Away With the Penguins

Veronica McCready has always had a rather grim view of the other human beings on the planet and her nearly 86 years on the planet have done little to change her opinion. After a disastrous first meeting with her newly discovered grandson, Patrick, Veronica is even more convinced that no human deserves the rather large amount of money she's acquired in her lifetime. Instead, inspired by a nature documentary on television, she's decided to leave it to a penguin conservation project. But to make sure the project is deserving, Veronica has every intention of going to Antarctica to check out the scientists and, of course, the penguins. The scientists being pretty vehemently opposed to Veronica's idea, won't have any impact on her choice of show more course.

This is a sweet character study (with a bit of a save the planet streak) that if you're in the right mood will be an excellent read and if you're in the wrong one, may just rub you the wrong way. Veronica is the definition of curmudgeonly and her grandson, Patrick, who is the other first-person perspective we get to experience as readers, takes a bit to warm up to as well. However, I found the reading experience ultimately worth it - particularly the middle section where we discover what experiences made Veronica the way she is. Is the ending pretty unrealistic? Definitely. Did I enjoy it anyway? Absolutely. Plus, penguins! show less

The story begins in May of 2012, when we meet Veronica McCreedy, an 85-year-old woman living on her own in Ayrshire, Scotland and described as “curmudgeonly,” with more than a trace, it sound like, of Asperger’s Syndrome. She has a carer named Eileen (whom Veronica denies is a “carer”) and aside from Eileen and the gardener, Veronica has little human contact. She does like to watch a television show about nature, narrated by one Robert Saddlebow, (apparently, according to the Acknowledgments, inspired by David Attenborough), one of the few people for whom Veronica feels some admiration. Currently Saddlebow’s program is focusing on the plight of penguins.

Saddlebow, who voyages around the globe campaigning and raising show more awareness of conservation issues, has actually done something with his life that has an impact on the world, Veronica thinks somewhat enviously. Veronica longs to have made a difference in the world as well; her father always told her to make the world better if she could. So far, she feels she has not done so, except for the occasional collection of rubbish in public spaces, and her time is running out; she turns 86 in the next week. But her life now, she allows, is just marking time:

“Life has been a trail of insignificant events, spooling uselessly along, forgotten the minute after they happened. Appointments with [doctors]. Standing in the queue at the supermarket. Instructing Eileen regarding laundry. Instructing Mr. Perkins regarding petunias. Sleeping. Reading. Crosswords. Flower arranging. Tea. . . . I have bothered to keep going merely out of habit.”

But she knew she wouldn’t keep going forever. She acknowledged she at least needed to make a will, and asked Eileen to help her discover if she had any living relatives, saying (in reference to the internet): “Use your googly doodahs or whatever means is within your power.” Eileen finds it all very exciting, and agrees to help; Veronica so seldom communicates anything “personal.”

Two other characters alternate the narration. One is Terry (Teresa), who has a blog she operates out of Antarctica about Adélie penguins. Terry’s status reports on the penguins mirror what happens with the human characters. When, for example, she reports on how a feisty and stubborn penguin they named Sooty never gives up on what he wants with admirable persistence, the next chapter is about Veronica’s steadfast determination.

The other narrator is Patrick, 27 and at loose ends in life, who, as Eileen helps Veronica find out, turns out to be Veronica’s grandson. Patrick’s chapters also mirror the others. Patrick, recently dumped by his girlfriend, is depressed and like Veronica, feels without purpose in life. He muses: “Now that she’s gone, life seems to have filled up with this cold, creepy silence. I feel like a beer bottle once all the beer’s been drunk. Not needed. Worthless. Empty.”

Veronica insisted on coming to England to meet Patrick, but the encounter was a disaster, and Veronica considered him a dead end in her attempt to find a purpose. Instead, she decided to see for herself if the penguin program, in dire need of financial assistance, was worth her investment.

Veronica, nothing if not resolute, proceeded to (fictional) Locket Island in the South Shetlands on the Antarctic Peninsula. She met the three denizens of the research facility, Terry of blog fame, Dietrich, and Mike, all horrified at the prospect of her staying for three weeks. The conditions were crude, but Veronica didn’t care (or that is, she did, but she decided she would deal with it). Before long, she had become good friends with Terry, “adopted” an orphan penguin, and had begun to learn from the three scientists about thinking about the needs and problems of others rather than just how their behaviors affected her. She even confided to Terry that she thought her life was “all a big waste; a huge, painful, inexplicable, pointless waste.”

Veronica was finally opening up. She even confided to Terry that she thought her life was “all a big waste; a huge, painful, inexplicable, pointless waste.” Through telling her story to Terry, we learn about how she got to be so closed off and prickly. In fact, she may come to remind readers a bit of the rose in The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. She was covered in thorns to protect herself, yet by so doing, she closed off any prospect of healing. But thanks to the penguins, who give her a different perspective on the purpose of life, and the enforced interactions at the small field base with the team in Antarctica, both Veronica and the team changed each other in ways that emphasized the value and benefits of caring, connection, friendship, and love.

The resolution will require Kleenex. Or as Veronica would say: ““I find that my eyes are stinging severely. The second time today. Normally, they cause me no problems whatsoever. I hope this is not the beginning of some visual ailment.”

Evaluation: A delightful book that will serve as a “palate cleanser” for readers. show less

HOW THE PENGUINS SAVED VERONICA – Hazel Prior
This is a lovely story about an 86-year-old curmudgeon who decides to go to a scientific station in Antarctica to see the penguins. What ensues is gently humorous, scientifically factual, and full of family, love, disappointment, sorrow, overcoming setbacks, relationships, and coming to terms with yourself.
Prior writes warmly, gracefully, and clearly. Her characters live and grow and endear themselves to the reader. I enjoyed the relationship growth between the characters as they dealt with isolation and extreme cold along with the hardships of living and working in the unforgiving environment of an Antarctic scientific base.
The relationship of Veronica and her grandson develops in a show more natural way as they alienate each other on first meeting and then write notes and letters to each other as they each attempt to make amends.
A lovely book by a newish author. This is her second book. Her first, ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER, is also worth your time.
5 of 5 stars show less

I have to admit to being initially a little unsure what to expect from Away with the Penguins but I came away from it having experienced an absolutely lovely, uplifting and moving read. It's the story of Veronica McCreedy, 86 years old and living alone in a huge house in Ayrshire, Scotland. She's a little irascible and set in her ways, and her only company is Eileen, her cleaner, and Mr Perkins, her gardener. When Eileen finds a locked box in Veronica's house it brings back memories that lead her to search for family connections, and a chance change to the television schedules leads her eventually to Antarctica. This feisty lady is going to save the penguins!

What a gorgeous story. Veronica is one of those characters who you know from show more the outset has hidden depths. There's a lot more to her than meets the eye and even though she's a bit tricky at times I couldn’t help but love her. There are some fabulous supporting characters too, all of whom help Veronica to have the time of her life.

I particularly enjoyed the Antarctic setting. I'm always drawn to remote and inhospitable locations in books and it was fascinating to learn more about the South Shetland islands via the fictional Locket Island and the scientists at the field camp there. I also learnt a bit about penguins too!

Away with the Penguins is a delightfully quirky and unusual read. Although I could never have guessed where the story was heading, I found myself being drawn further and further in as it progressed and I just loved how it all worked out in the end. I'm thrilled to note there is a follow up book coming later this year. I can't wait to get back to Veronica and find out what she does next. show less

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#1 Away with the Penguins - ★★★★★
#2 Call of the Penguins - TBR



Away With The Penguins took me on such a journey, a winter adventure that I never knew I needed!

Synopsis

Veronica McCreedy is about to have the journey of a lifetime…

Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary. And she’s never seen without her ruby-red lipstick.

Although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone.

She can be found either collecting litter from the beach (‘people who litter the countryside should be shot’), trying to locate her glasses show more (‘someone must have moved them’) or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen (‘Eileen, door!’).

Veronica doesn’t have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway… And she has no idea where she’s going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.

But today . . . today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this.

My Thoughts:

“There are three types of people in this world, Very. There are those who make the world worse, those who make no difference and those who make the world better. Be one who makes the world better, if you can.”

I honestly don’t know why it took me so long to read Away With The Penguins. I knew I wanted to read it during the winter season, though, and I am glad I did. The scenes of Antarctica and the stories about the penguins, especially out penguin Pip (Patrick) made me glad to be wrapped in a warm blanket.

Veronica is such a funny character! I warmed up to her instantly, and I think if she were to ever team up with the gang from “The Thursday Murder Club”, she’s be a remarkable addition to the team. I loved how opening an old box and ready her old diary set her on a few new adventures that changed her life. It was interesting also having Patrick’s point of view in the book – Veronica’s grandson. There was an incredible contrast of lifestyles and personalities between him and granny. It created a realistic atmosphere and opened up a mystery I enjoyed reading so much.

Antarctica was beautifully described and when Veronica was there with the scientist, I could almost feel as if I was there with them too. With Veronica’s arrival, it was interesting to see how the scientists accepted her arrival and got used to her as time went on, but weren’t too keen at first. Their dynamic changed and Hazel wrote this amazingly. Away With The Penguins took me on such a journey, a winter adventure that I never knew I needed! There was a lot of raw emotion, the guilt of time lost, of the things that never happened, of the life that just keeps on going and the years pass on by.

I couldn’t help by feel the loss that Veronica felt, reading about her part, and seeing how it intertwined with her present. It was incredible, though, her stubbornness to keep fighting and try to do good in the world. Her resilience. Alongside her, I loved watching Patrick grow as a person too – his journey was also not very easy. But together, these two polar opposites (pun intended) found each other when they needed a companion the most. The messages this book sends are powerful; about the penguins, the extinction of other animals, saving the planet. But also about love, life, joy, being brave and being one of those people that tries to make the world a better place. Avery warm recommendation from me! show less

LT is on a roll. This was, mostly, a delightful read, with a side salad of melancholy, regret and loneliness. Mostly, thank goodness, delight. The story is told with a dual POV between Veronica and James.

Veronica is a cranky old bird, but wealthy enough that most people would just call in imperious. She comes by it honestly, as events in her life have served to sever her from who she used to be and who she might have turned out to be.

James is a hot mess, living off the dole and occasionally self-medicating and just trying to get through it all. He, too, comes by his dysfunction honestly, though he seems to have a very good heart.

When Veronica and James meet for the first time, it's not a success, and Veronica walks away from her only show more relative in the world. It's her trip to Antartica, her resulting precarious friendship with one of the scientists, and a small fluff ball of a baby penguin that finally cracks Veronica's shell, and that crack brings James to Antartica and together again with Veronica.

The reunion happens relatively late in the book, so the resolution is a bit ... not rushed, but not strung out either. It mostly works. What I enjoyed most was - ok, it was the penguin, totally and completely the penguin - but what I enjoyed second most was that the author wrote a story about an 86 year old woman travelling to Antartica, alone, and she did it unapologetically, without caveats, or explanations. Almost as though people on the top end of the age spectrum still had agency; imagine that.

An easy read that isn't an empty one; a book to be enjoyed while still leaving the reader with a few things to chew over afterwards. show less

I loved this so much, I immediately ordered a copy of the follow-up book from the UK since it's not yet in print in the US. I was skeptical at first - the opening chapters weren't that compelling. But I soon fell into Veronica's mad-dash adventure in Antarctica, and her love of penguins. I appreciated the mystery-aspect of Veronica's past, revealed through her teenaged diaries. This book was so charming. I adored it and cannot wait to start the next one. (Is it too much to hope Pip shows up in that one?)