With rave reviews from authors and comedians alike Life, Death and Vanilla Slices from Jenny Eclair, the ultimate Grumpy Old Woman, is a brilliant black comedy. A compelling family drama littered with sharp observations and unflinching dark humour, we think you will be unable to put it down. Download the Opening Extract today.
Jean Collins is in a coma. She stepped out into the middle of the road without looking and was run over by a motorbike. But what had distracted her? And why was she carrying a box of vanilla slices - the cream cakes she only ever bought for special celebrations?
For Jean's daughter Anne, these questions are the least of her concern. Travelling back up north to visit her mother, Anne frets about leaving her two sons behind in London - boys who are rapidly becoming men, and not very pleasant ones at that. And there are secrets waiting for Anne, back in the house where she grew up. Secrets she doesn't want to think about - that she buried a long time ago... In her extraordinary new novel Jenny Eclair has also created a compelling and heartbreaking family drama that feels as rich and honest as real life.
'Very dark and very funny. I had it glued to my face until I'd finished it' Jo Brand
'Of course it's funny, but it's also dark, honest and totally compulsive reading' Jenny Colgan
'Utterly compelling, brave, angry and melancholy all at once. It is brutal about the female experience, but also beautifully observed about the subtle complexities of being a woman. I thought Jean was an amazing character - and it is testament to Jenny's skill as a writer that despite some awful behaviour, the reader never actually loses sympathy for her. Most of all, it's just a great, honest piece of writing. I want to read her others now' -- Jojo Moyes
Author
About Jenny Eclair
Jenny Éclair is one of the most successful performers on the comedy stand-up circuit, the sole female winner of the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival, and regularly appears on BBC Radio.
