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zoefruitcake's review against another edition
4.0
Over the long hot summer of 1976 Grace and Tilly probe the lives of their neighbours, looking for God, finding Jesus and trying to work out who are goats and who are sheep.
I'm just about old enough to remember that summer and the descriptions of the homes in The Avenue made me feel like I was revisiting the homes of friends and family in the 70s (always my favourite decade, probably because I like the colours brown and orange and my musical taste seems to have stopped circa 1978). Unlike children today they are largely left unsupervised to talk to adults and try and work out what has happened to Margaret Creasy who has disappeared.
I admit I got a little impatient for the end and then once it came I was frustrated there wasn't more but I found it a very enjoyable read
I'm just about old enough to remember that summer and the descriptions of the homes in The Avenue made me feel like I was revisiting the homes of friends and family in the 70s (always my favourite decade, probably because I like the colours brown and orange and my musical taste seems to have stopped circa 1978). Unlike children today they are largely left unsupervised to talk to adults and try and work out what has happened to Margaret Creasy who has disappeared.
I admit I got a little impatient for the end and then once it came I was frustrated there wasn't more but I found it a very enjoyable read
tanya_the_spack's review against another edition
I’ve been fighting to finish this book for 2 months, and I give up. The prose is lovely and clever, but the story is just. so. boring.
spaita's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It was nostalgic trip of some sweets and desserts 1 enjoyed as a child and still do.
msilkwolfe's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this one. A fun escape! Set in a small English village, it was intriguing, vibrant, and highlighted a sweet friendship.
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
Continuing my TBR project:
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added November 12, 2016.
This is one of the best books about family and community that I have ever read. Some of the time it is sad, some of the time it is funny, and some of the time it prompts you to search your own soul.
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added November 12, 2016.
This is one of the best books about family and community that I have ever read. Some of the time it is sad, some of the time it is funny, and some of the time it prompts you to search your own soul.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
3.5**
In the summer of 1976, in a particular neighbor in England, two young girls, Grace and Tilly, try to come to terms with the disappearance of one of their neighbors, Mrs Creasy. It seems everyone’s suspicions lie with the odd man who lives at Number Eleven, but none of the adults will say WHY, other than vague references to a missing baby some nine years previously.
What an interesting and inventive way to structure this mystery / coming of age novel. Cannon tells the story in dual timeframes (Summer 1976 and December 1967), and with multiple points of view. Grace and Tilly are naïve but ever curious. Adults frequently talk around children as if the children can’t hear, and that is the way that the girls get much of their information (and misinformation). Of course, some of what they learn makes no sense to them, given their limited life experience, while this reader could put together clues far ahead of them.
But in addition to the mystery Cannon gives the reader a coming-of-age story. Tilly is the quieter, shyer girl, somewhat in awe of Grace, who is, herself, trying to emulate the local teenager. Grace can be bossy and unfeeling. Tilly, somewhat sickly and sheltered by her single mother, is at a distinct disadvantage. Their relationship has its ups and downs through the book, with one particularly painful episode when Grace fails to give Tilly her due. But in the end the girls learn valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility and not being quick to judge.
This is Cannon’s debut novel. I would definitely read another book by her.
In the summer of 1976, in a particular neighbor in England, two young girls, Grace and Tilly, try to come to terms with the disappearance of one of their neighbors, Mrs Creasy. It seems everyone’s suspicions lie with the odd man who lives at Number Eleven, but none of the adults will say WHY, other than vague references to a missing baby some nine years previously.
What an interesting and inventive way to structure this mystery / coming of age novel. Cannon tells the story in dual timeframes (Summer 1976 and December 1967), and with multiple points of view. Grace and Tilly are naïve but ever curious. Adults frequently talk around children as if the children can’t hear, and that is the way that the girls get much of their information (and misinformation). Of course, some of what they learn makes no sense to them, given their limited life experience, while this reader could put together clues far ahead of them.
But in addition to the mystery Cannon gives the reader a coming-of-age story. Tilly is the quieter, shyer girl, somewhat in awe of Grace, who is, herself, trying to emulate the local teenager. Grace can be bossy and unfeeling. Tilly, somewhat sickly and sheltered by her single mother, is at a distinct disadvantage. Their relationship has its ups and downs through the book, with one particularly painful episode when Grace fails to give Tilly her due. But in the end the girls learn valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility and not being quick to judge.
This is Cannon’s debut novel. I would definitely read another book by her.
coffeeandbooked's review against another edition
3.0
howtobebooks's review against another edition
3.0
The best part of this listen was the author's afterword explaining how she wanted to highlight the stigma of mental health. Unfortunately it's hard to decipher that clearly in the book with a few wishy washy themes of religion and racism, and a heavy focus on gossiping neighbours.
The 10-year-old protagonist and her friend Tilly are heroes attempting to sleuth their way into finding the missing Mrs Creasey and as much as I wanted the entire book to be from their perspective, we were lost in the haze of irritating adults. A nice idea but not quite there.
The 10-year-old protagonist and her friend Tilly are heroes attempting to sleuth their way into finding the missing Mrs Creasey and as much as I wanted the entire book to be from their perspective, we were lost in the haze of irritating adults. A nice idea but not quite there.
shareen17's review against another edition
2.0
A woman has disappeared from a small community in England in 1976 so two children decide to investigate. Her disappearance seems to be tied to events from 10 years earlier, and everyone seems to have something to hide. There were some lines and moments from this book that I quite liked, but overall found this kind of a drag to get through. And I'm really, really tired of reading about how hot it is. I felt like I was being beaten over the head with this fact, instead of it fitting seamlessly into the story.
alidottie's review against another edition
3.0
3 and a half
This was a hard book to listen to and keep track of. I think if I read it I would have liked it more. It was an interesting story with a really good reveal at the end.
This was a hard book to listen to and keep track of. I think if I read it I would have liked it more. It was an interesting story with a really good reveal at the end.