Winter Breaks

by Joseph Connolly

The sequel to the bestselling Summer Things.

A summer of lust has given way to the winter of discontent.

Brian and Dotty have lost everything and are seeing in the yuletide from a caravan on their friends’ driveway. Howard and Lizzie have it all and they’re not sharing - except for a lover or two.

In a spirit of neighbourly envy, adulterous love and goodwill to oneself, it might be time to learn the true meaning of Christmas - whether they like it or not.

Genres: Fiction, Christmas, Comedy

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Peter Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing the saga of the rather unlikeable family and friends of Elizabeth and Howard. In some ways I'd like to know even more about them, but most of the story lines got resolved quite neatly. I found some of the descriptive passages were tedious.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘I don't know if you remember about the author I mentioned… Yes - well I did a bit of research on our writer friend down the library; turns out he's got two novels on the shelves… These were all about very dysfunctional and rather selfish people, it looked like to me (I only flicked), and most of them seemed to be obsessed by sex; no doubt such things have an audience. It said on the back it was hysterically funny, but it didn't raise a smile in me.’ - Norman Furnish.

Four months on from the events in ‘Summer Things’ ‘Winter Breaks sees John, Lulu, Elizabeth, Howard, Brian, Dotty etc… preparing for Christmas. If you haven’t read ‘Summer Things’ I would recommend you do so first, although Mr Connolly does spend the first 80 or so pages of this novel reminding us of what’s gone before. A bit like the ‘previously on…’ bits at the beginning of a TV series. If you did read ‘Summer Things’ well then this is more of the same.

I wouldn’t say ‘Summer Things’ was the best book I’d ever read but I did enjoy it and it had its funny moments, also after a while the characters grew on me so more of the same isn’t a bad thing - however, it spends an awful lot of time going nowhere. The introduction of the characters and what had gone before doesn’t help, you’re 20% into the book before the actual book begins. Like ‘Summer Things’ ‘Winter Breaks’ does have its moments too, it did raise a smile contrary to Norman’s observations, however there are less truly comic moments in this sequel than in the first. The characters are still engaging, still in dysfunctional relationships, still obsessed with sex, Norman still lusts after Katie. Brian and Dotty provide the most laughs, although you have to feel sorry for them, Brian is probably my favourite character, followed by Norman.

If you enjoyed the first book you’ll probably enjoy this too. It’s all just as manic and builds up to a festive farcical finish.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good Reads blurbr, for once, doesn't really give a good idea of the narrative of this book. Yes, the denoument takes place at Elizabeth Street's Christmas party, but a lot happens before then. We meet in great detail Cyril and Edna who towards the end of the Summer book had brought Brian and Dotty's house. We are also introduced to Elizabeth's mother who is as batty as the rest of the characters.. Before the party Norman continues to pester Katie, Melody pesters Miles who pesters Katie who is still with the American Rick. Colin is still besotted with Carol and the boy Peter or ZooZoo of indeterminate nationality is still living at the Streets. Howard Street has a new, female, interest called Laa Laa. They are all mixed together in the pre Christmas preparations including Elizabeth, Howard and Melody going off to Paris for a few days and Dotty, Brian and Colin living in another caravan at the side of the Street's house. As in the earlier book, much of the narrative is carried along by internal musings of the various characters. I found this book funnier than the previous and easier to get into because I already knew the characters and their mutual interactions. This was first published in 1999 - why isn't it better known?

[Joey Britnell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should have been set maybe the following year, not 4 months after the last one. 100 pages in and I was still on a recap of the last book too!

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty straightforward follow up to the previous summer book. It was okay but none of the characters moved on from the last book. Disappointing really. No doubt Mr Connolly will just continue on this theme.