Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Marmalade Diaries
The Marmalade Diaries: The True Story of an Odd Couple | Ben Aitken
7 posts | 4 read | 14 to read
'Charming, touching and very very funny' Jenny Colgan 'Simply too good' Daily Mail From the author of the acclaimed THE GRAN TOUR ONE HOUSE. TWO HOUSEMATES. THREE REASONS TO WORRY: WINNIE AND BEN ARE SEPARATED BY 50 YEARS, A GULF IN CLASS, AND MAJOR DIFFERENCES OF OPINION. When hunting for a room in London, Ben Aitken came across one for a great price in a lovely part of town. There had to be a catch. And there was. The catch was Winnie: an 85-year-old widow who doesn't suffer fools. Full of warmth, wit and candour, The Marmalade Diaries tells the story of an unlikely friendship during an unlikely time. Imagine an intergenerational version of Big Brother, but with only two contestants. One of the pair a grieving and inflexible former aristocrat in her mid-eighties. The other a working-class millennial snowflake. What could possibly go wrong? What could possibly go right? Out of the most inauspicious of soils - and from the author of The Gran Tour - comes a book about grief, family, friendship, loneliness, life, love, lockdown and marmalade.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
monalyisha
post image
Pickpick

A 35-year-old writer moves in with an 85-year-old spitfire, recently widowed, right before the pandemic. He keeps a journal of their experience.

The relationship between Ben & Winnie forms s.l.o.w.l.y. — which makes the end result all the more satisfying. From my lived experience, it reminded me of having a rabbit…that slow build of trust from a creature who is markedly independent & willful in spite of *or because of* her vulnerability.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/2: Winnie also reminded me of my own grandmother, who was a bit of a divisive figure. She kept exactly none of her opinions to herself and was quick to judge. Fortunately, she judged me worthy and we had a close relationship. Winnie, however, is British — and feels like it! — whereas my gram hails from New England with stints in California. I loved puttering about the garden with Winnie (& Ben)…👇🏻 2w
monalyisha 2/2: and reading his good-natured response to her biting yet somehow increasingly warm critiques (of his cooking, his hair, his humor, you name it). The ending isn‘t what I wanted but I suppose that‘s aging. Hey-ho. I do feel greatly in need of an update 3 years hence. 2w
Suet624 I love this post 💕 your grandmother sounds like someone I can relate to. 2w
65 likes2 stack adds3 comments
blurb
monalyisha
post image

Recently, I asked for book recommendations. I was/am seeking something on the lighter, funnier side. Approximately a bazillion books came in for me (with lots of side-eye and ribbing from my coworkers). I whittled the stack down to those where the first few pages snagged my attention. This is what I ended up with.

Thanks to those who chimed in!
Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻

BekaReid Joy Sullivan's Intructions for Traveling West ❤ 1mo
monalyisha @BekaReid That‘s the only one I picked up straightaway! 1mo
62 likes2 comments
review
CoffeeNBooks
post image
Pickpick

Ben rents a room from Winnie, who is elderly and a recent widow. Ben suspects that Winnie didn't really want him there, that she only agreed because her family thinks she needs someone there to watch out for her & help around the house. So Ben plans to stay out of her way, but then Covid lockdowns start. He and Winnie are forced to spend most of their time together, and a friendship ensues as they start to see life from each other's perspective.

76 likes6 stack adds1 comment
blurb
CoffeeNBooks
post image

Saturday morning #coffeeandabook

64 likes1 stack add
review
quietlycuriouskate
post image
Mehso-so

Read for my library's book group.
If I were pitching this I'd say it's a cross between Nina Stibbe's "Love, Nina" and Hazel Prior's "Away With The Penguins".
It's not bad, but for me it was too samey throughout, in terms of both tone and pace. And then it doesn't end so much as stop. ?

review
Oryx
post image
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this. The author is a working class millennial, and moves in with 85 year old recently widowed Winnie, into her massive house in Wimbledon. She would have driven me crazy to live with, and I don't think I would have lasted long, but somehow he sees past her 'eccentricities' and I loved his perspective and his stories about living with her during UK lockdowns. Very charming and honest and properly funny. I love his writing style.

Oryx @LeahBergen tagging since you were interested 😊 2y
TrishB Sounds good 👍🏻 2y
LeahBergen Thank you! I have it stacked. 👍 2y
Cathythoughts Sounds good 👍🏻♥️ 2y
68 likes5 stack adds4 comments
blurb
Oryx
post image

Treating myself today with these two from The Accidental Bookshop in Alnwick.

Daisy was treated to charity shop toy rabbit, because we forgot to bring any toys for her.

MicheleinPhilly Does Daisy kill them or cherish them? Pickles is an eye removal surgeon at which point she goes for the fluff. 2y
Oryx @MicheleinPhilly she's a gentle nibbler. It takes her about 6 years (no exaggeration) to get to the fluff, but she gets there in the end. Then the fluff will be removed with quiet efficiency. 2y
squirrelbrain I eyed up ‘George‘ a couple of times in London, so I‘ll be interested to know what you think. And you got a signed copy too. Daisy makes a very patient bookrest! 2y
See All 12 Comments
MicheleinPhilly 6 years??? I wish! Some of Pickles‘ “friends” survive for a whole 10 minutes. Sweet Daisy. 🥰 2y
dabbe @MicheleinPhilly Ah, that Pickles! 🤗💙🤣 2y
dabbe Hello, Darling Daisy! Enjoy your wee rabbit! 💚🐾💙 2y
robinb Happy birthday!! 🎁 2y
Sparklemn Sweet dog 😊 2y
LeahBergen Lucky girl! I‘m intrigued by the description of the tagged book. 2y
Oryx @LeahBergen I'm about halfway through it now and I think it's fabulous. It's got a very dry humour, but very warm as well. 2y
LeahBergen Oh good! Thanks for the update. 2y
monalyisha This post is *exactly* my vibe. 😅 2w
56 likes1 stack add12 comments