Away with the Penguins: The joyful no. 1 Richard & Judy pick now with exclusive bonus chapter

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As I neared the top of the stairs, I realised there were Magellanic nests everywhere. We had to watch our step as the nests were directly beside the walkway, or under it. One nest was on the walkway and I had to turn to the girl behind me – who was understandably distracted by other penguins – to warn her to be careful. She would have stepped right into a nest of two babies and a parent otherwise.

Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior | Waterstones

But before she commits, she decides that she needs to visit the research station and get to know the people she's leaving her money to (much to the researcher's, her housekeeper's and her grandson's horror). A fiction novel (US Title: "How the Penguins Saved Veronica") introduces Veronica McCreedy, a fussy but charming old woman who doesn’t know to whom she's going to leave her considerable wealth after she dies since her estranged grandson is not an option. 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. Politeness demands that Ipussyfoot around the truth.” Agree/disagree? To what extent do you think we do this as asociety?

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. Now most people would simply see their solicitor, make the necessary arrangements and leave it at that; but then, Veronica McCreedy is not most people. In my opinion, the last part felt harsh, if Veronica wanted to help the penguins, she should make sure they get support no matter what. A quote from the book: "There are three types of people in the world: those who make the world worse, those who make no difference, and those who make the world better."

Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior | Goodreads

I highly recommend this one, as I enjoyed learning about these beautiful creatures, and only wish that I had discovered it sooner! 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.

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It was a short boat ride to Isla Martillo and we were reminded of the rules: don’t get too close to the penguins; don’t feed the penguins; don’t touch the penguins; don’t steal the penguins; don’t take anything from the island. We weren’t permitted to go within three metres of the penguins but, if they came to us, we were to keep whatever distance we could so as not to stress them out. A final quip of “control your emotions” from the boat’s captain was most likely directed at us following our visible joy at seeing a large colony of penguins gathered on the beach as we approached the island. Within minutes, we were standing on the beach with them. The only criticism I have to offer regarding How the Penguins Saved Veronica is fairly minor, in nature. And it’s that I think the story would have benefited from Prior fleshing out the secondary characters a bit further, namely the three penguin researchers in Antarctica. All three play important roles in the story and knowing each of them a bit more would’ve further rounded out the novel. 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.

Away with the Penguins- Book Summary - Samy Reads Away with the Penguins- Book Summary - Samy Reads

I want to express my sincere thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this wonderful, heartfelt ARC. This delightful gem of a book will take its place high on my favourite list. This is my second reading of this enjoyable book which also has an alternate title, Away With the Penguins. The author writes with compassion and insight into the human heart, especially its good and kind parts in human nature that are redeemable. I loved the characters and its setting. There were sections that made me cry, parts where I was laughing out loud. I found it pleasurable and also thought-provoking. Veronica is willing to take the penguins for all that they are but not people. Why do you think this is?She also finds most human company irksome, and deplores stupid questions so she pretends to be hard of hearing when it’s suits her. Magellanic penguins are curious little critters. As we made our way around the nests, they were as interested in looking at us as we were at them. Their little heads tilted to the left and to the right as they peered at us with first one eye and then the other. It was cute to watch, especially when the babies joined the dance.

Away with the Penguins: A trip to Isla Martillo - Travel Polar Away with the Penguins: A trip to Isla Martillo - Travel Polar

I know! I know! A pet penguin named Petunia is not very realistic. (Perfect name, right?) But hey, a girl can dream. 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. It's clear that Veronica has her own secrets, ones that has made her be the stubborn individual that we first meet. Alone in the world after the death of her husband many years earlier and with no family to speak of and with only her assistant Eileen for company, Veronica is a woman who has fallen into some rather pronounced life habits than she is loathe to break.

She can be found either collecting litter from the beach (‘people who litter the countryside should be shot’), trying to locate her glasses (‘someone must have moved them’) or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen (‘Eileen, door!’).