Happy Families Collection 10 Books Set - Allan Ahlberg

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I enjoyed the Asian background of this novel and the insight into the racism that the characters had experienced. All three kids have motive to kill their parents but would any of them be so heartless to commit these brutal murders? Her father plans to cut his financial support and he already expressed his intention in front of entire family. the plot twist wasnt that good, it was pretty predictable which sucks because i spent the entire book being so shocked by the twists and turns just to get to the end and be let down.

It was a joyous shell game as I suspected each individual countless times while new information was revealed and lies exposed.There were so many layers to this story, and so many characters all deftly woven together, but it never felt overly complicated or confusing to read which I am always grateful for with multigenerational stories.

I rarely DNF books, and I almost never do it when I get a review copy, but I completely understand why one would chose not to finish this novel, as it was too repetitive with all the he said she said parts that it became boring. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. Julie Ma's descriptions of the Li family relationships are moving and comedic at times, and there's an ooze of charm and relatability to small village life found in the interactions with those around them.I prefer listening to this genre and the audiobook was narrated by Ellen Archer, who did an excellent job. Happy Families is a gentle family drama about three generations of a slightly dysfunctional Chinese family living in the small town of Cawsmenyn in Wales and the family run takeaway they own. When the storyline was recircling, many times I felt that the text was repetitive and drawn out, like the author had a word count to meet. Whilst I found this book nostalgic, the story was bland and I only finished it because I don’t like to leave a book unfinished. The next audio collection from Allan Ahlberg stars more of his best loved characters, including Master Salt the Sailor's Son, Ms Cliff the Climber and Mrs Plug the Plumber.

The story itself didn’t grip me and the narrative is very meandering, seeming to flounder at points and I really think Julie Ma needed to make her aims for the novel clearer. There was a slight pull of wanting to know what the secrets were, but both "big reveals" were massively disappointing. She works day and night curing rabbits and leopards and hamsters and elephants and every animal in between. For me this book sounded like it was going to be a nice easy story about a family running a Chinese takeaway in a small town in Wales.I love books that feature a large family with lots of different characters and personalities and this one had the added interest that it was based around a Chinese family! Everybody has something more to them than being a woman behind a counter in Next or a man on the till in Aldi. It doesn't contain any unnecessary fluff or overwrought musings, so it jives well with the genre, enabling the action to take the front seat. I think after 5 books I finally figured out why I am middle of the road when it comes to reviewing her books: it is that her books read like a Wikipedia version of a good thriller.

Family” begins with the murder of Fred and Sheila Merton (who are despised by their kids) which causes them all to become suspects based on their lies, suspicious actions and motive to get their hands on their several million dollar inheritance. All of the children were treated poorly by their father and the mother never seemed to stick up for them. When children are facing a mental health challenge, Dr Beth offers what all struggling parents need: an evidence-based road map to helping your child find themselves again. Not your typical Easter Sunday dinner when Fred Merton demeans his children for their lack of industrious motives: One is a doctor, one has no job and the other makes sexual art forms.I have no idea how this book won any awards, it is the dullest, slowest, most plotless book I’ve read with thinly drawn, irritating characters.