The Good Plain Cook

by Bethan Roberts

Book Overview

"Vividly drawn and affecting . . . fine touches of subtlety and humour."-- Financial Times "Delicious . . . gorgeously written, full of teasing observations about love, class and cookery."-- The Times (London) "Bethan Roberts is a fearless writer."--Louise Welsh When local girl Kitty Allen answers an advertisement looking for a "good plain cook," she has no idea what she's getting herself into. As the temperature rises through the long, hot summer,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1846686652
• ISBN13: 9781846686658
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Serpent's Tail
• Length: 327 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A delightful book

The year is 1926 in Sussex. Kitty Allen was reading the newspaper when she spotted a wanted ad. The ad said...Wanted - Good plain cook to perform domestic duties for artistic household. Room and board included. Broad outlook essential. Kitty has been pondering whether to respond to the ad for several days. She decides to respond. Kitty wasn't sure what to expect but I can tell you it wasn't Ellen Steinberg and her daughter, Geenie. Greenie runs around putting holes in walls and pretty much doing whatever she wants. I don't know what perceived thoughts Londoners have about Americans but if they met Ellen, it would be that we are all crazy. Ellen is eccentric and not just a little. One of her favorite past times is to sun bath in the nude. Ellen's lover, George Crane is a poet. He loves Ellen but he gets embarrassed easily by Ellen and her antics. Bethan Roberts is a new author to me. I absolutely fell in love with this book. The character that really held a place in my heart wasn't Kitty but Mrs. Steinberg. She was so care free and eccentric and didn't care what anyone thought of her. Even if she made a fool of herself. I thought Ellen did as good an enough job trying to raise her daughter. There were a few times when Greenie could have used a few good spankings. Kitty was nice. She was too much of a wall flower for me. She became somewhat over shadowed by Ellen. To experience what British authors is cooking up on the other side of the pond, than you should check out The Good Plain Cook by Bethan Roberts.

terrific character driven historical

In 1936 in rural Sussex affluent American widow Ellen Steinberg advertises for a cook at her new country home. Nineteen year old Kitty Allen, needing to find a place to stay, applies for the position and to her shock though she lacks any experience gets the job because of her résumé filled with lies. Ellen expects Kitty to make whatever meal she orders for herself, her poet lover George Crane, her eleven year old daughter Geenie and George's tweener daughter Diana. Her employer also insists on openness from everyone as she knocks down interior walls to affirm her beliefs. Ironically she hides her feelings of guilt re her husband's death from her daughter. Meanwhile George begins writing bad poetry to Kitty while bewildered Geenie and confused Diana observe his actions with both unhappy about it. Geenie also blames Kitty for her inability to get the attention of her negligent mother. Like everyone else except perhaps Arthur the gardener, Kitty struggles with her place in this dysfunctional household. Filled with symbolism of breaking down barriers to relationships in order to build stronger affinities, the aptly titled The Good Plain Cook is a terrific character driven historical novel; Kitty and the two children are innocents with the newcomer becoming an object of affection of the poet who sees her as his symbolic muse yet can't seem to write poetry while his benefactor assumes he is writing an ode to their love; the kids are watchers of the adults using pretense to conceal feelings behind self built defense mechanism, which they emulate in differing manners as Geenie is overtly angry and Diana introvertly fearful. All five players are fully developed in this well written depression Era drama. Harriet Klausner

A great summer read.

I really enjoyed this, it was well paced, enjoyable to read and atmospheric. The setting is an English country cottage, one long summer in 1936. The story is balanced through three viewpoints: the young cook, Kitty, her rich American employer, Ellen, and her employer's young daughter, Geenie. Not much happens for a while, although it is just nice getting to know the characters and enjoying the summer along with them. There is a gentle humour throughout, which makes it an effortless read. Later in the novel, the mood changes somewhat and you start to sense the possibility of some serious storm clouds on the horizon. The story then leads to a satisfying close and you are left wanting to read more of Bethan Roberts writing. The characters are all fun to get to know, without being clichéd or OTT. The setting is perfectly crafted, vividly created - without descriptive bloating - and everything develops at a nice pace. I had no problem getting into the story or picking it up and continuing. All in all, if you suspect this might be your cup of tea then I don't think you'll be disappointed.