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Man at the Helm
Man at the Helm: A Novel | Nina Stibbe
6 posts | 10 read | 9 to read
A New York Times Notable Book of 2015 From the writer of the hugely acclaimed Love, Nina comes a sharply funny debut novel about a gloriously eccentric family. Soon after her parents' separation, nine-year-old Lizzie Vogel moves with her siblings and newly single mother to a tiny village in the English countryside, where the new neighbors are horrified by their unorthodox ways and fatherless household. Lizzie's theatrical mother only invites more gossip by spending her days drinking whiskey, popping pills, and writing plays. The one way to fit in, the children decide, will be to find themselves a new man at the helm. The first novel from a remarkably gifted writer with a voice all her own, MAN AT THE HELM is a hilarious and occasionally heart-breaking portrait of childhood in an unconventional family.
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Minervasbutler
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Pickpick

This is set in 1971, which given that I was born in 1960 makes me an almost-exact contemporary of the narrator, nine-year-old Lizzie, whose parents have just split up and who has relocated with her mum and siblings to an unfriendly village a few miles from Leicester. The humour is mainly of the type that made me smile in recognition rather than snort but on the whole I enjoyed this one.

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curnard
Mehso-so

This book was OK. There were moments where I was racing through it, others where it was a drag. The story of a nine year old's search for a new man for her mum, while struggling to fit in in a new village is at times entertaining, always well written but could have been slightly better.

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EvieBee
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I reshuffled the stack. Can't figure out what I'm in the mood for. Hopefully I'll have something going by end of day! I think I might be trying to prolong the 40s setting after Home Fires. #bookproblems #tbr

LeahBergen Small Island is awesome and would make a nice follow-up to Home Fires. 👍🏼 7y
LeahBergen I love Durrell to bits - but that's a sweet and cozy one. 7y
Moray_Reads I love At Mrs Lippencote's ❤ 7y
See All 7 Comments
EvieBee @LeahBergen The first page of both of those was compelling, especially Durrell's book. 7y
EvieBee @Moray_Reads I was reading over your lovely quotes! I decided to read that one. Can't wait. I am three books away from owning all of her work. She is so fascinating! 7y
Moray_Reads @EvieBee84 I need to read more, I think I've read 4 or 5 so far. And I love those Virago covers 😍😍 7y
EvieBee @Moray_Reads Me too! I want to own them all! Sigh. 7y
74 likes7 comments
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elliemcc11
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Another free book from the community book swap ☺📖

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DocBrown
Mehso-so

Heartwarming and gentle account of a young girl's take on her mom's relationship woes. My affection for the characters grew as the story unfolded, but it's very much a slice-of-life tale with no real earth-shattering plot points.