The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital
by
Joanna Nell
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Publication date: 29th September 2021
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 352 (paperback)
Source: Own purchase
My review of The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital
The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital is the perfect read if you want something light and uplifting that also contains a bit of substance.
Inevitably at some stage in your life, whether as visitor or patient, you will come across the wonderful women who volunteer their services at local hospitals, serving tea and providing a listening ear for patients and their families.
Hilary is the militant manageress of The Marjorie Marshall Memorial cafeteria situated in St Jude's Hospital. Hilary, now separated from her husband Jim and his lucrative income, is living in her sister's spare room. With Hilary it is all about keeping up appearances and she battles on with no idea how she will manage her future.
New recruit Joy is vivacious, colourful and full of life. She was encouraged by husband Len to take up some volunteer work outside the home.
Chloe is an anxious seventeen-year-old volunteering at the cafe to complete her Duke of Edinburgh Award. Chloe neglects her own wants in the aim to please her hard-working and ambitious parents.
I loved Joanna Nell's eclectic group of characters. I like the way Joanna uses older characters that are vibrant and break the stereo-typical role of older people. They all had problems they kept to themselves whilst putting on a brave front. When the very existence of the cafe is jeopardised in the name of progress the three unlikely friends band together to try and save the little cafe.
The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital is a heart-warming story, filled with humour and pathos, that celebrates unlikely friendships and standing up for yourself.
my rating 5 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the author
Joanna Nell was born in the UK and studied medicine at Cambridge and Oxford universities. Her essays and short fiction have won multiple awards and been published in medical journals and literary anthologies. A former ship's doctor and now working as a GP, Joanna writes character-driven stories, creating young-at-heart characters who are not afraid to break rules and defy society's expectations of ageing. Her first three novels were national bestsellers. Joanna lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Other books I've read by Joanna Nell:
Oooohhh - thank you for this awesome review. I've been wanting to read this book since I saw a blurb for it before it came out. I will certainly be getting a hold of it at some stage.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fabulous read and one I am happy to give to my mother-in-law to read.
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