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Now We Shall Be Entirely Free
8.0
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By the Costa Award-winning author of PURE, a stunning historical novel with the grip of a thriller,...
Literary Fiction Historical Fiction
The Little Teashop on Main
9.0
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A rainy-day ritual—a tea party between three little girls—becomes the framework of not only...
Jodi Thomas The Little Teashop on Main Texas small town literary fiction coming of age
A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding
6.0
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LONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE Are we free to create our own destinies or are we...
Literary Fiction Mental Health
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Cleopatra and Frankenstein in Books
Jan 29, 2023
This book has divided opinion on Goodreads - I’m coming down on the “I enjoyed it” side. I like a book that has absolutely nothing in common with my life: the vulnerable, arty Cleo, and the quick, excessive Frank may as well be from another planet with their lifestyle, excesses and impulsive marriage.
There are a fair few vulnerable characters in this novel: Cleo, Zoe (Frank’s sister), Quentin (Cleo’s gay best friend) and Eleanor. Actually Eleanor comes late to the story, and I could have read so much more about her. She’s funny, has an interesting family and simply has a lot of interesting things to say.
I’ll just add that there’s an attempted suicide in this, and both Cleo and Frank have some pretty serious mental health issues. Whilst I think they were sensitively and well dealt with, they may be upsetting for some readers. And then there’s the Flying Squirrel incident. I’d be more than happy to never have to think about that again.
So, if you like reading about complicated relationships and self-destructive behaviour, then this will be the book for you. It’s certainly a book that I’ll remember.
There are a fair few vulnerable characters in this novel: Cleo, Zoe (Frank’s sister), Quentin (Cleo’s gay best friend) and Eleanor. Actually Eleanor comes late to the story, and I could have read so much more about her. She’s funny, has an interesting family and simply has a lot of interesting things to say.
I’ll just add that there’s an attempted suicide in this, and both Cleo and Frank have some pretty serious mental health issues. Whilst I think they were sensitively and well dealt with, they may be upsetting for some readers. And then there’s the Flying Squirrel incident. I’d be more than happy to never have to think about that again.
So, if you like reading about complicated relationships and self-destructive behaviour, then this will be the book for you. It’s certainly a book that I’ll remember.
Hazel (1853 KP) rated The Ice-Cream Makers in Books
Dec 14, 2018
<i>I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.</i>
An intriguing blurb promises an incredible story about an Italian ice-cream making family, however the story is nothing like you expect. Ernest van der Kwast’s <i>The Ice-Cream Makers</i> is set between a small village in Italy and the busy summer streets of Rotterdam. The Talamini family has been creating innovative ice-cream flavours for over a century, running a successful and hard-working parlour in the Netherlands. The business is handed down from father to son throughout the years, but now eldest son Giovanni has broken the tradition.
Giovanni Talamini has no interest in making ice-cream and would much rather spend the day reading poetry. After pursuing a literary career, Giovanni is now the director of the World Poetry Festival. Younger brother Luca has been left to pick up the <i>spatula</i> of the family business, but he has a problem of his own. Giovanni faces a dilemma: cut himself of from his family entirely or help his brother out with his peculiar request.
The highly unusual request mentioned in the blurb of <i>The Ice-Cream Makers</i> does not actually surface until the latter stages of the book. For the majority of the narrative there is no clear storyline, however the detail and information van der Kwast provides about ice-cream making, poetry and European culture makes the novel entirely worth reading. The request itself is entirely unexpected and not at all possible to guess, but it is an oddly brilliant way of reuniting two estranged brothers.
It takes a while for the narrative to start flowing as it constantly changes time periods. Giovanni, the narrator, rarely speaks in the present tense and is constantly relating events from his childhood and adulthood interspersed with family history and historical knowledge. On occasion the book takes on the air of an autobiography as Giovanni gives an in depth insight to the life of his family and his break from tradition. There is also the odd chapter that becomes almost a work of non-fiction, providing the reader with highbrow literary references and factual information about the history of ice-cream.
Once the scenes caused by the male sexual mind have been glossed over, <i>The Ice-Cream Makers</i> becomes a beautifully written, almost poetical story that compels and engages the reader despite the lack of a clear-cut storyline. The literary references will appeal to the intellectual, scholar, philosopher or culture enthusiast, for this novel teaches and inspires as well as entertains.
The amount of research van der Kwast conducted is phenomenal. The accuracy (or so is presumed) of the historical factors implies the author had thoroughly investigated the subject matter prior to writing. It is almost as though van der Kwast lived the life of Giovanni; it is entirely believable – hence the sense of an autobiography. Although the nature of the novel’s theme suggests a serious tone, van der Kwast has included a great deal of humour in the form of Giovanni and Luca’s father and his questionable mental health.
The lack of a climax prevents <i>The Ice-Cream Makers</i> from being described as an exciting book, however its beautifully poetic prose makes up for this absence. The philosophical insight into poetry will make you think about life and admire Giovanni for insisting on making his own way in the world. Likewise, Luca’s quiet acceptance and perseverance in the family business is also an admirable feat. Readers with a dislike for descriptive sexual scenarios may feel uncomfortable in a few of the resulting scenes, however the general story compensates for these distasteful passages. All in all, a high-quality work of fiction.
An intriguing blurb promises an incredible story about an Italian ice-cream making family, however the story is nothing like you expect. Ernest van der Kwast’s <i>The Ice-Cream Makers</i> is set between a small village in Italy and the busy summer streets of Rotterdam. The Talamini family has been creating innovative ice-cream flavours for over a century, running a successful and hard-working parlour in the Netherlands. The business is handed down from father to son throughout the years, but now eldest son Giovanni has broken the tradition.
Giovanni Talamini has no interest in making ice-cream and would much rather spend the day reading poetry. After pursuing a literary career, Giovanni is now the director of the World Poetry Festival. Younger brother Luca has been left to pick up the <i>spatula</i> of the family business, but he has a problem of his own. Giovanni faces a dilemma: cut himself of from his family entirely or help his brother out with his peculiar request.
The highly unusual request mentioned in the blurb of <i>The Ice-Cream Makers</i> does not actually surface until the latter stages of the book. For the majority of the narrative there is no clear storyline, however the detail and information van der Kwast provides about ice-cream making, poetry and European culture makes the novel entirely worth reading. The request itself is entirely unexpected and not at all possible to guess, but it is an oddly brilliant way of reuniting two estranged brothers.
It takes a while for the narrative to start flowing as it constantly changes time periods. Giovanni, the narrator, rarely speaks in the present tense and is constantly relating events from his childhood and adulthood interspersed with family history and historical knowledge. On occasion the book takes on the air of an autobiography as Giovanni gives an in depth insight to the life of his family and his break from tradition. There is also the odd chapter that becomes almost a work of non-fiction, providing the reader with highbrow literary references and factual information about the history of ice-cream.
Once the scenes caused by the male sexual mind have been glossed over, <i>The Ice-Cream Makers</i> becomes a beautifully written, almost poetical story that compels and engages the reader despite the lack of a clear-cut storyline. The literary references will appeal to the intellectual, scholar, philosopher or culture enthusiast, for this novel teaches and inspires as well as entertains.
The amount of research van der Kwast conducted is phenomenal. The accuracy (or so is presumed) of the historical factors implies the author had thoroughly investigated the subject matter prior to writing. It is almost as though van der Kwast lived the life of Giovanni; it is entirely believable – hence the sense of an autobiography. Although the nature of the novel’s theme suggests a serious tone, van der Kwast has included a great deal of humour in the form of Giovanni and Luca’s father and his questionable mental health.
The lack of a climax prevents <i>The Ice-Cream Makers</i> from being described as an exciting book, however its beautifully poetic prose makes up for this absence. The philosophical insight into poetry will make you think about life and admire Giovanni for insisting on making his own way in the world. Likewise, Luca’s quiet acceptance and perseverance in the family business is also an admirable feat. Readers with a dislike for descriptive sexual scenarios may feel uncomfortable in a few of the resulting scenes, however the general story compensates for these distasteful passages. All in all, a high-quality work of fiction.
Driving Miss Norma: One Family's Journey Saying 'Yes' to Living
Tim Bauerschmidt and Ramie Liddle
Book
"Bravo, Norma! I love you." (Paulo Coelho). Two days after her husband of sixty-seven years died,...
Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family
Book
A frank and entertaining memoir, from the daughter of Edward Said, about growing up...
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Does Grandma Remember Me? in Books
May 20, 2021
What sweet loving story about a grandchild and her grandma; This shows how love can be given unconventionally and shows what happens to such elderly grandparents with Dementia. Grandparents may forget things or their loved ones.
This book explains it in a way to children so they can understand. Children may not understand or feel confused as to why their grandma or grandpa is looking for things or being forgetful. Dementia is something hard to tell your child or children. This book seems to help because it attacks the brain and will not let their grandparents remember their loved ones or things though they want to.
We see this through the eyes of a little girl in this book. Children can change it for them if they need to think through this. Parents, this book is a beautiful addition to your child's bookshelf or your family collection of books, especially if you have a family member that deals with this.
My grandma on my dad's side either has Dementia or Alzheimer's; I do not know. She had a hard time remembering my name growing up or when I was calling her. I do not know if she ever told my grandfather the message I told her to say to her. I think she has this disease called "Dementia," but not one hundred percent sure. I know she remembers me when I was little, but that about all. She calls most of my family members "You" when she is referring to you. I have no idea for sure. The only name she ever used when she was talking or referring to someone was John. That name is shared and used by my Uncle and my grandfather and cousin.
This book remains done well; I enjoyed the idea and concept of the book. I rate it 4.5 stars (Moons). It was not that deep for me. Though then, It could be me, and that is all. It does teach children about a mental health illness that continues not talked about much. I have to say that sometimes it's hard to do.
This book explains it in a way to children so they can understand. Children may not understand or feel confused as to why their grandma or grandpa is looking for things or being forgetful. Dementia is something hard to tell your child or children. This book seems to help because it attacks the brain and will not let their grandparents remember their loved ones or things though they want to.
We see this through the eyes of a little girl in this book. Children can change it for them if they need to think through this. Parents, this book is a beautiful addition to your child's bookshelf or your family collection of books, especially if you have a family member that deals with this.
My grandma on my dad's side either has Dementia or Alzheimer's; I do not know. She had a hard time remembering my name growing up or when I was calling her. I do not know if she ever told my grandfather the message I told her to say to her. I think she has this disease called "Dementia," but not one hundred percent sure. I know she remembers me when I was little, but that about all. She calls most of my family members "You" when she is referring to you. I have no idea for sure. The only name she ever used when she was talking or referring to someone was John. That name is shared and used by my Uncle and my grandfather and cousin.
This book remains done well; I enjoyed the idea and concept of the book. I rate it 4.5 stars (Moons). It was not that deep for me. Though then, It could be me, and that is all. It does teach children about a mental health illness that continues not talked about much. I have to say that sometimes it's hard to do.
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