Fanny McBride

by Catherine Cookson

Now that her brood had left the nest, Fanny McBride, a large, cheerful and indomitable Tyneside widow, had time to sit by her window and watch the goings-on outside. There was plenty to keep her occupied: the mystery of the new woman at Mulhattan’s Hall, the tenement block (here a fortnight already and not so much as a hello); the long-standing feud with Mrs Flannagan over the street; after-school visits from her grandson Corny, cheeky as a sparrow with an appetite like a gannet.

Not that Fanny had any intention of ending her days in lonely isolation, however. And so when her friend Mary fell sick and had to give up work for a few weeks, it was Fanny who took her place. It tickled her to think how her son Phil would react. After all, he was the clever one, a clean collar every day for his job in the Borough Treasurer’s office. She could just picture his face when she told him she’d got a job in town – looking after the ladies’ lavatories…

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Novels

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.

Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.

For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.

Reviews

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere in England in 1959, there is a large house turned into apartments called Mulhatten's Hall. In the apartment right below the attic one, lives Fanny McBride. Fanny is old, widowed (and glad of it), honest to the point of bluntness, and even tho she has only a few pennies to her name, generous to a fault. Anytime someone needs extra coal or a shilling or two, Fanny is the one to go to. And Fanny loves to laugh. But don't cross Fanny! If her behavior towards the "upstart" Nellie Flannagen is anything to go by, no, you don't want to cross Fanny!

Out of twelve children, Fanny has loved and favored one: Jack. Jack has done what Fanny considers unforgiveable tho and up and married a lady of a different relgion. She hasn't seen her Jack since. While drama unfolds with the new family in the attic above and Fanny struggles to come to terms with the fact that her last child will soon be leaving her home, Christmas comes and goes with no sign of Jack. Will he come back?

Fanny also takes a job and these parts bring their own hillarity to the story. I laughed so many times. The ending took me by complete surprise. Fabulous story. I recommend it for anyone who wants to be touched by both laughter and a lonely woman's heartache.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny book. Fanny is the one many go to with problems and for help. However she has her own problems at times. She had a brood of kids all are gone except one. For some reason tho she doesn't love him like she does one of her children Jack they call him. Jack never comes around any more and now she is afraid of being lonely when Phillip leaves home. None of her children has asked her to live with them and that kinda bothers her for she is getting up there in age. The stuff that comes out of Fanny's mouth is hilarious at times. The writing style I do not much care for.
The 5 stars is for content and humor of it all.

I wonder tho how do you love one child more than the other? How can you forgive and make excuses for one and not pay any attention to the one right under your nose? I have no answer to that.

[Nisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've discovered, really discovered, Catherine Cookson. Her book is about poor people living from the heart, expressing themselves honestly, vulgarly as often as not, but honestly. Big on character. Big on heart. Good read. Again, useful insight into human interactions through discriptive prose.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fanny McBride was a large, cheerful, indomitable Tyneside widow with a large, cheerful family. Although sometimes a little lonely, she keeps herself occupied, what with her long standing feud with Mrs Flanagan, her favourite child's unsuitable marriage and the puzzle of her one unmarried son.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in most of Cookson's books she writes with strong female characters overcoming some miserable circumstance or misfortune. I also love the English accents given her characters. If you like books set in old England and well developed characters, you will enjoy books by Catherine Cookson!

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant story by Catherine Cookson. Storytelling at it's best.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I have read. It was a good story and highlights some of the struggles of being in the second stage of life, although that isn't the main focus of the book. The main character Fanny is in her fifties and is beginning to feel lonely and wondering if this is how the rest of her days are going to be. She raised 11 children, but only one is still at home and only one grandkid visits her often.

There is odd and mysterious neighbours, ongoing feuds and a new job to keep her on her toes!

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming tale of a fesity old widow called Fanny McBride and the adventures of her life and the relationships she has with her neglectful children, her neighbours and friends.
All her life she has lavished love and attention on her youngest son Jack but when he marries a girl from the Salvation army he disappoints the Catholic Fanny which causes a near unreconcilable rift.
Her obsession with Jack leads her to miss the love of the only other child out of all her children to have any obvious affection for her, Phillip is rather reserved and dandified and is the total antithesis of Fanny herself so she finds it hard to relate to him yet he still craves her love and attention.
When her neighbours secret lives upstairs are revealed things are pretty much brought to a head and a near death experience forces Fanny to reevaluate her life and her priorities in regards to her children and what is important to her.
Told with humour, empathy and an honesty only Cookson can bring to a novel, a wonderful lighthearted read and in a way more comedic in some ways and a little lighter than her usual themes and time periods within which her stories are set.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.

[alice murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ODownload the rest of Catherine Collison collevctionExcellent funny but sad also a real life story


Yes please call the
I choose this book as I had heard of the Catherine Collison collection recommend to me I had a great laugh with famous charter as funny herself . .
Yes
ny herself,

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book from Catherine Cookson. She often expores poverty that most of us thankfully have not experienced, and hope never have to experience, personally. She was obviously an observer of life and the small details and transfers this knowledge to her books.

WD

[Karen Wasylowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, could easily see Dawn French as Fanny. Funny, poignant

[Cara Whippetwhisperer · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice comfy read for Xmas hols. much more enjoyable than pfaffing about on my phone. just the ending was a bit too something.

[Jaime B · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fanny McBride” is a captivating tale that transcends the ordinary confines of historical fiction. This novel is rich in both character and atmosphere, drawing readers into the tumultuous life of Fanny McBride. At its core, it is a poignant exploration of resilience, determination, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Fanny, a woman of humble origins, confronts the many challenges of her time with unwavering resolve, emerging as a beacon of strength and tenacity in the face of adversity. As Fanny grapples with her own sense of self and her place in the world, she encounters a diverse cast of characters whose lives intersect with hers in unexpected ways. Through these relationships, themes of love, loyalty, and the enduring bonds that unite us as human beings are explored. In conclusion, the novel offers readers a captivating glimpse into the past while speaking to timeless truths about the human experience. For fans of historical fiction “Fanny McBride" is an absolute must-read.

[Beatrice Moffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like all of her books. Some I must admit I like better than others. This one I had read years ago but still enjoyed it. The thing about her books is the way she shows us about human nature. Even though her books usually have conflict in them, she shows how people deal with it in not the best circumstances. I was very upset when she died in 1998 as I thought I would not get to read very many more of her books. Well I was wrong, I am still finding some of her books to this day that I had not read.

[Mrs Carol L. Chettle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read

I've been of Catherine Cookson fan since I was 18 years old my first book was 'Katie Mulholland' and I have enjoyed reading her books.

This books is not any different. Fanny goes to war with her arch enemy Mrs Flannigan and struggles to accept her favourite son’s marriage. In the middle of it all is a really good mystery when the new neighbours move in upstairs. It took me 2 days to read. I could 't put the book down.

[Philip Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life as it was!

I'm now 72 years of age, I've read Catherine Cookson books since I was 20 year old, many of them twice or more....Fanny McBride was the first one I read, Catherine Cookson, uses words to conjure up pictures of a community that is no longer with us, and emotions that stay with you from the beginning to the end of whichever of Cookson book you happen to be reading.
Fanny McBride would be a wonderful read, for anyone of any age to enjoy.

[linda toon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revisited

I read this book many years ago and laughed and cried through out the book.i came across it a few weeks ago and had to read it again it had lost none of the enjoyment I felt when reading those many years ago . I highly recommend this book

[Annie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to realize a side character in the Mary Ann series, Fanny McBride, gets her own book. I just love this character. She's imperfect and awkward, but so lovable, and comfortable in her own skin. The ending was absolutely hilarious when she's arguing with the archangel Michael.

[Lin SINGH-BARRINGTON · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I have family, living and deceased, from South Shields, I thought it was about time I read a Catherine Cookson book. I love the way she develops the female characters and the main protagonist in particular.

This book is full of a strong mother's wisdom.

[Pauline Haycocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have probably read this before a long time ago because I don’t remember it. But it was really good and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Chantelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a comparatively quick read against other Catherine Cooksons, but it was a nice story.

[Victor]

Good book kept me on the seat edge.

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an amazing book chapter 10 a little emotional I want say what was a emotional but not recommend for 11 years old or under

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of Catherine's early books. Not my favorite but an ok read.

[Janet Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one very much. Early Catherine Cookson's are the best, but I think it's the same with any author. We reach a peak and then it's all downhill from there!

[MaryJayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book has a few twists