Bread and Chocolate |
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Philippa Gregory
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Pages: 256 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0007145896
Pub: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Pub date: 2002-12-02
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 20483
Reader Reviews:
A delight (11/11 people found this helpful)
I couldn't disagree more with the previous review. Having enjoyed many of Philippa Gregory's novels, I was interested to see how her short stories would compare, and I must say I found them a delight to read. From the sweet, simple 'Wave Machine', to the darker tones of 'The Magic Box', I was instantly swept along by the author's subtle, artistic prose. I have always had a high opinion of Philippa Gregory's work and this book is yet more proof to me of why that is so.
"Women's writing" (2/14 people found this helpful)
I got this book free with a Time Out offer, which is a good thing since I'd hate to have paid for it.
It reads like nothing more than a collection of exercises written for a second-rate housewives' writing circle - pretentious, mannered, dated, self-conscious, predictable, shallow and - worst epithet of all - "women's writing" (and I'm a woman). I hated it from start to finish, I'm afraid - it irritated me beyond belief! Definitely one to avoid - unless you belong to a writing group.
A real pleasure to read (13/14 people found this helpful)
This has to be the best collection of short stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. Philippa Gregory has managed to compile an amusing set of short stories which kept me turning the pages, from one story to the next.
I enjoyed the book so much I've ordered several of her previous novels, if they are even half as good as this I won't be disappointed.
Everything you could want in a collection of short stories (12/13 people found this helpful)
Reading a book of short stories is rather like listening to a music CD and in this case a CD in which you like all the tracks - a rarity.
The stories are well written and incisive, funny, touching, thought provoking and sometimes chilling. Philippa Gregory manages to elicit a gamut of emotions in the reader. The stories rely on her characterisation, which makes each one believable. Betrayal appears in more than one story. Bread and Chocolate the title story is of this time, starting in a Monastery it moves to a TV studio and made me laugh out loud. Conjuring Trick really conjures up a chilling tale, while the Wave Machine is a study in innocence.
However, there was one story that I didn't read purely because it was historical, set in medieval times, and I skipped it just like a track that jars on a CD. Philipa Gregory writes historical novels (none of which I read) so I assume that's why she slipped it in. However, others will probably like it and its just a personal picky preference of mine not to!
All in all, this collection makes an excellent read and a perfect Christmas present.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> By Period -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Short Stories -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Study Books -> Schools -> GCSE -> English -> Literature
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)