5.0 out of 5 stars
"Great book full of enjoyable short stories that left me wanting to read more."
By G. Harrison
This book is the first I have read from this author and really enjoyed reading it. It has 15 short stories that are all
very different in both the type of story they are and the writing style that is used. Below is a brief summary of what I thought about some of the stories. I would definitely recommend this
book and in particularly look out for the character 'Vicky' I loved this character and I will look out for more books from this author featuring her.
WATCH YOUR BACK is my second favourite tale after the title story. It kept me engaged from the start. I liked all the
characters and really warmed to Diana, the heroine.
BATS & BELLYBUTTONS was easy to read and flowed well, featuring a good description of all the characters.
I really enjoyed THE DARK HANDER. It kept me gripped throughout. I really felt I knew the characters well, which is down to
the way the author described them. At first it was a little hard to read `basic' English spoken by Monika, the Polish heroine, but I soon got used to it and found myself putting a Polish
accent on her speech in my head! The humour in it made me smile. I liked the title and how it came out in the story. Very clever writing. I loved the ending and wanted to keep reading
more.
STUNNED is a great piece of work, keeping me hooked all the way through. It features a nice fast pace, but not too fast. It
wasn't predictable either, which was fab. I really enjoyed this one and was left wanting more.
When I first started reading ARRABELLA WELLFITT I thought that I wouldn't like it, as it isn't the `usual' style of writing
that I prefer. I found it harder to comprehend and had to reread quite a few areas. However, the more I read, the more I got into the story and actually enjoyed it. I became gripped and
wanted to get to the end even though the experimental style of writing needed me to concentrate and focus more than usual.
The ending made me feel happy, as everything was organised, and felt that I wasn't left in any suspense. I don't know if
this is positive or negative because it's nice to have a complete ending but then sometimes it's nice to be left in suspense!
When I first started reading RASPBERRIES I thought that I wasn't going to get into the story but the author's writing
skills proved me wrong! I soon got gripped and my love for Vicky - the only character to appear in two stories - grew. I felt sorry for her but not in a bad way. I developed a longing for her
to be happy and find love/friendship.
I enjoyed reading her forgetful bits, finding some humour in them, and hearing snippets about her past that obviously stood
out to her made me like the character even more. The fact that lots of her flashbacks were at parties emphasised to me how lonely she is as an adult, adding to the likeability of the
character.
I feel that Vicky is quite simple and love the bit where she gives the policeman three raspberries! Such a small gesture
but to her it's such a big one. I like the way she is so precise about things, again emphasising her character. I had to reread the bit where she says, `The day before last Tuesday,' because
in my head I was thinking, why doesn't it just say Monday? But after reading it over again I realised this is how Vicky would speak!
Overall, RASPBERRIES is a good story with a fantastic character and a great ending that brought everything
together.
CASH 'N' CARROTS is my favourite piece. Again, I just love the character Vicky, who is so vulnerable. The way the author
describes her makes you really like and admire Vicky, yet feel so sorry for her at the same time. Lots of scenes made me smile and chuckle despite the serious parts of the storyline.
Reviews
The reviews below are taken from Amazon's UK site.
4 June 2013
6 June 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Recommended!"
By Charlotte Edwards
I was initially puzzled by the title of THE DARK HANDER and love how its meaning is revealed towards the end of the story. The author's descriptions are great and really help to build images of the village setting and scenes in my head. Overall a really enjoyable story!
With BATS & BELLYBUTTONS I was again intrigued by the title and wondered how it would be revealed in the story. This has a really good comedy element to it. Overall I thought it was a really neat and a well-rounded clever story with good imagery.
When I initially read the title of ARRABELLA WELLFITT, it didn't occur to me that `Wellfitt' was a play on words, referring to the main character's beauty. I really liked the way the author constructed the sentences and their randomness.
I liked the weird elements, such as the article she wrote was about cabbages, and the manuscript she needed to proofread was about unicorns. The story bordered on a mix of reality and a dream but it wasn't too weird. I also loved the dream that became a reality and that reality was restored in the end.
The style of writing in RASPBERRIES (which I really like) is very similar to ARRABELLA WELLFITT, although the story is less bizarre. I really warmed to Vicky, the heroine. I felt compassion for her, as she seemed lonely, and I wondered what had happened to her parents, as she went to stay with her grandparents.
She seemed really childlike, vulnerable, and I wondered if she might be autistic, owing to her obsession with raspberries and the references to things that happened a long time ago that she remembered very clearly.
I felt sympathy for Vicky after she'd waited outside the shop for so long. I then hoped that the policeman might be her handsome stranger, as I really wanted her to have a happy ending (which would have been cheesy!).
However, I was pleasantly surprised that her visit to the fortune teller brought about a series of events that saved her life and helped to break her regimented routine. Perhaps this will have a profound effect on her in the future?
The ending left me a little sad and still feeling sorry for Vicky. I interpreted the end being a metaphor for Vicky, her life and her insecurities, but I don't know if that's what the author meant. I guess it's not even a metaphor really, as she is lonely, she is afraid of wasps, and she eats cartons of raspberries.
CASH 'N' CARRROTS was the tale I enjoyed most, probably because it was longer, so there was more time to get to know the characters, do more with the story, and build suspense. I thought the characters were really well developed. They seemed very real and believable.
Despite being short tempered with Vicky (the same character as featured in RASPBERRIES), I did really like Emma, as she does feel guilty about the way she has treated Vicky. Although I didn't 'like' Thomas I thought his character was well crafted. He turns out to be a very believable villain!
I love Vicky to death! She's just so lovely, innocent, childlike ... I feel so sorry for her when people say cruel things to her or have no time for her and I just want to protect her. She brings out the good in people - the reader as well as other characters. I'm intrigued by why she's like she is. Anyway, she's a great character and I've built up a good mental picture of her in my head.
I also like the character names (in all of these stories). I found Mr Twaddle, Mr Rankbotham, etc., very Enid Blyton-esque! I don't know if it's just the names but the story does have a kind of retro feel to it. I'm not sure why as it's obviously set in the modern age. I can't really explain it. Maybe it's just me.
One thing I really like about the tale is its comedy. Although it's a serious story about crime and kidnapping, it does make me laugh. I love some of the lines like, 'I think I've just pumped,' the conversations between Vicky and Emma, Vicky not understanding certain words, her randomly calling Bolek `Jasper', `blinking balloon/stinking baboon' ... I could go on!
Overall, CASH 'N' CARROTS is a really well-rounded story with a good ending. I didn't get bored once and there was plenty going on. I thought it was extremely well written. 10/10!
"Recommended!"
By Charlotte Edwards
I was initially puzzled by the title of THE DARK HANDER and love how its meaning is revealed towards the end of the story. The author's descriptions are great and really help to build images of the village setting and scenes in my head. Overall a really enjoyable story!
With BATS & BELLYBUTTONS I was again intrigued by the title and wondered how it would be revealed in the story. This has a really good comedy element to it. Overall I thought it was a really neat and a well-rounded clever story with good imagery.
When I initially read the title of ARRABELLA WELLFITT, it didn't occur to me that `Wellfitt' was a play on words, referring to the main character's beauty. I really liked the way the author constructed the sentences and their randomness.
I liked the weird elements, such as the article she wrote was about cabbages, and the manuscript she needed to proofread was about unicorns. The story bordered on a mix of reality and a dream but it wasn't too weird. I also loved the dream that became a reality and that reality was restored in the end.
The style of writing in RASPBERRIES (which I really like) is very similar to ARRABELLA WELLFITT, although the story is less bizarre. I really warmed to Vicky, the heroine. I felt compassion for her, as she seemed lonely, and I wondered what had happened to her parents, as she went to stay with her grandparents.
She seemed really childlike, vulnerable, and I wondered if she might be autistic, owing to her obsession with raspberries and the references to things that happened a long time ago that she remembered very clearly.
I felt sympathy for Vicky after she'd waited outside the shop for so long. I then hoped that the policeman might be her handsome stranger, as I really wanted her to have a happy ending (which would have been cheesy!).
However, I was pleasantly surprised that her visit to the fortune teller brought about a series of events that saved her life and helped to break her regimented routine. Perhaps this will have a profound effect on her in the future?
The ending left me a little sad and still feeling sorry for Vicky. I interpreted the end being a metaphor for Vicky, her life and her insecurities, but I don't know if that's what the author meant. I guess it's not even a metaphor really, as she is lonely, she is afraid of wasps, and she eats cartons of raspberries.
CASH 'N' CARRROTS was the tale I enjoyed most, probably because it was longer, so there was more time to get to know the characters, do more with the story, and build suspense. I thought the characters were really well developed. They seemed very real and believable.
Despite being short tempered with Vicky (the same character as featured in RASPBERRIES), I did really like Emma, as she does feel guilty about the way she has treated Vicky. Although I didn't 'like' Thomas I thought his character was well crafted. He turns out to be a very believable villain!
I love Vicky to death! She's just so lovely, innocent, childlike ... I feel so sorry for her when people say cruel things to her or have no time for her and I just want to protect her. She brings out the good in people - the reader as well as other characters. I'm intrigued by why she's like she is. Anyway, she's a great character and I've built up a good mental picture of her in my head.
I also like the character names (in all of these stories). I found Mr Twaddle, Mr Rankbotham, etc., very Enid Blyton-esque! I don't know if it's just the names but the story does have a kind of retro feel to it. I'm not sure why as it's obviously set in the modern age. I can't really explain it. Maybe it's just me.
One thing I really like about the tale is its comedy. Although it's a serious story about crime and kidnapping, it does make me laugh. I love some of the lines like, 'I think I've just pumped,' the conversations between Vicky and Emma, Vicky not understanding certain words, her randomly calling Bolek `Jasper', `blinking balloon/stinking baboon' ... I could go on!
Overall, CASH 'N' CARROTS is a really well-rounded story with a good ending. I didn't get bored once and there was plenty going on. I thought it was extremely well written. 10/10!
10 June 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cash n Carrots & Other Capers - a must read!
By lms
A must read! I normally don't read short stories as I like to get my teeth into a long novel. This book made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions. Phil is a master of alliteration. My favourite stories were The Dark Hander, The Beauty of Railings and Cash n Carrots. I wait with baited breath for his next book!
Cash n Carrots & Other Capers - a must read!
By lms
A must read! I normally don't read short stories as I like to get my teeth into a long novel. This book made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions. Phil is a master of alliteration. My favourite stories were The Dark Hander, The Beauty of Railings and Cash n Carrots. I wait with baited breath for his next book!
25 June 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars c
Cash n Carrots and other capers
By Bobbie Lee
I have just finished the above book by Phil Syphe and really enjoyed it! Lots of intriguing tales meant that I couldn't put the book down as I had to see what was about to happen next!! Loved Takamasa in "Rising Aromas". I think he would be a great character for devious plots to come (with the help of the beautiful Wazuka of course). Vicky was one of my faves too, lonely yes, but happy in her own little world of raspberries and fluffy cats! A really good read!
Cash n Carrots and other capers
By Bobbie Lee
I have just finished the above book by Phil Syphe and really enjoyed it! Lots of intriguing tales meant that I couldn't put the book down as I had to see what was about to happen next!! Loved Takamasa in "Rising Aromas". I think he would be a great character for devious plots to come (with the help of the beautiful Wazuka of course). Vicky was one of my faves too, lonely yes, but happy in her own little world of raspberries and fluffy cats! A really good read!
2 July 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cash & Carrots & other Capers - Excellent read.
By G. Gorla
I really enjoyed this book, it was my first experience of short stories. The book is written with great humour, imagination and excellent play on words. I particularly like 'The Beauty of Railings' (the Raven's comments were hilarious), 'A Proposal' and 'Alternate Angles' for this. I can relate to 'Bad Language', which rang a few bells from the past, that's for sure.
My other favourites were 'The Dark Hander' - some rather peculiar past times which made me laugh, and 'Cash n Carrots' - featuring the easily distracted and confused Vicky and the ever so annoying Emma. This story was fitting to be the title of the book.
My 17 year old son also read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I would say that it is written for a wide age range. We look forward to reading more from this author.
Cash & Carrots & other Capers - Excellent read.
By G. Gorla
I really enjoyed this book, it was my first experience of short stories. The book is written with great humour, imagination and excellent play on words. I particularly like 'The Beauty of Railings' (the Raven's comments were hilarious), 'A Proposal' and 'Alternate Angles' for this. I can relate to 'Bad Language', which rang a few bells from the past, that's for sure.
My other favourites were 'The Dark Hander' - some rather peculiar past times which made me laugh, and 'Cash n Carrots' - featuring the easily distracted and confused Vicky and the ever so annoying Emma. This story was fitting to be the title of the book.
My 17 year old son also read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I would say that it is written for a wide age range. We look forward to reading more from this author.