Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: Away with the Penguins

Top positive review

If you are in lockdown or not- read this!

Reviewed in Australia on 26 July 2021

Thanks to the author- what a wonderful read, when I was feeling sorry for myself, in Covid lockdown once again and the world in turmoil, this was just the book to remind me of humanity and of course my last overseas trip to Antarctica!

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Good Fun

Reviewed in Australia on 1 November 2021

More than a bit improbable but good reading for all that. The characters were well defined, the story entertaining. I enjoyed it.

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From Australia

Good Fun

Reviewed in Australia on 1 November 2021

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More than a bit improbable but good reading for all that. The characters were well defined, the story entertaining. I enjoyed it.

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Ms. Kristiana Honey

If you are in lockdown or not- read this!

Reviewed in Australia on 26 July 2021

Reviewed in Australia on 9 January 2021

Verified Purchase

Loved it! Nice easy read. I cared about the characters and was sad when the book ended. I recommend this book.

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glenda robinson

A nice read

Reviewed in Australia on 14 July 2021

Verified Purchase

A nice read to kill time in lock down

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Nuala Welsh

Won't be using Richard & Judy's book reviews anymore!

Reviewed in Australia on 29 March 2021

Verified Purchase

Completely implausible story line unless you are about 10!

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Ellie

Quirky, Charming and Engaging

Reviewed in Australia on 5 March 2020

At 86 years old Veronica is the epitome of stubborn and humourless. She leads a life where everything must be just so, although it is down to her long-suffering 'daily', Eileen, to achieve this for her. With no children other than a now deceased son that was adopted out shortly after his birth, Veronica realises that at her age she should be considering what to do with her considerable fortune. With Eileen's help she discovers that the son she didn't know also had a son, Patrick, and Veronica decides to meet him. Patrick is not at all what Veronica is expecting and their brief meeting leaves them both feeling disappointed. Searching for a new outlet to devote her life and money to, Veronica turns her full attention to the plight of a dwindling population of Adelie penguins on a remote and inhospitable island in the Antarctic that she has been following in a nature documentary series on television.

This was the point at which the story switched from being enjoyable to being thoroughly entertaining and engaging. We alternate between Veronica's excursion to visit the penguins, depositing herself into the lives of the three horrified resident scientists on the island, and Patrick's humdrum, unfulfilling existence in Bolton as he tries to recover from his girlfriend suddenly leaving him for another man. Much of Veronica's back story is given to us through the journals she wrote as a teenager in war-torn Britain and which she gave to Patrick to read.

This is without doubt the sweetest, most charming book I have read this year. It has made me cry and it has made me laugh out loud. And now that I've finished it, even though it concluded perfectly, I am feeling a little bereft because I want to know more about what the future holds for Veronica, Patrick, the scientists and, of course, Pip the penguin!

My one criticism is that the final scene is completely superfluous. It doesn't detract from the story, but it does distract without adding anything.

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Purplelorikeet

Lovely story

Reviewed in Australia on 19 March 2020

First of all, I'd like to thank Random House UK and Netgalley for sharing an ARC in exchange for a fair review. '

Veronica McCreedy is a crotchety 85 year old woman, living alone in a mansion by the sea. She has Eileen as her housekeeper and assistant but she mostly keeps to herself. She sees a program about penguins on tv and becomes obsessed. She decides she is going to Antarctica to see the penguins and will bequeath her money to their cause when she dies. Even though she's been told they can't accommodate her there and that it won't be safe.

It's a really lovely story about Veronica finding joy in her life after many years of being alone. She's a frustrating character at times but she really changes with this trip and changes the few people around her at the same time. Not to mention we get to learn a lot about the penguins.

I give this a solid 4 stars.

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Aneddy

Mrs. McCreedy, in one of the coldest places of the world - she makes it looks warm and cosy thought

Reviewed in Australia on 7 February 2021

This is an articulate example of a book with simple but still daunting topics, skilfully written that takes you on a very cold adventure.

I have to confess that I had to be so strong and stop crying every time I reached those unexpected and unavoidable moments that resolved in sad events which affected the character of those ones involved. I indeed accepted quite happily those moments that drew on my face a smile and some jiggles too.

Now I know that there is always going to be a book to be discovered and that will refresh my life.

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A feel good story

Reviewed in Australia on 29 March 2020

Veronica McCreedy is a lonely and quite misunderstood woman, who despite great wealth only has her cleaning lady Eileen for company.
After watching a documentary on penguins, she decides that it is her mission to help save them and on another whim she decides to find a long lost family member.
I did find some of the story line a bit far fetched, for example the seemly way of ease Veronica ended up with the research group but some how all the characters just snuck up on you, so in the end you just wanted everything to work out.
Really, it was a delightful story that swept me away gently.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

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Laura

A lovely, uplifting, beautifully written story.

Reviewed in Australia on 24 June 2020

Oh my goodness, this book! Veronica is 85 and has no family or friends to speak of. She is very wealthy and lives alone in her mansion in Scotland.

Upon watching a documentary on the Adelie penguins in Antarctica, she responds to the call for help by travelling there to see what she can do.

A lovely, uplifting, beautifully written story.

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