A curmudgeonly but charming old woman, her estranged grandson, and a colony of penguins proves it’s never too late to be the person you want to be in this rich, heartwarming story from the acclaimed author of Ellie and the Harpmaker. Eighty-five-year-old Veronica McCreedy is estranged from her family and wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about … sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she tells the scientists she’s coming to visit—and won’t take no for an answer. Shortly after arriving, she convinces the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes part of life at the base, and Veronica’s closed heart starts to open.
Her grandson, Patrick, comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know his grandmother. Together, Veronica, Patrick, and even the scientists learn what family, love, and connection are all about.
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Loved this endearing book!! If you loved Ove, Eudora Honeycutt and Eleanor Ophiliant, you will love Veronica too
This is my second Hazel Prior book and I really enjoy her quirky character driven stories. Veronica is in her seventies, living on her own, and has lived a life marked by stark loneliness and tragedy. She has no one left. No family. Except… she discovers, she does. A long lost grandson she never knew about is discovered, and the book delves into his life, into her past coming of age during WW2, and a mission to Antarctica to be with the penguins (which was my favorite part of the book—penguins, so adorable.) Another feel good book by Hazel Prior.
This is a really charming novel about an icy old woman who begins to thaw only when she gets to Antarctica, of course, and falls in love with penguins (especially one orphan penguin). She also learns to appreciate the not terribly promising grandson she only recently found out about (and vice versa, after a journal she shares with him reveals how that iciness originated). Veronica also learns to appreciate the small motley crew of scientists manning a research station there after a lifetime of disparaging communities (for good reason, really, given her history). I suppose we are left to hope there will be enough willing Veronicas around to save the penguins and the planet, too (with our help). A clever and warmhearted read.
An inspirational and charming story in which no one is too old or too lost for redemption as long as there are penguins. Perfect for stressful times like these!
The title of this book sounded enjoyable. It was that, and so much more! The multi layered plot and delightful characters kept me reading page after page.
The stubborn and clever Veronica, her estranged stoner grandson, an anxiety stricken caregiver, three chagrined scientists, and a plucky baby penguin are seamlessly pulled together for a story you won’t soon forget.
Heartfelt, rich and full of hope, Veronica’s journey is not only about saving the penguins, it’s also one of self discovery and the forming of unexpected bonds.
Same book as away with the Penguins. Excellent book great fun. Modern romance.
Delightful, heartwarming — just loved it. Would make a great film, IMHO. This is my first in the OnceUponaBookClub subscription where you receive not only a monthly book selection but there are wrapped gifts that you open at certain pages — loved the book choice — the gifts were nice, and fun. Veronica is a cranky elderly woman who lives alone on the coast of Scotland. Veronica loves the TV show Earth Matters but The Plight of the Penguins is running instead. She becomes enraptured with the penguins. At the same time a chest from her past with a locket and diaries … move her to hire an agency to see if she may have any relatives from her son who she was estranged from. Veronica is not only trying to come to terms with her past … many tragedies … she has never fully faced emotionally … but also wants to make plans for the future … so off she goes to Antarctica to see the Penguins.
I read this wonderful book and loved it! Warm, witty and wise. It made me laugh and also shed a tear or two. (It’s title is Away With the Penguins in the UK)
Life’s end approaches before most people know it. An elderly but spry woman in Hazel Prior’s book “How the Penguins Saved Veronica” sees what she has left to do in life and goes forth to conquer it!
Time does slip away from one and as that time keeps dwindling one elderly woman starts an epic journey to find out what is important in the end. Her name is Veronica and she has much to consider; a long lost grandson, a long time friend and helper, and then there are the penguins! How can she help them all, what is most important, to find out Veronica goes, literally, to the ends of the earth!
The time I spent reading this book was a delightful adventure! I fell in love with the main character! As she went through her trials and I watched her growth/change it was marvelous!
For fun, adventure and family drama scoop up this entertaining book!
I never thought I’d say this…penguins are AMAZING supporting characters! So after all the movies out there about penguins I sort of checked out on them. But it’s been years, so I found myself excited to read How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior when it came in my @onceuponanbookclub June adult box.
Seriously, this book is delightful. The characters are vibrant and relatable. The scenery is described so well that one feels like they are on vacation while reading this.
I especially loved that she didn’t humanize the penguins. Somehow, by just describing their natural behavior she made them perfect models of how we should all have “joie de vivre”.
I’m astonished at the scope of this book. From Scotland to Antarctica, from WW2 to present day, from the Greatest Generation to the Millennials, and from poor to wealthy, Hazel Prior embraces it all into a seamless, entertaining and inspirational fiction.
Hazel doesn’t shy away from the ugly and miserable, but she doesn’t dwell in it. The characters grow and push through to find humor, joy, and love. It’s inspiring. When I read the last page I felt unexpectedly refreshed and revitalized.
Veronica McCreedy is in her mid-eighties and lives alone in Scotland. She has been divorced for many years and has not maintained any ties to her family. Her days are spent conversing with her small staff who tend to her personal needs while tending her home. She is lonely and isolated and often unpleasant. Recently, she decided that it’s time to select a beneficiary for her sizable fortune.
Veronica has been spending her evenings watching a television series about penguins in Antarctica. She decides that this might be a worthy cause and has her staff contact the research facility. A big sticking point is that she must visit the facilities prior to any donation. Veronica also discovers that she has a grandson named Patrick. She is disappointed when they meet because he lacks direction and uses recreational drugs. Patrick is equally unimpressed with his authoritarian grandmother. While Veronica is in Antarctica, Patrick gets access to her personal journals and begins to unwind the mysteries of his roots.
How The Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior is about accepting the past and finding the resolve to move forward. People often get stuck and lonely and are in need of a catalyst to make the necessary changes in their lives.
Hazel Prior, author of “How the Penguins Saved Veronica” has written a heartwarming, memorable, and entertaining novel. The genres for this novel are fiction and women’s fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the author’s present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events in the story. The story takes place in Antarctica and England. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated, quirky, and flawed. The most delightfully adorable characters are the penguins.
Veronica McCreedy is a feisty, stubborn, determined 85-year-old woman, who doesn’t think she has any family. Veronica is lonely at times, and starts watching a television show about Penguins in Antarctica, and arranges for her housekeeper to provide Veronica the information about transportation to visit with the penguins and the scientists. Veronica also finds out that she has a grandson Patrick. After locating him, she is extremely disappointed in him.
Veronica arrives in Antarctica properly dressed in the appropriate attire for the freezing weather. At first, she gets a chilly reception from the staff. Terry, the only woman is truly a penguin whisperer and introduces Veronica to the penguins. Veronica sees an abandoned orphaned penguin and insists that the team help rescue and take care of it.
Somehow by rescuing the penguin, and the way the other penguins survive enable Veronica to accept her past and move on to the future. She realizes that forgiveness and second changes are important.
I appreciate the author’s research into penguins. The author also discusses the importance of family, friends, belonging, love, and hope are. I would recommend this delightful and thought-provoking story.
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior is an excellent novel about second chances, relationships lost and rediscovered, finding oneself, and one’s identity and purpose.
I enjoyed reading the unique situation and life of Veronica McCreedy and how an 85 y/o finds herself amongst penguins in Antarctica. I enjoyed learning more about penguins in general, artic studies, and also the alternating story lines of past and present.
I think what I enjoyed the most was the character of Veronica herself. I liked her flaws and faults included. I think she has so much to offer and some of the brashness and rough exterior is due to events that have occurred in the past. I liked that added layer of complexity so that her character and her personality was not a cut and dry two-dimensional entity. I enjoyed her growth and “change” throughout her fascinating journey.
I also equally loved the ending. It was so bittersweet and perfect in every way. This book was so unique and is very memorable.
Excellent book that gave me the fuzzies all over numerous times.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Berkley for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.