15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fluff with a Message, November 8, 2001
This review is from: Second Thyme Around (Us) (Hardcover)
This book begins with a lovely dedication: "To the older women I have known and loved, many thanks for your wisdom." We are then plunged headlong into a lighthearted tale of Perdita, an organic gardener, and her new client, a temperamental chef who turns out to be her ex-husband.
It is only toward the end of the book that one realizes there are two stories here. One is a fast and saucy bit of fluff a la Taming of the Shrew. Will Perdita and the loathed-ex Lucas ever stop fighting long enough to acknowledge the strong attraction between them? Will Lucas stop making fun of Perdita's beloved vegetables? Will Perdita stop sneering at Lucas's beloved kitchen? Will they remarry and live happily ever after? In typical Katie Fforde style, the story is told with such charm that it merrily zips along to its fairly obvious and very satisfying ending.
But there is another story here, and that is where the dedication comes in. Much deeper and more meaningful, it is the story of two dear friends, one of whom (Perdita) is just under 30 years old, and the other of whom (Kitty) is 87. Kitty, who is godmother to Perdita's gadabout mother, was mother/nurse/confidante/mentor and friend to the younger woman all through her childhood and formative years, as Perdita's parents dumped her with Kitty throughout her childhood so that they could pursue a lifetime of exotic travel. The relationship, which suited both child and mentor, deepened over the years into one of two soulmates, no matter how different in age.
While Perdita is pursuing her saucy relationship with Lucas, she is also facing possible tragedy when the whiskey-swilling, pipe-smoking, fiercely independent Kitty suffers a serious stroke. Perdita must face the inevitable loss of her dearest friend, if not from this stroke, then from another cause; after all, Kitty is almost 90.
The realization of one's mortality, of the importance of friendship, and of the impact of the very few but very treasured friends of the heart provides the counterpoint to the comedy. And it is so subtle that it is only when the book ends that the reader absorbs the deeper meaning.
Bravo, Katie, for this lovely tale. Bravo for making us laugh and smile while reminding us in your own unique way about what is important in life--and what is not.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fun book to add to your summer reading list!, May 8, 2002
This review is from: Second Thyme Around (Us) (Hardcover)
This is a delicious beach read (or camping read if you prefer to go camping like me!). It's fun and saavy and British ~~ which is surprising that the library here has it! It's has a happy beginning which ties so neatly with the ending ~~ and Katie is definitely an author to keep an eye out for.
Perdita is a gardener who sells her produce to local restaurants and hotels in her little village and she was quite happy with her life till her ex-husband Lucas swept back into her life again ~~ this time as a chef at a local hotel. That is where the sparks begins to fly. The last time she had seen Lucas was when he left her for an older woman as he worked in the City as a struggling brokestocker. She managed to gather herself up and remade her life ~~ covering up the broken pieces of her heart. Seeing Lucas again only brought back those feelings and with her dear guardian, Kitty, ill from a stroke, Perdita had enough on her plate.
It is such a whimisical and fun novel to read. If you are looking for something more heavier, you will be disappointed in this book. However, for a lot of busy women, they want to escape in a good read ~~ and this is eye candy! It's fun and quick and blissfully pure escapism. I would recommend this read if you're looking for a lighter read. It is well-written too to please English snobs like me!
5-7-02
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable read with likeable characters, October 9, 2004
OK, this isn't going to win the Booker Prize, but I found this book charming and absorbing. It's basically a romance but the main female character (Perdita) is likeable and not sitting around waiting for Prince Charming. I don't normally like romances but this book has much more substance and quality than the average romance.
Heroine Perdita has a life of her own already and is not looking for a man. She has a small organic gardening business and loves what she does even if she's not going to get rich doing it. Perdita's ex-husband Lucas walks back into her life. Perdita and Lucas had been married a number of years ago when Perdita was still in her teens; he left her for another woman and broke her heart. He's the new gourmet chef at a restaurant that she supplies -- she delivers vegetables there everyday. There is the predictable sexual tension between the two (she's attracted sexually but still mad at him), but it's all done so well you don't really care if it's predictable. Being set in an English village added to the charm, as does Perdita's loving relationship with the delightful 80-something "Aunt" Kitty, who has more or less raised her.
This is the first book I've read by this author -- I'm looking forward to reading more and hope they're as good.
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