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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital is an endearing and entertaining novel from bestselling Australian author Joanna Nell.
Though the decor is tired, the menu uninspiring, and the coffee bland, The Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria has served the visitors and employees of St Jude’s Hospital nobly for fifty years, its profits funding a variety of projects to benefit patients. Staffed by volunteers, septuagenarian Hilary Halliday has held the position of manager for a decade and runs a tight ship, but with her personal life recently upended, her role at the cafeteria has become a life raft, which is why she is rocked to discover that management is contemplating closing the cafeteria in favour of a popular ‘whole food’ cafe franchise.
The storyline of The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital is told through three characters - Hilary; probationary volunteer Joy, with a penchant for blue eyelash falsies and bright clothing, of similar age to Hilary; and seventeen year old student Chloe Foster-Pearson, reluctantly volunteering at the behest of her surgeon mother. Each slowly reveals their private struggles as they face uncertain futures. I enjoyed the process of getting to know these well drawn characters, very different from one another, who become united by their determination to save the cafeteria.
The themes of family, friendship, change, and identity are prevalent in The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital. Nell also sensitively explores issues related to ageing, particularly for women. There is a little dig at the commercialisation of hospital care, and the Millennial folly of style over substance.
Written with warmth and humour, The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital is a charming and cheerful read.
Though the decor is tired, the menu uninspiring, and the coffee bland, The Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria has served the visitors and employees of St Jude’s Hospital nobly for fifty years, its profits funding a variety of projects to benefit patients. Staffed by volunteers, septuagenarian Hilary Halliday has held the position of manager for a decade and runs a tight ship, but with her personal life recently upended, her role at the cafeteria has become a life raft, which is why she is rocked to discover that management is contemplating closing the cafeteria in favour of a popular ‘whole food’ cafe franchise.
The storyline of The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital is told through three characters - Hilary; probationary volunteer Joy, with a penchant for blue eyelash falsies and bright clothing, of similar age to Hilary; and seventeen year old student Chloe Foster-Pearson, reluctantly volunteering at the behest of her surgeon mother. Each slowly reveals their private struggles as they face uncertain futures. I enjoyed the process of getting to know these well drawn characters, very different from one another, who become united by their determination to save the cafeteria.
The themes of family, friendship, change, and identity are prevalent in The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital. Nell also sensitively explores issues related to ageing, particularly for women. There is a little dig at the commercialisation of hospital care, and the Millennial folly of style over substance.
Written with warmth and humour, The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital is a charming and cheerful read.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
I love this author
Always a good relaxing read I can disappear into💗
Always a good relaxing read I can disappear into💗
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
What a joy, no pun intended. A little snapshot of 3 different ladies lives and how an unexpected friendship develops. I felt so caught up with the characters of the story. I enjoyed reading how their lives interconnected with each other and they were united in saving St Judes. A wee heartwarmer with a sprinkle of love.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
What a lovely tale Joanna Nell has told us with The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital.
My mother worked at a hospital for a lot of my childhood, and my sister spent a huge chunk of time int he children's ward at the same hospital,so as I was reading this story, I was picturing the cafeteria at that hospital.
And yes, I could see the Hilary, the Joy and the Chloe in the ladies that ran that cafeteria.
I enjoyed peeling back the layers of these ladies as the story progressed, and the friendships that they build. These three ladies shouldn't work, would never have met outside of the cafe environment, but they really do come together well and their friendships are true.
I also love how they come together really is fun and the way their attitudes to life shift is something we could all learn from.
This was my first Joanna Nell novel, but I will definitely be reading more in the future.
a>
What a lovely tale Joanna Nell has told us with The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital.
My mother worked at a hospital for a lot of my childhood, and my sister spent a huge chunk of time int he children's ward at the same hospital,so as I was reading this story, I was picturing the cafeteria at that hospital.
And yes, I could see the Hilary, the Joy and the Chloe in the ladies that ran that cafeteria.
I enjoyed peeling back the layers of these ladies as the story progressed, and the friendships that they build. These three ladies shouldn't work, would never have met outside of the cafe environment, but they really do come together well and their friendships are true.
I also love how they come together really is fun and the way their attitudes to life shift is something we could all learn from.
This was my first Joanna Nell novel, but I will definitely be reading more in the future.
a>
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
medium-paced
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced