Away with the Penguins: The joyful no. 1 Richard & Judy pick now with exclusive bonus chapter
As seen:
By Hazel Prior
avg rating
3 reviews
Don’t miss Granny McCreedy’s brand-new adventure in Gone with the Penguins – available to pre-order now!
A Richard & Judy Book Club and BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.
A truly feel-good book club read – a #1 bestseller in ebook and audio!
‘This year’s Eleanor Oliphant . . . Funny, bittersweet and wholly original.’ Daily Express
Veronica McCreedy is about to have the journey of a lifetime . . .
Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary. And she’s never seen without her ruby-red lipstick.
Although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone.
She can be found either collecting litter from the beach (‘people who litter the countryside should be shot’), trying to locate her glasses (‘someone must have moved them’) or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen (‘Eileen, door!’).
Veronica doesn’t have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway . . . And she has no idea where she’s going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.
But today . . . today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this.
‘I love this gorgeous book. Unflinching, stubborn, funny and moving, Veronica is an unlikely heroine who will sneak in and capture your heart.’ Trisha Ashley
Readers are falling in love with Away with the Penguins:
‘Without a doubt the most delightful, joyous and uplifting book I’ve read so far this year . . . be prepared to fall in love.’ *
‘A gloriously quirky and life affirming story of hope.’ *
‘Oh how I loved this absolute gem of a book. Both heartbreaking and heartwarming.’ *
Reviews
St Just Monday Morning Reading Group 26th September 2022.
Away with the Penguins. Hazel Prior.
This was described by the group as a ‘feel-good’ book, enjoyable to read, fun, entertaining, and Disney-like. The penguins were especially popular. The actualities of the story were seen as fairly unlikely, and the plot as somewhat predictable.
The more serious elements of the book were discussed in more detail: Veronica McCreedy’s sad childhood and adolescence, the deaths of her parents, her awful school and her unpleasant aunt, her pregnancy and the removal of her child without her consent, all of which contributed to her becoming the nasty old lady, snobbish and entitled, who is introduced at the beginning of the book. Despite all this she still had the strength of character to visit a sub-Antarctic research station where she was not at all welcomed, and to search out her last remaining relative, all whilst in her eighties.
A nice book to read, but one which did not engender a very lengthy discussion!
This is a very light, easy-read which provided perfect escapism during Winter and the anxiety of living in pandemic. It is a very predictable read and the characters are very stereotypical but we had fun discussing this read. What's not to like about penguins?!
Away with the penguins - is a delightful and uplifting read. We meet the marvellous Veronica McCreedy an 85 year living in Scotland who attempts to connect with her past. Her wartime diary is beautifully raw , revealing and tender offering the reader the opportunity to discover the young woman that Veronica once was as well as disclosing a heart rendering secret. Veronica is a really interesting character and I found myself routing for her as her story unfolds.
There is humour as the cantankerous Veronica with her 3 favourite handbags and her red lipsticks travels to Antarctica to save the Gentoo penguins.
Just a fantastic read for our troubled times ( lockdown , COVID-19 ) and what is there not to like about a cute baby penguin! - Sarah Davis reader development librarian Greenwich libraries
