struggles to cope with her OCD. It is a good novel as it very clearly shows the challenges of today's generation coping with family who live longer but not always without challenges. The topics are dealt with sensitively and the reader can relate to and sympathise with the position that Amelia is in.
June 17, 2007
Granny Selma is conned out of her house by her son who emigrates, and she is put in an old people's home. Selma believes this to be temporary, while her foot heals, but her house has been sold. Amelia, the grand-daughter tries to support her whilst also coping with her own O.C.D. mother Dagmar.
Amelia's chap scoots with his secretary leaving Amelia, Dagmar and Selma to take up most of the story.
The story started well, but got a bit humdrum halfway through. However, the pace and story line does pick-up again towards the end, which is not as predictable as the reader might expect.
Amelia's chap scoots with his secretary leaving Amelia, Dagmar and Selma to take up most of the story.
The story started well, but got a bit humdrum halfway through. However, the pace and story line does pick-up again towards the end, which is not as predictable as the reader might expect.
April 23, 2015
I bought this book as a secondhand bookstore based solely on the colorful, interesting cover; I love tea and the title itself caught my attention. I will admit this book is not great literature; it is predictable and rather formulaic.....and that's exactly why I loved it. It was a breezy heartwarming read that I was able to finish in just a few days. Yes, it is peopled with stereotypical characters but that is also part of this quirky book's charm; they're all characters we all can identify with.
October 27, 2015
I had a difficult decision between 'liked' and 'really liked'...it was poignant and funny and a beautiful read. It was just so damned sad! I did like how it ended on a question mark but Selma got what she wanted. It was far fetched but in a way that you wanted to believe. Very different to 'Frozen Music' that I read from Marika Cobbold-the same beautiful storytelling... Frozen Music was less sad and more fluffy romance, Guppies for Tea was more complicated and, in terms of the complexities of human life, more real. I liked them both. Marika Cobbold is an amazing writer.
February 17, 2010
A story about a young woman (31) who is facing devastating circumstances: broken engagement because her fiance is cheating on her; a mentally ill mother; and the central issue of her beloved grandmother's senility and placement into a nursing home against her will. The amazing part of this book is that it manages to be quite disarmingly charming (in a Bridget Jones kind of way, without the humor). It reminded me a little of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian but it was not as stark.
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July 30, 2011I read this when it was first published. It was quite interesting rereading it from a different perspective some years on.It's a touching story though the constant comparisions between the elderly and babies began to wear fairly quickly. She strongly makes her point about the dependency of both and the need to see the elderly in personal terms. Anyone facing the prospect of a nursing home, or considering moving a relative may well wince while reading this book.
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August 12, 2011Has to be good with endorsement from Joanna Trollope on the front cover & a review (on back cover) that says "remarkably well tuned to english nuance & a grand penchant for farce". It runs a line between funny & tragic - Selma the grandmother's decline into worse physical health & dementia isn't easy to read but it feels realistic. And bits of it are wonderfully laugh-out-loud funny. Some of it's predictable, but not in a bad way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews