Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Wednesday 17 October 2012

The Vintage Teacup Club - Vanessa Greene



‘Step by step we’d let each other in, and now it was hard to imagine that we hadn’t always been there for each other.’

This lovely debut novel combines the lives of three different women as they meet by chance and form firm friendships. Jenny is our first person narrator; she is browsing at a car boot sale in Charlesworth, an old market town in Sussex, and we share her delight when she happens upon precisely the items she has been searching for, a vintage teaset. Just at that moment, two other women swoop in who are equally as interested in the very same items. The three women decide to share the teaset, each making use of it in turn for their own special purposes, and from this unique beginning, their stories unfold.

Jenny is looking forward to her forthcoming marriage to Dan. As her plans move forwards, she is thrown by the sudden unexpected contact from a woman who has played no part in her life for many years, and she worries that her happiness could be damaged. Maggie is a strong, independent career woman, forging ahead after the disappointment of her failed marriage and Alison appears at first sight to be a happily married woman with two daughters, but things are never as straightforward as they might seem, for any of them.

One of the aspects I liked about the main characters in this novel is that the women are not all the same age, and they have different experiences of life. This brings an interesting dimension to their relationships with each other, across the generations. It was lovely to read how such a strong, supportive bond develops between the friends, and this friendship that forms isn’t affected by this difference in their ages, for example when they share exciting news with each other; ‘A twenty-year age gap made no difference to our levels of girlish excitement.’

A favourite part of the narrative for me involves the history of the teaset and culminates with a perceptive comment which is made about life and love, how  ‘As you get older you see that what you thought were little things, why they were really the big things all along.’

This is a sparkling debut novel. I really enjoyed reading it. It is an easy, engaging read with likeable characters, between whom a lovely, believable and supportive friendship grows. The characters develop and the women support and encourage each other to follow their dreams and be successful and happy. When times are tough and romance, family or careers are getting them down, they are there for each other to share the pain, and they celebrate this: ‘To new friends, a port in the storm.’ Vanessa Greene paints a lovely portrait of female friendship across the generations. I would definitely look out for and look forward to the next novel by this author. I love the beautiful, attractive and very fitting cover design.

All that really remains to be said is for the prospective reader to settle back with a good cuppa (preferably in a pretty tea cup) and read all about these ladies and their ups and downs revolving around vintage teacups!

Reviewed by Lindsay Healy



Published by Sphere 


Thanks to the publisher for the proof copy of this novel which I received as a competition prize.

This was alongside a lovely invitation to attend a vintage tea party with the author - you can read about this here.

You can follow the author on twitter @VanessaGBooks



13 comments:

  1. Lovely review

    Can't wait to get to this one

    carol x

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    1. Thanks for commenting Carol. I think you'd like this one too. x

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    2. I'm so looking forward to this one too. I think it will have me scouring the local antique shops in no time!

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    3. Thanks for visiting and commenting Victoria. It made me want to start searching for vintage stuff too.

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  2. Great review...this sounds like one I'd really like!

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  3. Great review, this sounds like my kind of read (I was going to say it was my cup of tea but stopped myself just in time), thanks for recommending it.

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    1. Ha that is totally appropriate though! :-) Thanks for commenting.

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  4. Fab review Lins. Good to see you back on form. I've been debating on adding this to my weekly Tesco online shop ... and I've resisted so far! Don't know how much longer I can last though! x

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    1. Thanks for commenting Shaz and for your kind words. Go on do it! Think you'd like it. x

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  6. Brill review Lindsay - I loved this one too. Such a warm read.

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    1. Thanks very much for visiting and commenting Amanda :)

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