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Tea for One
From improving her painting to perfecting her garden, exploring family histories and reclaiming her mother’s art of tea-making, Alice celebrates the small acts that fill her days and make her happy.
- GenresMemoir
Audio CD
Published May 15, 2022
6 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Alice Taylor
109 books62 followersAlice Taylor lives in the village of Innishannon in County Cork, in a house attached to the local supermarket and post office. Since her eldest son has taken over responsibility for the shop, she has been able to devote more time to her writing.
Alice Taylor worked as a telephonist in Killarney and Bandon. When she married, she moved to Innishannon where she ran a guesthouse at first, then the supermarket and post office. She and her husband, Gabriel Murphy, who sadly passed away in 2005, had four sons and one daughter. In 1984 she edited and published the first issue of Candlelight, a local magazine which has since appeared annually. In 1986 she published an illustrated collection of her own verse.
To School Through the Fields was published in May 1988. It was an immediate success, launching Alice on a series of signing sessions, talks and readings the length and breadth of Ireland. Her first radio interview, forty two minutes long on RTÉ Radio's Gay Byrne Show, was the most talked about radio programme of 1988, and her first television interview, of the same length, was the highlight of the year on RTÉ television's Late Late Show. Since then she has appeared on radio programmes such as Woman's Hour, Midweek and The Gloria Hunniford Show, and she has been the subject of major profiles in the Observer and the Mail on Sunday.
To School Through the Fields quickly became the biggest selling book ever published in Ireland, and her sequels, Quench the Lamp, The Village, Country Days and The Night Before Christmas, were also outstandingly successful. Since their initial publication these books of memoirs have also been translated and sold internationally.
In 1997 her first novel, The Woman of the House, was an immediate bestseller in Ireland, topping the paperback fiction lists for many weeks. A moving story of land, love and family, it was followed by a sequel, Across the River in 2000, which was also a bestseller.
One of Ireland's most popular authors, she has continued writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry since.
Alice Taylor worked as a telephonist in Killarney and Bandon. When she married, she moved to Innishannon where she ran a guesthouse at first, then the supermarket and post office. She and her husband, Gabriel Murphy, who sadly passed away in 2005, had four sons and one daughter. In 1984 she edited and published the first issue of Candlelight, a local magazine which has since appeared annually. In 1986 she published an illustrated collection of her own verse.
To School Through the Fields was published in May 1988. It was an immediate success, launching Alice on a series of signing sessions, talks and readings the length and breadth of Ireland. Her first radio interview, forty two minutes long on RTÉ Radio's Gay Byrne Show, was the most talked about radio programme of 1988, and her first television interview, of the same length, was the highlight of the year on RTÉ television's Late Late Show. Since then she has appeared on radio programmes such as Woman's Hour, Midweek and The Gloria Hunniford Show, and she has been the subject of major profiles in the Observer and the Mail on Sunday.
To School Through the Fields quickly became the biggest selling book ever published in Ireland, and her sequels, Quench the Lamp, The Village, Country Days and The Night Before Christmas, were also outstandingly successful. Since their initial publication these books of memoirs have also been translated and sold internationally.
In 1997 her first novel, The Woman of the House, was an immediate bestseller in Ireland, topping the paperback fiction lists for many weeks. A moving story of land, love and family, it was followed by a sequel, Across the River in 2000, which was also a bestseller.
One of Ireland's most popular authors, she has continued writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry since.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 20, 2022
This was one woman's account of aloneness in the wake of Covid. I didn't at all gel with this one as much as I'd hoped. I found there was much repetition, almost to the point of assuming I had back tracked on my BorrowBox app, but it just seemed it was not for me. I hoped for more.
I didn't find the stories interesting; I do have an interest in the solitude of self, but this was far less interesting than I hoped.
There was one tid bit about a Christening hoped for in the times of Covid, and the weather was worsening and it seemed the occasion would have to be postponed. I just couldn't form a connection, but this may be just me and others may connect to this small book in a more positive light.
Well written nonetheless, though I feel I was certainly the wrong demographic for this book.
I didn't find the stories interesting; I do have an interest in the solitude of self, but this was far less interesting than I hoped.
There was one tid bit about a Christening hoped for in the times of Covid, and the weather was worsening and it seemed the occasion would have to be postponed. I just couldn't form a connection, but this may be just me and others may connect to this small book in a more positive light.
Well written nonetheless, though I feel I was certainly the wrong demographic for this book.
November 2, 2022
For myself this book didn’t resonate. I wouldn’t mind living that kind of village life … but I just have to say that it feels like a collection of letters not as a book even if you call it biography.
June 16, 2022
A collection of stories of Alice's coping mechanisms in dealing with the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and it's lockdowns. A charming and relatable read about how the most challenging of times can be times of reflection and learning to embrace solitude and sitting quietly with one's self and a cup of tea.⭐⭐⭐ #alicetaylor #teaforone #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #amazonkindle #litsy #thestorygraph #bookqueen #bookstagram
October 13, 2022
I listened to the audio version of this book - beautifully narrated.
This was a lovely, gentle listen and featured the author musing about her Covid experiences whilst she lived alone. She did have family nearby, and a good circle of friends, but spending more time by herself during lockdowns allowed her to embrace those simple little things that she'd forgotten all about - her love of reading, gardening, painting and even the art of enjoying a simple cup of tea - she shares her thoughts and reflections on a strange time in all our lives, and how a slower pace of life made her treasure the simplicities of life. there's a lovely use of poetry too and it made for a lovely Sunday afternoon listen!
This was a lovely, gentle listen and featured the author musing about her Covid experiences whilst she lived alone. She did have family nearby, and a good circle of friends, but spending more time by herself during lockdowns allowed her to embrace those simple little things that she'd forgotten all about - her love of reading, gardening, painting and even the art of enjoying a simple cup of tea - she shares her thoughts and reflections on a strange time in all our lives, and how a slower pace of life made her treasure the simplicities of life. there's a lovely use of poetry too and it made for a lovely Sunday afternoon listen!
June 5, 2024
I feel bad giving this two stars as I think it does well at what it tries to do, it just wasn’t what I was expecting and didn’t click with me.
If you want to feel like you are getting long rambling phone calls from your Irish grandmother about what she’s getting up to during the height of the COVID pandemic, this is the audiobook for you.
If you want to feel like you are getting long rambling phone calls from your Irish grandmother about what she’s getting up to during the height of the COVID pandemic, this is the audiobook for you.
February 1, 2022
Lovely stories and poetry about gardening, covid cocooning and Innishannon history. A nice easy read Very enjoyable
December 6, 2022
Read as audiobook
January 15, 2024
This was a delightful book about life with all it’s wonders and special moments, observations and heartfelt.
February 16, 2025
Would be a really good audiobook to go to sleep to, but frankly I was bored.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews