It does with a protagonist who is deliberately positioned as a lot to handle at first but who becomes softer and far more in touch with the very essence of who she is without relinquishing all those parts of her, the good and the bad, that have accumulated over nearly nine decades of life. One of those quirky delightful light readers where its easy to get so invested with the main characters. I received an Advanced Readers Copy from Edelweiss and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions included herein are my own. As a keen admirer of your mission to protect the species- and as an advocate of conservation in general - I have decided that, should your work prove to be as invaluable as it currently appears, your research is likely to inherit a considerable sum of money as defined by the terms of my will.") The highlight of this novel is the manner her past is revealed in old diary entries, these are some of the tougher but ultimately happy sections of the story, especially as the pengiuns make such an impression on her.

Away With the Penguins by Hazel Prior Book review: Away With the Penguins by Hazel Prior

The time spent there is challenging at first, not everyone was on board with her decision in coming there. The book starts by introducing the main character Veronica McCreedy, 86 y.o who lives in a mansion by the sea in Aryshire, Scotland. If you are a fan of books that challenge the notion that life is immutable once settled on a particular course and which sing the praises of re-invention and renewal then you will adore the beguiling wonder of Away With the Penguins.The next book to be featured on the Jo Whiley Radio 2 Book Club will be Away with the Penguins, the wonderfully uplifting novel by Hazel Prior. Hazel will be on the show on Monday 6 April and the book was released on 12 March. I really loved Veronica's determination to undertake the trip, with the added humour of her career being the one to help with all things technological with a laptop. To be fair, the book is a little tough going at first because Veronica McCreedy is not a pleasant person to be around and there are times when you wonder if it is worth persevering with a person who responds to the normal social niceties with a tone so acidly brusque and razor-sharp rude that you begin to wonder how someone like Eileen has stayed in her employ as long as she has.

BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS: Away with the Penguins - AJ Campbell author BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS: Away with the Penguins - AJ Campbell author

In September 2021, John and I did a road trip around Iceland’s ring road – an incredible journey that will be documented on Travel Polar in the near future. While we were driving, we decided to listen to an ebook. We chose Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior as a way of getting ourselves excited about our upcoming journey south. The book tells the story of Veronica, an elderly lady whose life has become quite mundane. But, on watching a documentary about penguins, she decides to travel to Antarctica herself – imposing herself on the objecting scientists who work with the Adélie penguins. Veronica McCreedy is a fussy, unfriendly, skeptical 85-year-old woman, living in her huge house in Scotland. She likes to be left alone, is sure that her memory is perfect (it’s not), and is, in general, fed up with the world, her housekeeper Eileen, and the hand life has dealt her.

Book Summary

She will ultimately get to know her grandson, as well, despite that “far from perfect” first meeting!

Away with the Penguins, a review by Joanna Away with the Penguins, a review by Joanna

This reader is at a loss in trying to describe the overpowering feelings and emotions generated by "Away With the Penguins" by Hazel Prior. This work of fiction covered topics such as World War II, adoption, conservation, climate change, and opening your heart after unspeakable sorrow. Author Prior has written a "gem" that will continue to stay with me. This is my favorite read of 2020. It is an uplifting tome I highly recommend. Being alone is supposed to be an issue for people such as me, but I have to say I find it deeply satisfying.Veronica McCreedy is rich, old and to be honest, she's expecting to die (somewhat) soon.

Selection panel review

Although these characters are not as immediately charming, they MOST definitely grow on you, and although a young man getting to know an Octogenarian may be a theme of both stories-the similarities end there! Away With the Penguins is a gem – it offers up the kind of story that reassures us that while life might seem irredeemably bitter, broken and twisted, that it can be turned around no matter how old you are or entrenched in your ways you are. At the start of the story, Veronica imparts her father’s wisdom. What one piece of advice would you impart? Veronica’s 86th birthday is approaching. She is cantankerous and feisty. She lives in an old mansion. A woman, Eileen comes in to help around the house. A hired Gardner keeps the grounds in fine condition. Veronica has been friendless most of her long life and has no known relatives. She is very wealthy and is wondering to whom she will leave her riches. Her days are spent doing crossword puzzles, reading, and watching TV.

Away With The Penguins | Wowsummary Summary: Away With The Penguins | Wowsummary

Veronica doesn’t have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway . . . And she has no idea where she’s going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies. TW: This depicts Penguins in their natural environment-and as in life, not all Penguins live long lives. This gorgeous book has everything! Mysteries, misunderstandings, arguments, reconciliations, kindness, love and lots of PENGUINS!' The two main penguin species on Isla Martillo are the adorable, striped Magellanic penguins, and the slightly bigger, orange-beaked and orange-footed Gentoo penguins. The former was what met us on the beach as we crunched our way across the gravel, in awe of their little waddles. We laughed as they walked, flapping their flightless wings as they went, but marvelled at the speed of those within the water, pointing and gasping as we watched them jump above the surface over and over again before landing on the beach and waddling to shore. These two characters really grew on me and I love how they found each other in life. I enjoyed this author’s writing style and found this story to be really uplifting.A note for animal lovers: There is one brief scene of bird-on-penguin violence that may be disturbing. The truth is that she's unsure what to do with her wealthy once she dies and even through she's asked her day carer Eileen to seek if she has any living relatives, Veronica lives quite an isolated life.