Published 11th November 2021 by Black Swan.
From the cover of the book:
Meet the heroine everyone's talking about . . .Fiercely resilient and impeccably dressed, Veronica McCreedy has lived an incredible 87 years. Most of them alone, in her huge house by the sea.
But Veronica has recently discovered a late-life love for family and friendship, adventure and wildlife.
More specifically, a love for penguins!
And so when she's invited to co-present a wildlife documentary, far away in the southern hemisphere, she jumps at the chance.
Even though it will put her in the spotlight, just when she thought she would soon fade into the wings.
Perhaps it's never too late to shine?
****************
Veronica McCreedy is a very particular eighty-seven-year-old woman - fierce, neatly attired and never seen without her bright red lipstick, she has discovered later in life that opening yourself up to friends, long-lost family and new experiences can actually be quite enriching. After her recent adventures in Antarctica, meeting and falling in love with the Adelie penguins in Away with the Penguins, Veronica is given an unexpected chance for further excitement - this time among the penguins of Australia and the Falkland Islands, in the company of eminent wildlife documentary maker Sir Robert Saddlebow.
Veronica sets of in the company of her young companion, nine-year-old Daisy, but her new found role in front of the TV cameras as Penguin Ambassador is not the only thing on her mind. Her grandson Patrick has been working with the Adelie penguins on Locket Island, Antarctica, with his girlfriend, project leader Terry, but the course of young love is not running smooth. At a loose end, Patrick needs something to occupy his mind and keep him on the straight and narrow, so Veronica sets him a task to find out all he can about the father he never knew- the man that was taken from Veronica as a baby and adopted by a family in Canada. It is a quest that uncovers family secrets and has great emotional impact on both Patrick and Veronica, allowing each of them to come to terms with their past.
Call of the Penguins is an enchanting, character driven story that, although filled with heart-warming moments and gentle humour, does not shy away from addressing some hard truths about life, death and the human condition. At the centre of the story is the marvellous Veronica McCreedy as the feisty stalwart of good manners and impeccable outfitting, surrounded by a great supporting cast. I loved her from the first, admiring her outlook and determination, chuckling at her rather old-fashioned view of the world, and delighting in the warm heart underneath the slightly crusty exterior - and it is a heart that is exactly in the right place.
Throughout this book Hazel Prior weaves some wonderful threads about making peace with the past, and the importance of sharing your feelings, crafting them into a coming of age tale for more than one character here - no matter what their age. At the same time, the story is infused with detail about the natural world, especially penguins, and you find yourself absorbing so much fascinating information even without realising it. Prior's ability to entertain and inform shines out from these pages, and embedded in a story that touches your heart is a very important message about caring for the environment and the creatures that share our little planet - I guarantee that reading this book will make you think hard about the difference you can make as an individual, especially in terms of plastic use.
This is such a beautifully written book, winning you over with its charm and poignancy, while highlighting some very real world issues in a way that makes them not only engaging, but also inspires you to help out those lovely little penguins in any way you can. I regret that I have not read the first Veronica McCreedy book Away with the Penguins yet, but will putting this omission right very soon - and I really hope Prior has more adventures in store for Veronica, because she is a delight!
The Call of the Penguins is available to buy now in paperback. ebook and audio formats from your favourite book retailer.
Thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
About the author:
HAZEL PRIOR lives on Exmoor with her husband and a huge ginger cat. As well as writing, she works as a freelance harpist. Hazel is the author of Ellie and the Harp-Maker and Away with the Penguins, which was a #1 bestseller in ebook and audiobook. Call of the Penguins is her third novel.
Thanks for the blog tour support x
ReplyDelete