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milomo's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
helenpickett's review
5.0
A delightful sequel to Away With The Penguins, Call Of The Penguins sees a return of Veronica McCreedy living at the Ballahays in Ayr living with her faithful assistant (not carer) Eileen.
She also has the full of life Daisy who is the daughter of her grandson Patrick's close friend and recovering from the ordeal of cancer treatment.
The relationship between 87 year old Veronica and 9 year old Daisy is unusual but Veronica helped Daisy cope with her exhausting treatment by distracting Daisy to think about the penguins on Locket Island and especially Pip the Penguin who Veronica helped rescue when she visited Locket Island.
Patrick, although without formal qualifications has settled well with the small research on Locket Island, especially his girlfriend Terry.
Patrick who is quick to temper and paranoid due yo his unsettled upbringing, breaks up with Terry and leaves the team on the next boat out.
Veronica although disappointed by her grandson's departure from the island is determined not to let him sit around and so sends him off to Vancouver to find out about Enzo, Patrick's father and Veronica's son who was born in a nunnery and then taken from Veronica as she was an unmarried mother. They already know that Enzo or Joshua as his adoptive parents knew him has died in a climbing accident, Patrick finds out more and is initially horrified until he manages to track down his fathers best friend and discovers the truth.
Veronica meanwhile has been invited by Sir Robert Saddlebow as a penguin ambassador to travel to different locations to film a documentary about sea birds with Veronica focussing on the penguins,
Daisy forever industrious, writes to a programme that grants wishes to seriously ill children. Her wish ito meet the penguins is granted and meets up with Veronica and Sir Robert in Argentina.
Patrick joins them in Argentina as does Terry with her own secrets. Their time is occasionally terse and complex as all types of relationships can be, but their joint love of penguins and wildlife reunites them somewhat.
Ass well as the complex relationships and revelations, the description of nature and the many types of penguins they encounter is wonderful whilst putting across the damage of plastic pollution and litter, a cause which is very close to my heart.
She also has the full of life Daisy who is the daughter of her grandson Patrick's close friend and recovering from the ordeal of cancer treatment.
The relationship between 87 year old Veronica and 9 year old Daisy is unusual but Veronica helped Daisy cope with her exhausting treatment by distracting Daisy to think about the penguins on Locket Island and especially Pip the Penguin who Veronica helped rescue when she visited Locket Island.
Patrick, although without formal qualifications has settled well with the small research on Locket Island, especially his girlfriend Terry.
Patrick who is quick to temper and paranoid due yo his unsettled upbringing, breaks up with Terry and leaves the team on the next boat out.
Veronica although disappointed by her grandson's departure from the island is determined not to let him sit around and so sends him off to Vancouver to find out about Enzo, Patrick's father and Veronica's son who was born in a nunnery and then taken from Veronica as she was an unmarried mother. They already know that Enzo or Joshua as his adoptive parents knew him has died in a climbing accident, Patrick finds out more and is initially horrified until he manages to track down his fathers best friend and discovers the truth.
Veronica meanwhile has been invited by Sir Robert Saddlebow as a penguin ambassador to travel to different locations to film a documentary about sea birds with Veronica focussing on the penguins,
Daisy forever industrious, writes to a programme that grants wishes to seriously ill children. Her wish ito meet the penguins is granted and meets up with Veronica and Sir Robert in Argentina.
Patrick joins them in Argentina as does Terry with her own secrets. Their time is occasionally terse and complex as all types of relationships can be, but their joint love of penguins and wildlife reunites them somewhat.
Ass well as the complex relationships and revelations, the description of nature and the many types of penguins they encounter is wonderful whilst putting across the damage of plastic pollution and litter, a cause which is very close to my heart.
karenluvstoread's review
4.0
Hazel Prior has done it again! She has created the perfect wintry, curl up by the fire, cozy read. I was so excited to visit Veronica McCreedy and the penguins again in this delightful sequel to Away with the Penguins. In Call of the Penguins, Veronica McCreedy is given the opportunity to be a co-host on a nature documentary show about, of course, penguins. We get to follow her on this new adventure. We also follow her grandson Patrick’s story – how things are going for him and Terry as well as his journey in discovering more about his parents. And we learn more about Daisy’s story as well. The author delves further into some of the deeper issues in this second book but it still has the cozy read vibes. And it’s funny at times as well. There were a number of times I was reading in bed and literally laughed out loud.
One of things I love about this book is Veronica’s spirit! She is spunky, spirited, and courageous. To illustrate, here is statement Veronica makes fairly early on in the novel:
“I take a sip of tea and lay the cup back in its saucer with care. ‘Indeed, the idea is peculiar and preposterous in the extreme,’ I reiterate with a degree of severity. ‘I will therefore seriously consider it.’” (p. 33)
I also loved the little nod to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with this statement:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single penguin in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a friendship bracelet.” (p. 160)
You gotta love that! 🙂
Call of the Penguins is insightful, entertaining, and heartwarming. The characters are well crafted and their stories are brimming with resilience and hope.
*Just a side note: I would recommend reading these books in order. So start with Away with the Penguins then read Call of the Penguins.
livres_de_bloss's review
5.0
4.5
I came into this story off a run of several bad books and, as a result, fairly low expectations and a properly grumpy outlook.
It blew me away!
It was great to be back with Veronica and crew in far flung places with penguins! While there was a bit more melodrama than the previous book, it wasn’t soap-opera-ish and felt reasonably believable. I could have done without some of the threads but, upon reflection, realize that some were necessary to make the story flow in a believable way. Patrick and Terry don’t half get on my nerves with how immature they are yet I can’t help but root for them. It’s a superb author that can make that happen! I liked to see some character growth from Veronica as well; she can be so difficult to empathize with at times that it was nice to see her gain a bit of self-awareness and shown some vulnerability.
I really appreciated the messages in this book about climate change, the dangers of plastic, and the plight of the penguins.
This is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year and urge everyone who enjoyed “Away With The Penguins” to read this second instalment, you won’t be disappointed!
I came into this story off a run of several bad books and, as a result, fairly low expectations and a properly grumpy outlook.
It blew me away!
It was great to be back with Veronica and crew in far flung places with penguins! While there was a bit more melodrama than the previous book, it wasn’t soap-opera-ish and felt reasonably believable. I could have done without some of the threads but, upon reflection, realize that some were necessary to make the story flow in a believable way.
Spoiler
For a moment, I was really worried the baby-solves-everything trope was going to appear and was really pleased when it didn’t!I really appreciated the messages in this book about climate change, the dangers of plastic, and the plight of the penguins.
Spoiler
Petra’s death, while utterly heartbreaking, really drove the messages home and was a stark reminder how the grim state of our planet. Huge props to the author for taking that risk and not shying away from reality.This is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year and urge everyone who enjoyed “Away With The Penguins” to read this second instalment, you won’t be disappointed!
lauraj3103's review
5.0
Just loved this book and hearing about the characters from the first book and meeting more. It’s definitely a feel good book but with a few sad elements. Hoping for another so we can continue to hear about the penguins and the journey of each of the characters.
rina_rosa's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
gerbrough55's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
3.5
jacki_f's review
3.0
Reading this reminded me of my experience loving [b:Dear Mrs. Bird|36373413|Dear Mrs. Bird (The Emmy Lake Chronicles #1)|A.J. Pearce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515690904l/36373413._SY75_.jpg|81085892] and then only feeling lukewarm about [b:Yours Cheerfully|55710565|Yours Cheerfully (The Emmy Lake Chronicles, #2)|A.J. Pearce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1626296565l/55710565._SY75_.jpg|86883131]. I was charmed by [b:Away with the Penguins|52128084|Away with the Penguins|Hazel Prior|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583442783l/52128084._SY75_.jpg|72920249] and was looking forward to reading the sequel but it didn't have the same magic. Be aware that this is very much a sequel and wouldn't work as a standalone read. The characters are as endearing as ever but the plot is not terribly satisfying.
c_rewie6's review
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jo_bookworm's review
5.0
We are now a year on from meeting Veronica McCreedy, now at 87 there cannot be possibly anywhere else she can go in the world. But then if David Attenborough can do it, so can Veronica.
And when inspired by the delightful Daisy, who at nine has no fear and can only see the good in everything despite the problems she currently faces, Veronica and Daisy this time find themselves miles away from home and looking at penguins yet again.
So whilst we are taken to the Southern hemisphere and the penguins there with Daisy and Veronica and the promise of a television nature programme being filmed. We are also taken back to Locket Island, to the place Veronica first visited where she left behind her grandson Patrick and Pip the beautiful Adelie penguin that started this adventure off.
Life is not being easy for any of them, isolated in different parts of the world and with differing troubles Hazel Prior takes us on quite an emotional journey as there are reunions, discoveries and death. Amongst it all we get to meet Petra the Rockhopper and Tony the Macaroni who bring as much joy to the page as Pip did previously and all the characters do.
I thought the first book was original but it has been surpassed by this one and if I recommend anything, I would say read them both one after the other, for the sheer joy it will bring you and the uniqueness of Hazel Prior’s writing.
And when inspired by the delightful Daisy, who at nine has no fear and can only see the good in everything despite the problems she currently faces, Veronica and Daisy this time find themselves miles away from home and looking at penguins yet again.
So whilst we are taken to the Southern hemisphere and the penguins there with Daisy and Veronica and the promise of a television nature programme being filmed. We are also taken back to Locket Island, to the place Veronica first visited where she left behind her grandson Patrick and Pip the beautiful Adelie penguin that started this adventure off.
Life is not being easy for any of them, isolated in different parts of the world and with differing troubles Hazel Prior takes us on quite an emotional journey as there are reunions, discoveries and death. Amongst it all we get to meet Petra the Rockhopper and Tony the Macaroni who bring as much joy to the page as Pip did previously and all the characters do.
I thought the first book was original but it has been surpassed by this one and if I recommend anything, I would say read them both one after the other, for the sheer joy it will bring you and the uniqueness of Hazel Prior’s writing.