Product Description

Poppy's family is gathering to celebrate her eightieth birthday. Her children, grandchildren and even one great-grandchild are converging on her Sussex home. As she prepares to welcome them all, her mind goes back over her life - to her tough childhood in Yorkshire, to her mother, who scrimped and saved to bring her up decently, to her three husbands and to Alun, the great love of her life who was taken from her by the war. Yes, she has had a full life - a lot fuller than her family realises. As they toast their beloved matriarch, little do they know what an extraordinary and often shocking life she has led...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #340757 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 395 pages

From the Back Cover
Poppy's family is gathering to celebrate her eightieth birthday. Her children, grandchildren and even one great-grandchild are converging on her Sussex home. As she prepares to welcome them all, her mind goes back over her life - to her tough childhood in Yorkshire, to her mother, who scrimped and saved to bring her up decently, to her three husbands and to Alun, the great love of her life who was taken from her by the war. Yes, she has had a full life - a lot fuller than her family realises. As they toast their beloved matriarch, little do they know what an extraordinary and often shocking life she has led...

A warmly entertaining new novel from this greatly-loved bestselling author.

About the Author
Elvi Rhodes bestselling novels include Opal, Ruth Appleby, The Golden Girls, Madeleine, the House of Bonneau, Cara's Land, The Rainbow Through the Rain, The Bright One, The Mountain, Portrait of Chloe, Spring Music and Midsummer Meeting. She lives in Sussex.

Customer Reviews

The Birthday Party - A wonderful "unputdownable" story
I have been an avid reader of Elvi Rhodes since I read The Golden Girls, which was keenly recommended to me. I have since read nearly all the books she has written, particularly enjoying Cara's Land, Ruth Appleby and The Bright One and wait expectantly for each new story she writes. The Birthday Party is Elvi Rhodes at her heartwarming best and tells the story of Poppy, who is about to celebrate her 80th birthday. The story switches between Poppy's life as it is now, as she welcomes her family to share her birthday and then (in the first person) takes you through her memorable life. I found it so well-written that I eagerly looked forward to going back in time and then being brought up to date again. I just couldn't put this book down. It is told in such a special, natural way; and Elvi Rhodes' understanding of family relationships and feelings is one I'm sure everyone will be able to identify with. It keeps you interested right up to the very last word written. Please don't miss this brilliant and enjoyable story.

I couldn't work out why I was wasting my time listening!
This is a very disappointing book, and a not very enjoyable reading. The story itself is tenuous to say the least, without much happening and there being very little point to the whole thing. This is understandable and can be enjoyable if you are listening/reading for the sheer skill of writing, but this book certainly doesn't demonstrate that. It seemed like the author had a thesaurus at her side at all times -e.g. how many different words can I use for 'spoke', regardless of how unrealistic and staged they sound??

The reader too manages to portray little feeling throughout, such that you could't care less about what happens to any of the characters. I never understand anyway why recorded books seem stuck on having such well-spoken readers - it's not necessary, and in this book, the reader comes across as so intent on speaking the Queen's English that she has neglected to inject any character or feeling into her voice. My recommendation is that you listen to something else. Shame.

Delightful, but not her best book
Having been a Elvi Rhodes fan for many years, I eagerly await every new book. I was slightly disappointed with this one, as although the heroine was strong, I felt the other characters did not develope fully, especially the American brother in law. Well worth reading, as all her books are.