Penny Thorpe

The Quality Street Girls is a sweet story. I enjoyed reading this historical novel which took me back to the late 1930s in Halifax. There are historical references that capture the time period such as King Edward VIII stepping down for the women he loved, Wallace Simpson. Reenie Calder is a go getter with a bright outlook. She has spark and gumption. She is full of ideas which are not well received at the factory. I just loved her enthusiasm. Diana is a strong woman with more responsibility and, of course, her secret. I enjoyed watching these two diverse women evolve. Of course, Frances Roth is a bitter woman (there has to be a villain) who spends her days plotting ways to cause trouble (such a shame). It was interesting learning about the Quality Street chocolates. This is the first novel that I have read by Penny Thorpe and it will not my last. I found The Quality Street Girls to be a fascinating story with mouthwatering confections, family strife, inventive ideas, high spirits, and hard working women.… (mais)

I just couldn't resist a book about the factory where they made Quality Street for the first time in the 1930s. There's just something about those brightly coloured, cellophane wrapped sweets (I'll fight you for the strawberry creams!).

This is the story of four of the girls who worked on the lines at the Mackintosh factory in Halifax. Reenie was my absolute favourite. I loved her. Just about to turn 16 when the book begins, her dream is to work at the factory so when she gets a job there her dream comes true. She's one of those naively honest characters who just says what she thinks without thought for the consequences, but it's never in a nasty way. She just wants to help.

Then there's Diana, a slightly older girl who has built up a wall around herself to protect herself and those she most cares about. I liked Diana very much too as she's strong and resourceful.

Finally, there are sisters, Mary and Bess. Mary is a bit sour at times and spends a lot of time covering up for her sister who is a bit airy-fairy. But again, they are immensely likeable characters.

Put them all together and you have a really good story. I absolutely loved the descriptions of the sweets, the machines and the way the factory worked back then. Some of it was mechanised but some wasn't and so it had to be done by hand at piece work rates. It wasn't hard to imagine the smell of those strawberry creams and I particularly liked it when one of the girls fainted and no smelling salts were to hand to bring her round. It was suggested that she be taken to the mint cracknel room because the mint oil was so strong it would do the trick. What an experience working there must have been and there's a real sense that it was a fabulous place of employment. I know it's fiction but the author clearly has a lot of knowledge about the factory and has done her research.

As you might expect, the characters go on many ups and downs before the end of the story, but it's a very heart-warming story as they all look out for each other. I really enjoyed this Christmassy chocolaty story. I had a strong sense of how different times were then. Now we just go to the supermarket and buy ourselves a tin of Quality Street. Then, just one sweet or toffee was a real treat. Just like this story.… (mais)