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The Extra Large Medium
Annie Conville can see dead people. And for some reason they are all wearing chocolate brown. Since she was a child Annie has been able to see and speak to the dead. But when her husband disappears suddenly he does not come to visit her. So is Evan still alive? During her long wait to discover what happened to Evan Bees, Annie searches through her mother's vast collection of lovers for the other missing man in her life, and struggles with the questions her gift asks of her. Who is the mysterious girl who sits by the lake? What happened to the lost woman whose sister has never stopped searching for her? And why are so many of the dead voices called Jim? Quirky, irreverent, moving and a little bit spooky, The Extra Large Medium will charm you completely - even as it's raising the hairs on the back of your neck.
Reviews
'a highly original talent' - Beryl Bainbridge
'Ultimately, Slavin has something more subversive up her sleeve than mere entertainment: in conjuring a world of ghosts... she wickedly skewers a society whose obsession with the afterlife shortchanges life itself.' - The New York Times
'Slavin’s lightheartedly macabre debut calls to mind a warm and fuzzy version of Hilary Mantel’s 2005 novel, “Beyond Black"' - The New York Times
'Complete with chatty prose, the requisite tea shop, and spooky clues, Slavin's delightful novel takes the reader happily all the way to the ever after.' - The Booklist
Reviews
'a highly original talent' - Beryl Bainbridge
'Ultimately, Slavin has something more subversive up her sleeve than mere entertainment: in conjuring a world of ghosts... she wickedly skewers a society whose obsession with the afterlife shortchanges life itself.' - The New York Times
'Slavin’s lightheartedly macabre debut calls to mind a warm and fuzzy version of Hilary Mantel’s 2005 novel, “Beyond Black"' - The New York Times
'Complete with chatty prose, the requisite tea shop, and spooky clues, Slavin's delightful novel takes the reader happily all the way to the ever after.' - The Booklist
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
118 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Helen Slavin
25 books21 followersHelen Slavin was born in Heywood in Lancashire in 1966. She was raised by eccentric parents on a diet of Laurel and Hardy, William Shakespeare and the Blackpool Illuminations. Educated at her local comp her favourite subjects at school were English and Going Home.
After The University of Warwick she worked in many jobs including, plant and access hire, a local government Education department typing pool, and a vasectomy clinic. A job as a television scriptwriter gave her the opportunity to spend all day drinking tea, living in a made-up fantasy world and getting paid for it (sometimes).
Helen has been a professional writer for fifteen years. Her first novel The Extra Large Medium was chosen as the winner in the Long Barn Books competition run by Susan Hill.
A paragliding Welsh husband and two children distract her and give her ample opportunity to spend all day drinking tea, nagging about homework and washing pants for England. In the wee small hours she still keeps a bijou flat in that fantasy world of writing.When not working with animals and striving for world peace, Helen enjoys the music of Elbow and baking bread. Her favourite colour is purple and if she had to be stranded on a desert island with someone it would be Ray Mears ( alright, George Clooney is very good looking but can he make fire with a stick? No. See?)
She now lives, with her family, in Trowbridge, Wiltshire where, when she’s not writing, she’s asleep. Or in Tescos.
After The University of Warwick she worked in many jobs including, plant and access hire, a local government Education department typing pool, and a vasectomy clinic. A job as a television scriptwriter gave her the opportunity to spend all day drinking tea, living in a made-up fantasy world and getting paid for it (sometimes).
Helen has been a professional writer for fifteen years. Her first novel The Extra Large Medium was chosen as the winner in the Long Barn Books competition run by Susan Hill.
A paragliding Welsh husband and two children distract her and give her ample opportunity to spend all day drinking tea, nagging about homework and washing pants for England. In the wee small hours she still keeps a bijou flat in that fantasy world of writing.When not working with animals and striving for world peace, Helen enjoys the music of Elbow and baking bread. Her favourite colour is purple and if she had to be stranded on a desert island with someone it would be Ray Mears ( alright, George Clooney is very good looking but can he make fire with a stick? No. See?)
She now lives, with her family, in Trowbridge, Wiltshire where, when she’s not writing, she’s asleep. Or in Tescos.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
November 14, 2014
My mother sent this book down with a bunch of others that she though I would like at some point and so I have had this book sitting on a shelf for years. I don't know why I took it down and started reading it, but I'm glad I did. Annie has been seeing dead people since she was a little girl, it is a trait that runs in her family. The dead do not apparently have generally have anything exciting to say, mostly they want to tell a family member to trim the hedge, or who should get the silverware. The story follows Annie as she wanders through her childhood young adulthood and includes the mystery of her husband who simply vanishes one day, and whom she spends the next 7 years mourning and she tries to find some way to be useful with her gift without coming completely undone. The characters, even those who are just passing through, are vividly drawn and the story draws you along without needing to draw you in, which is a rare feat.
August 20, 2007
This was terrible. I couldn't keep track who the heck all the people were, and I didn't really get the ending. The blurbs and reviews on the book (although maybe I shouldn't trust those so much??) made it sound like it should have been good...but it was AWFUL. The whole thing just seemed rather wandering and pointless.
February 13, 2020
Viele interessante Dinge passieren, die Beteiligten benehmen sich meistens ganz vernünftig, es gibt sehr sehr viele Tote. Im Mittelteil mäandert es eine Weile etwas ziellos dahin, aber auch dabei habe ich mich auf keiner Seite gelangweilt. Nur der Schluss, also das allerletzte 1% des Buchs, war mir zu . Ach ja: Idiotisches Cover bitte unbedingt ignorieren.
March 5, 2008
Maybe I am a skimmer, but I felt this jolted quite a number of times and when I re-read to see if I missed something I found out maybe I didn't.
However, its main concept was interesting, I enjoyed being annoyed at this disssociated protagonist and wished we learned a little more about Evan bees.
However, its main concept was interesting, I enjoyed being annoyed at this disssociated protagonist and wished we learned a little more about Evan bees.
July 9, 2024
Started off really humorous, and definitely has a distinct and eerily nostalgic air of life in the North in the early 2000s - but the plot got steadily more mundane and bizarre as it went along. I had to give up halfway for this reason. It was a book with promise but I couldn't bring myself to keep reading it.
January 30, 2009
Helen Slavin tells the story of Annie Colville, who has been talking with dead people since her earliest childhood, and can only distinguish them from the living by their chocolate brown wardrobes. Despite her expanded acquaintance, Annie is very much alone, and struggles to deal with first her promiscuous mother and then Evan Bees, who disappeared one day, as she wrestles with the problem of the restless hoards who come to her with unfinished business, such as the Crown Derby china, who's going to let out the cat, and where the shed keys are. Oh, and the Extra Large Medium is her great-great-something grandfather, who cashed in spectacularly on his apparently hereditary gift. Although he wasn't extra-large either.
I have mixed emotions about The Extra Large Medium.
Good things: well written, pleasant voice that moves the story along nicely without bogging down the plot with detritus. Interesting characters, interesting device of plugging in bits of commentary from other characters, some of whom are introduced long after they begin commenting. Satisfactory conclusion, with some startling developments but which were foreshadowed after all.
Bad things: altogether too much crudeness at the beginning, centering around Annie's mother's promiscuity, which is to say, the bedroom door is pretty much left ajar, and swings wide open once. Fortunately, this tawdry story line fades away Annie grows up, along with one chocolate-brown dressed character with an incredibly foul mouth. Then, too, there is a disconcerting tendency for people to drift into homelessness--and I cannot say more without spoiling the plot--but to me that's a somewhat abnormal reaction to the vicissitudes of life. And Annie has a tendency to set off on quests and then abandon them, not because she's achieved any sort of resolution, even in her mind--she just starts doing something else. Is this a part of the character development, or is Ms. Slavin a sloppy constructionist? And, in reference to the Startling Developments (which I will not divulge here), my discerning son points out--what are the odds?
So...I can recommend this with a pair of rather large "if"s: (1) IF you don't mind the supernatural premise, and (2) IF you can look past the crudeness, you could enjoy this unusual story.
I have mixed emotions about The Extra Large Medium.
Good things: well written, pleasant voice that moves the story along nicely without bogging down the plot with detritus. Interesting characters, interesting device of plugging in bits of commentary from other characters, some of whom are introduced long after they begin commenting. Satisfactory conclusion, with some startling developments but which were foreshadowed after all.
Bad things: altogether too much crudeness at the beginning, centering around Annie's mother's promiscuity, which is to say, the bedroom door is pretty much left ajar, and swings wide open once. Fortunately, this tawdry story line fades away Annie grows up, along with one chocolate-brown dressed character with an incredibly foul mouth. Then, too, there is a disconcerting tendency for people to drift into homelessness--and I cannot say more without spoiling the plot--but to me that's a somewhat abnormal reaction to the vicissitudes of life. And Annie has a tendency to set off on quests and then abandon them, not because she's achieved any sort of resolution, even in her mind--she just starts doing something else. Is this a part of the character development, or is Ms. Slavin a sloppy constructionist? And, in reference to the Startling Developments (which I will not divulge here), my discerning son points out--what are the odds?
So...I can recommend this with a pair of rather large "if"s: (1) IF you don't mind the supernatural premise, and (2) IF you can look past the crudeness, you could enjoy this unusual story.
November 13, 2012
I thought this book was ok. It kind of reminds me of a Sarah Addison Allen book -- easy-to-read, entertaining enough, no brain power needed type read. Overall, it's a mostly charming/cozy style, but does have a somewhat sinister turn or two in it. The pacing was fine until close to the end, when things picked up/changed tone unexpectedly & a quick wrap-up was tacked on; it felt a bit disconcerting after the more languid pace of most of the book. Not sure I'm thrilled w/ the title either (it is explained a bit); maybe something else would have been better?
My final take -- recommended if you want a brain candy type book similar to Sarah Addison Allen's books, but with a few ghosts along for the ride. Think along the lines of "I see dead people" but in a cozy (not creepy) way. Lol.
My final take -- recommended if you want a brain candy type book similar to Sarah Addison Allen's books, but with a few ghosts along for the ride. Think along the lines of "I see dead people" but in a cozy (not creepy) way. Lol.
October 17, 2017
What a strange and lovely book. A story about a quiet English girl/woman who can see and speak with the dead. Her mother is terrified at the idea; her Aunt wants to make money off of it. Her personal life seems to be in constant turmoil as she tries to come to terms with her gift and how to make use of it; and figure out how to live a life where she feels at home while she waits for her missing husband to be declared dead. The story is told from her viewpoint with other characters chiming in with other/different perspectives.
June 20, 2009
started slow, got good, ended confusing. Interesting parts about talking to dead people. Written in a very British dialect.
May 30, 2014
I didn't even read the whole thing. It was... really not how I thought it would be. It was just boring and messy.
June 21, 2016
Why is there not zero stars rating?
June 26, 2017
What a voice! Why hasn't the BBC or PBS picked this up as a mini-series??
April 24, 2021
Auch wenn der Schluss die Schwachstelle des Romans ist, gefiel er mir insgesamt sehr gut. Erzählt wird die Geschichte von Annie, die tote Menschen sieht (sie tragen immer schokoladenbraune Kleidung), von klein auf. Anfangs war ich irritiert über die Parallele zu Hilary Mantels Roman Beyond Black und brauchte eine Weile, bis diese Geschichte ihren eigenen Charakter entwickeln konnte - und den hat sie.
Annie erzählt rückblickend und mit viel Galgenhumor ihr Leben, aber ohne reflektierende Distanz. Dazwischen gibt es kurze Kapitel aus der Sicht von Verwandten u.a. Mutter, Tante, Onkel, Stiefvater. Annie ergibt sich in ihr Schicksal und versucht sich mit ihrer Gabe nützlich zu machen, also die Botschaften der Toten an die Hinterlassenen zu überbringen - meist völlige Petitessen der Größenordnung, wo der Schlüssel zum Gartenhäuschen liegt. Sie hat ohnehin keine Chance auf ein auch nur halbwegs konventionelles Leben, die Toten lassen sie nicht in Ruhe (hier liegt eine Parallele zu Mantels Roman), sie schlägt sich irgendwie durch. Eingewebt ist dann auch noch eine Kriminalgeschichte, die zu dem etwas ungeschickten Schluss führt.
Vieles ist nicht auserzählt, das mag ich, ich fühlte mich als Leserin ernst genommen. Räume zum Beispiel werden durch den Eindruck vermittelt, den sie auf die Erzählerin erzeugen, nicht durch Möbelbeschreibung. Oder einschneidende Erlebnisse, die uns zunächst durch die traumatischen Auswirkungen erzählt werden, bevor wir Fragmente bekommen, aus denen sich der eigentliche Vorfall zusammensetzen lässt.
Annie erzählt rückblickend und mit viel Galgenhumor ihr Leben, aber ohne reflektierende Distanz. Dazwischen gibt es kurze Kapitel aus der Sicht von Verwandten u.a. Mutter, Tante, Onkel, Stiefvater. Annie ergibt sich in ihr Schicksal und versucht sich mit ihrer Gabe nützlich zu machen, also die Botschaften der Toten an die Hinterlassenen zu überbringen - meist völlige Petitessen der Größenordnung, wo der Schlüssel zum Gartenhäuschen liegt. Sie hat ohnehin keine Chance auf ein auch nur halbwegs konventionelles Leben, die Toten lassen sie nicht in Ruhe (hier liegt eine Parallele zu Mantels Roman), sie schlägt sich irgendwie durch. Eingewebt ist dann auch noch eine Kriminalgeschichte, die zu dem etwas ungeschickten Schluss führt.
Vieles ist nicht auserzählt, das mag ich, ich fühlte mich als Leserin ernst genommen. Räume zum Beispiel werden durch den Eindruck vermittelt, den sie auf die Erzählerin erzeugen, nicht durch Möbelbeschreibung. Oder einschneidende Erlebnisse, die uns zunächst durch die traumatischen Auswirkungen erzählt werden, bevor wir Fragmente bekommen, aus denen sich der eigentliche Vorfall zusammensetzen lässt.
June 18, 2017
Reading this book is like eating Pringles. You start and then, even though you don’t really like the taste, you find it impossible to stop until the whole tube is empty.
There is some absolutely glorious writing in this novel - moments of such ‘perfectness’ that I re-read certain phrases several times, just for the pleasure. However. It drags. And it’s totally confusing. And a bit too weird for me really. I get the feeling that the author is one of those writers who has the ideas and the plot firmly fixed in her head and somehow or other forgets to let the readers in on the secret. Either that or I am missing a great deal of what happens.
Giving this book a fair rating is going to be difficult. I think, with a better editor and some serious pruning this could be a five star read, but I was so totally lost at times that I had no idea who was who, or what was happening.
If it hadn’t been for the lovely writing in several places, this would be an easy 1 star, but it deserves more than that so I am going with 2.5 stars rounded up to a rare (for me) 3 stars.
Overall I liked it but oh how I wish I could have liked it a lot more.
There is some absolutely glorious writing in this novel - moments of such ‘perfectness’ that I re-read certain phrases several times, just for the pleasure. However. It drags. And it’s totally confusing. And a bit too weird for me really. I get the feeling that the author is one of those writers who has the ideas and the plot firmly fixed in her head and somehow or other forgets to let the readers in on the secret. Either that or I am missing a great deal of what happens.
Giving this book a fair rating is going to be difficult. I think, with a better editor and some serious pruning this could be a five star read, but I was so totally lost at times that I had no idea who was who, or what was happening.
If it hadn’t been for the lovely writing in several places, this would be an easy 1 star, but it deserves more than that so I am going with 2.5 stars rounded up to a rare (for me) 3 stars.
Overall I liked it but oh how I wish I could have liked it a lot more.
May 1, 2020
Set against a background of the supernatural, this is a story about life, love, loss and the way in which death leaves in its wake a lot of unresolved issues – certainly for the living, but maybe also for the dead! Annie��s rather quirky, self-deprecating voice carries the main narrative; however, the voices of various other characters (both living and dead) fill in the background gaps. It is well written in a taut, rather spare style and combines humour, sadness and pathos in a very moving and affecting way and, for the most part, the characters feel real and convincing. I found the first two thirds of the book delightfully quirky and engaging, but thought that the storyline gradually lost its way, and that the ending lacked credibility and felt rather rushed – in such contrast to the previous leisurely pace.
May 29, 2017
This felt very much like you are listening to someone tell you a story, but the back story is so long, detailed and often irrelevant detailed, just want them to get to the point. There are even people interjecting with side notes, that also have little to do with the actual plot. As a way to give you insight into a character it is very detailed, but I found myself looking at the number of pages left much as I would the clock if someone was actually telling me a story like this.
The last 30 pages are basically what changed this from a one star to two. Finally, there seemed to be progress in the plot and a sudden resolution that left me wondering where the details were when you actually needed them.
The last 30 pages are basically what changed this from a one star to two. Finally, there seemed to be progress in the plot and a sudden resolution that left me wondering where the details were when you actually needed them.
May 29, 2017
I didn't hate it, but I didn't particularly like it either
This was a weird one. Most of the book feels like a half awake, disinterested first person narrative. It rambles on and on. Kept waiting for a real plot to appear and there were a few points where I thought we'd get one...only to be let down.
I liked the idea of being a customer service person for the dead and finding the dead more of a nuisance than anything, but the execution was off. Evan Bees felt pointless. The other characters point of view chapters were the most interesting parts of the book.
TL;DR Weird, meandering, mostly boring book with a little bit of charm at random points.
This was a weird one. Most of the book feels like a half awake, disinterested first person narrative. It rambles on and on. Kept waiting for a real plot to appear and there were a few points where I thought we'd get one...only to be let down.
I liked the idea of being a customer service person for the dead and finding the dead more of a nuisance than anything, but the execution was off. Evan Bees felt pointless. The other characters point of view chapters were the most interesting parts of the book.
TL;DR Weird, meandering, mostly boring book with a little bit of charm at random points.
May 24, 2019
I LOVED this novel! I bought it at my local library annual book sale. Out of hundreds of books lined up on the tables, I chose this one. Or did it choose me??
Annie Colville is visited by dead people who want her to transmit messages to their living loved ones. Important messages, like where the key to the shed is hanging....
I won't summarize it, but just say, read it! Beautiful renderings, without being precious, of quirky, lovable characters. I'm going to re-read it!
I'm a writer struggling to finish 2 novels. This was a master class for me.
Annie Colville is visited by dead people who want her to transmit messages to their living loved ones. Important messages, like where the key to the shed is hanging....
I won't summarize it, but just say, read it! Beautiful renderings, without being precious, of quirky, lovable characters. I'm going to re-read it!
I'm a writer struggling to finish 2 novels. This was a master class for me.
June 3, 2017
I tried to finish this book but
At 58% I finally gave up. The story just doesn't flow. It's as though the author gets a random thought, writes a chapter for it then jumps back to the main plot. Too many descriptions of things like tea pots or rolls. Descriptions of those items in such detail were just word filler with no real contribution to the plot. This could have been an excellent story about a sad, difficult life. I rate it 2 1/2 stars.
At 58% I finally gave up. The story just doesn't flow. It's as though the author gets a random thought, writes a chapter for it then jumps back to the main plot. Too many descriptions of things like tea pots or rolls. Descriptions of those items in such detail were just word filler with no real contribution to the plot. This could have been an excellent story about a sad, difficult life. I rate it 2 1/2 stars.
June 3, 2017
This was pretty bad. It was all over the place. If there was a plot at all it was a loose one. It reads like your drunk friend telling you a story in flashback. Almost no dialogue. I gave it two stars instead of one because a) the writing is fairly good despite the whole lack of everything else and b) it was short, so at least the suffering was brief. This book could have been so good. The best thing about it is the title.
July 13, 2018
maybe it was because this was my "bed time book" and I read it as I dozed off every night.... But I thought this story was a bit confusing. A lot was implied. I found myself thinking, "Huh? does this mean...... " or "wait, why would.... Oh... What?". The writing was good, as far as sentence structure and grammar. I know this because I stuck with it through the end. Not the worst book I've ever read, by far, but definitely not in my list to recommend to anyone.
November 26, 2018
This book had an interesting premise, (young girl learns she can see and speak to the dead and learns to deal with her gift) but its rambling narration made it difficult to read. There was nothing about this book that compelled you to read it. I kept putting it down and forgetting about it until I would see it on my Goodreads "Currently reading" list. There were a lot of paragraphs that went off tangents that didn't advance the plot.
May 30, 2017
If you find the first couple of chapters a bit slow, stick with it. Things pick up and quickly and while some of the transitions are a bit difficult to follow it's a great read. This basic premise of someone able to communicate with the dead is much used, but Slavin gives it a sufficient twist to make it new again.
March 29, 2019
This book came to me well reviewed and it certainly did not disappoint. I almost felt like I was there with Annie. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that wants a fun read with some really interesting twists and and unforgettable ending.
April 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I have read it before years ago and although it is a little unusual (maybe in the style and in the content) I was hooked in again this time and wanted to know what happens.
September 1, 2020
Annie sees dead people and they're all wearing chocolate brown. Meanwhile, she's living her life like we all do, with joys and heartbreak and easy times and hard times, only she does it in her own charming way. I read this book shortly after it came out and I still think about it. A lot.
January 9, 2023
overall i enjoyed this book though it was confusing for me, so many characters coming in and out i couldn’t always remember who people were. also i am very confused by the ending i wish i had someone to explain it to me. very interesting concept though and i underlined several lines.
November 24, 2018
Another world
For those who like a bit of the supernatural this is a winner but if you are sceptical don't touch it. I enjoyed it with its quirky way of writing.
For those who like a bit of the supernatural this is a winner but if you are sceptical don't touch it. I enjoyed it with its quirky way of writing.
February 24, 2017
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The characters were interesting and the plot had some interesting twists. But the writing style was confusing and distracting. The narrator sometimes changes between chapters, and each chapter seems to start in the middle. There are a lot of characters, living and dead, and it was hard to keep track.
April 12, 2010
I didn't intend to read 3 or 4 books about "ghosts" this year. It just seems to have played out that way. I don't believe in ghosts but it seems they are all the rage in literature for 2010!
I enjoyed this book. The main character was so matter of fact about the people in chocolate brown clothing that she sees. I like that she was conversational and self-effacing in her narration.
Even when she was deep in her own depression and angst over Evan Bees seh still wanted to help people with their unfinished business. Even when her own support system kept disappearing, she kept on delivering messages. She was resilient in her own quirky way, which made her endearing.
I loved the cover art work. I loved the play on words for the title which don't refer to Annie but to her great-uncle who also saw the people in chocolate brown.
I am confused about the ending though. I thought Arthur was her father until the very end. It fit the whole professor thing and explained how Annie ended up happily working in the archeology department and meeting Evan Bees. But then the last 4 pages or so were just unexpected. I *hope* he's not her father but I couldn't quite tell. I did like the abruptness of the ending simply because it shook up Annie's life and turned it all upside down. I think she needed that.
I enjoyed this book. The main character was so matter of fact about the people in chocolate brown clothing that she sees. I like that she was conversational and self-effacing in her narration.
Even when she was deep in her own depression and angst over Evan Bees seh still wanted to help people with their unfinished business. Even when her own support system kept disappearing, she kept on delivering messages. She was resilient in her own quirky way, which made her endearing.
I loved the cover art work. I loved the play on words for the title which don't refer to Annie but to her great-uncle who also saw the people in chocolate brown.
I am confused about the ending though. I thought Arthur was her father until the very end. It fit the whole professor thing and explained how Annie ended up happily working in the archeology department and meeting Evan Bees. But then the last 4 pages or so were just unexpected. I *hope* he's not her father but I couldn't quite tell. I did like the abruptness of the ending simply because it shook up Annie's life and turned it all upside down. I think she needed that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews