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Hubble Bubble
Zimt und Zauber
Kaffeeklatsch und Butterfahrt scheinen die einzigen »Abenteuer« zu sein, auf die Mitzi Blessing sich noch freuen kann. Schließlich hat sie keinen Job, keinen Mann, kein Hobby und ist nicht mehr die Jüngste. Aber mit ihren knapp über fünfzig Lenzen zählt Mitzi sich noch lange nicht zum alten Eisen. Und spätestens, als ihr das alte Kochbuch ihrer Großmutter in die Hände fällt, weiß sie, was zu tun ist. Denn die außergewöhnlichen Rezepte versprechen nicht nur köstliche Gerichte. »Wünsch-Dir-Was-Pie« und »Verführungs-Pudding« bringen auch mehr Abwechslung in Mitzis Leben, schneller als ihr lieb ist …
Wünsche können wahr werden, man muss nur an sie glauben ….
Wünsche können wahr werden, man muss nur an sie glauben ….
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
17 people are currently reading
646 people want to read
About the author
Christina Jones
85 books192 followersI've written all my life, but only became a published novelist in 1997. Before that, I wrote short stories and newspaper articles for pin money while doing a series of naff jobs. In fact I've had twenty seven jobs and been sacked from nineteen of them for writing when I should have been working. I've been, among other things, a shop assistant, waitress, cleaner, secretary, factory worker, market-researcher, nanny, bookseller, night-club dancer, civil servant, blood donor attendant, fruit-picker and barmaid. I'm now, apparently, a Real Writer.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 24, 2021
I adore Jones' style. I find it very English and very much like real life. Hubble Bubble was so funny and a really nice and simple read. Just the kind of book to help you relax and smile. I loved the bit of kitchen witchery thrown in as well.
May 14, 2025
I’ve read each book in the ‘Mad Villages’ series by Christina Jones multiple times over many years, but they’re like an old sitcom: so comforting that you can return to them again and again. Her writing is so warm and cosy and funny. It was lovely to start at the beginning and escape into ‘Hubble Bubble’ again, so I think I’m going to re-read the whole series!
December 22, 2023
ein lustiger Roman der sich super gut lesen läßt .Hat echt Spass gemacht
September 9, 2007
this book isn't that nice. it's about a middle aged woman who already retired from her job and she struggles to learn how to live as her age. she finds a recipe book that belonged to her grandmother where the recipes aren't the usual ones you find. it's something that's supposed to be magical. at first, i thought it was nice but i didn't like it much...
November 30, 2008
I bought many of this author's books on recommendation of a friend a few years ago (2007/08). Unfortunately I never wrote a review at the time, so it's on my list to read again. I know that it'll be a fun, enjoyable story. : )
February 27, 2010
Kurzweilig, jedoch gerade am Ende etwas zu überdreht.
Abgesehen davon finde ich es auch übertrieben, so zu tun, als wäre das Leben mit 50 zu Ende und man verlöre automatisch den Verstand und alle motorischen Fähigkeiten.
Alles in allem fand ich das Buch trotzdem unterhaltsam. ;-)
Abgesehen davon finde ich es auch übertrieben, so zu tun, als wäre das Leben mit 50 zu Ende und man verlöre automatisch den Verstand und alle motorischen Fähigkeiten.
Alles in allem fand ich das Buch trotzdem unterhaltsam. ;-)
October 22, 2007
Cute book about Baby Boomer taking early retirement, and finding herself creating magic in her small village. Feel good and interesting characters.
September 5, 2010
Not as magical as Seeing Stars (should have read this one first, in order) but a light and happy read, not trying to be great literature but you can tell that from the title and description.
April 27, 2024
Hubble Bubble follows Mitzi Blessing, a 50-ish woman forced into early retirement from the bank she has worked in for years. Facing a future filled with flower arranging and cricket teas, and being made to feel old when she feels anything but, Mitzi rebels against a life of quiet domesticity. Determined to make a splash, she sets her sights on revitalizing her sleepy village of Hazy Hassocks. I must say here that it’s a fabulous place to live.
The book's title hints at the underlying current of mellow magic. Mitzi's attempts to stir up excitement in the village take a turn for the unexpected, with a dash of the supernatural sprinkled in for good measure when she comes across her grandmother’s old recipe books. Mitzi is a relatable protagonist, and many readers will see themselves in her desire to avoid a predictable retirement. The quirky villagers she encounters add to the charm of the story though I did find Lob and Lav just on the far side of realistic. The narrative is light and humorous, following Mitzi's attempts to breathe life back into Hazy Hassocks and the touch of magic adds a whimsical layer to the plot but it works!
Christina Jones explores themes of getting older whilst finding purpose, and the importance of community. It's a super story about taking charge of your life and making a difference, even in the face of retirement. The older characters serve to show Mitzi’s relative youth. Jones has a knack for creating humorous situations and dialogue. The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments. Mitzi and the villagers are well-developed characters that readers can easily connect with. The funniest one for me was Trilby Man (and he turns up in later books too, as bonkers as ever). In the local am-dram society he’s enthusiastic and theatrical but a disaster zone when "fighting his way out through the lopsided curtains" and "shrieking" into the microphone. Shimmying around and making a fool of himself at the best Halloween party I have ever seen described. Despite the fantastical elements Hubble Bubble is ultimately a cheery tale about finding your place in the world. The magical aspects are subtle and lighthearted and that makes it believable. I absolutely loved it.
The book's title hints at the underlying current of mellow magic. Mitzi's attempts to stir up excitement in the village take a turn for the unexpected, with a dash of the supernatural sprinkled in for good measure when she comes across her grandmother’s old recipe books. Mitzi is a relatable protagonist, and many readers will see themselves in her desire to avoid a predictable retirement. The quirky villagers she encounters add to the charm of the story though I did find Lob and Lav just on the far side of realistic. The narrative is light and humorous, following Mitzi's attempts to breathe life back into Hazy Hassocks and the touch of magic adds a whimsical layer to the plot but it works!
Christina Jones explores themes of getting older whilst finding purpose, and the importance of community. It's a super story about taking charge of your life and making a difference, even in the face of retirement. The older characters serve to show Mitzi’s relative youth. Jones has a knack for creating humorous situations and dialogue. The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments. Mitzi and the villagers are well-developed characters that readers can easily connect with. The funniest one for me was Trilby Man (and he turns up in later books too, as bonkers as ever). In the local am-dram society he’s enthusiastic and theatrical but a disaster zone when "fighting his way out through the lopsided curtains" and "shrieking" into the microphone. Shimmying around and making a fool of himself at the best Halloween party I have ever seen described. Despite the fantastical elements Hubble Bubble is ultimately a cheery tale about finding your place in the world. The magical aspects are subtle and lighthearted and that makes it believable. I absolutely loved it.
October 9, 2023
This book may well be twenty years old but it's a real cracker. I've really enjoyed it, learning about some very eccentric characters and their lives. Our main protagonist's stumbling across her grandmother's cookery book and the 'herbal' recipes inside.
Great fun, lots of funny moments, as well as a few (rare), caught out loud moments.
A great pick me up kind of book.
Great fun, lots of funny moments, as well as a few (rare), caught out loud moments.
A great pick me up kind of book.
July 18, 2020
Banali ir pilna klišių.
Na, vertimas irgi nepadeda. Pavyzdžiui, iš konteksto suprantu, jog frazė angl. skambėjo taip:
“Was he hot or what?!” Išversta “Ar jis seksualus ar koks?”. Tuom viskas ir pasakyta.
Na, vertimas irgi nepadeda. Pavyzdžiui, iš konteksto suprantu, jog frazė angl. skambėjo taip:
“Was he hot or what?!” Išversta “Ar jis seksualus ar koks?”. Tuom viskas ir pasakyta.
July 22, 2021
Nice and sweet book with a little bit of magic thrown into the mix. Even elderly women in early retirement can find a life partner with a little help of magic... laughing uncontrollably now :-) .... where´s my grimoire ...
December 29, 2023
My very first Christina Jones book!! I remember spotting it at the library because of the colourful cover. I was hooked and have read and loved so many more ever since! They are definitely my comfort books that I come back to time and time again!
June 18, 2020
So fun, magical and cosy!
Read
July 30, 2021This author has become an instabuy for me . Her stories are told with so much love and fun and although there is a big dose of the magical her characters are.believable.
August 4, 2023
Love this, even 2nd time around.
October 24, 2024
Loved it.
April 26, 2009
Hunting for inspiration in her attic, Mitzi Blessing discovers her grandmother's old cookery book. She found it to be chockful of seemingly old-fashioned recipes with quaint and enchanting names such as "Mischief Night Cake," "Powers of Persuasion Pudding" and "Pumpkin Passions" thus finds herself unable to resist the temptation of trying them out. She reasons that it might just seem harmless enough.
"For wishes to come true, the wishes must be made while eating the first mouthful. This pie will always make wishes come true, so a warning -- be careful what you wish for."
But when her "Wishes Come True Pie" brought surprising results to her home and love life, she realizes that maybe, just maybe, there's more to this recipe book that she had thought...
This novel may remind one of Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate" due to the fantastical culinary arts referred to, but without the brilliance of the author's writing style. Sadly, one must treat this one as a light read, but it is entertaining in its own right.
Book Details:
Title Hubble Bubble
Author Christina Jones
Reviewed By Purplycookie
"For wishes to come true, the wishes must be made while eating the first mouthful. This pie will always make wishes come true, so a warning -- be careful what you wish for."
But when her "Wishes Come True Pie" brought surprising results to her home and love life, she realizes that maybe, just maybe, there's more to this recipe book that she had thought...
This novel may remind one of Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate" due to the fantastical culinary arts referred to, but without the brilliance of the author's writing style. Sadly, one must treat this one as a light read, but it is entertaining in its own right.
Book Details:
Title Hubble Bubble
Author Christina Jones
Reviewed By Purplycookie
February 18, 2009
I'm actually reading these books out of sync as I got "Heaven Sent" as a swap and after enjoying it started to look for the others.
It seems clear that it is the first of a planned series with lots of peripheral characters that are potentially interesting but not developed...but will be later. A light, frothy read, not at all realistic and a bit cheesy in places...but fun at the end of a tryig week!
It seems clear that it is the first of a planned series with lots of peripheral characters that are potentially interesting but not developed...but will be later. A light, frothy read, not at all realistic and a bit cheesy in places...but fun at the end of a tryig week!
August 6, 2011
Loved it! It's the first book in the mad village series and it's a wonderful read. I am very tempted to try some of the recipes given in the book! I also like how the main protagonist is not your average heroine. She's 55! And I also liked how the magical element was nice and believable. I am looking forward to reading more by Christina Jones!
October 5, 2016
This was the first Christina Jones book I read and it was hilarious. It's one of those stories that would be brilliant as a TV film and I can picture all the actors I'd choose to play the parts.
There's one bit where she describes the protaganist walking down the road and catching a glimpse of herself in a shop window and resembling Don King, the writing is sublime.
There's one bit where she describes the protaganist walking down the road and catching a glimpse of herself in a shop window and resembling Don King, the writing is sublime.
September 30, 2013
Although it was necessary to suspend belief a little when reading this book, I did thoroughly enjoy it. The characters were sympathetic and as a fifty something myself, it was nice to have such a vibrant, attractive protagonist of a certain age.
January 21, 2016
Read this in English. Wasn't very good, it was very predictable and the big turn near the end was very artificial. It has some magic which was fun but otherwise I didn't enjoy it much. The charicters were very predictable too, they didn't have much life in them.
December 16, 2014
I've read a lot of chick lit books over the years and this was given to me by a friend. It provided a few hours escape but nothing ultimately memorable - I'm glad to have it done and can give it back.
April 14, 2009
My goodness. This book was mind-numbingly boring.Christina Jones, I WANT MY MONEY BACK.
April 5, 2011
3.5 really. I really enjoyed it, it's good for a light, fluffy sort of read inbetween all the 'deep' books I'm so fond of!
Read
August 12, 2011Light and cheerful.
Read
June 3, 2012I enjoyed this book, it was really fun to read. Have already read Love Potions, actually read it first, liked it and got Hubble Bubble. Have got the second book but haven't read it yet.
July 31, 2012
Great read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews