Not All Tarts Are Apple

Loved it! Can't say enough about it. I'm bad about getting stuck in certain "genres" of fiction. I had this selected into my Wish List for quite a while, & finally decided to try it. What a refreshing treat it was! The book certainly is beguiling & whisks you up & away immediately. I must say I also learned some new vocab from those crazy Brits. Call me dumb, but I didn't know what they were referring to at first when they'd use the word "tart"!

Rosie is an adorable little character. So loveable, you find yourself feeling she's real, & think about her when you're not reading the book. (A sign of a great book is not only does it capture your thoughts while reading it, but when you put it down.)

I can't wait to read more of Rosie's further adventures in Granger's next novel.

Rosie was an intelligent little seven year old and seeing the world through her eyes was clever because we, as adults, can see more into things than she can, which made her observations amusing.

I felt I was living in 1950's Soho whilst reading this and what a warm and friendly place it appeared to be. Yes, the people in her world were wide boys, rough diamonds and even prostitutes but the characters were totally believable and you felt absolutely safe with them. The sense of community was the overall theme and how they always cared for their own, especially Rosie. I almost wanted to boo the baddies when they made their appearance.

A warm and amusing story but a book that needs to be read in large chunks and not a page or two before bed.

I very much enjoyed this delightful book written from the viewpoint of the young child Rosie, whose mother, “the Perfumed Lady,” comes and goes periodically in her life and the story. Rosie is “parented” by cafe owners “Aunt Maggie and Uncle Bert,” contacts of her mother with whom she happily lives, as well as an eclectic variety of their adult friends in the Soho area of London around the post-World War II Coronation time. Among these are Paulette, at first a “tart” like Rosie’s mother; the Campaninis a large Italian family and their son Luigi; Sharky Finn the somewhat “bent” lawyer, Maltese Joe and Madame Zelda, (Clairvoyant to the Stars). This diverse community not only takes care of Rosie in a variety of ways, big and small, but also of each other. Many adventures and challenges occur, often involving the appearances of the alcoholic Perfumed Lady and her antics.

The wry observations of Rosie on school personalities and the characters surrounding her reflect the child viewpoint beautifully and were a large part of why I enjoyed the book so much. I will be looking forward to reading others in the series.

My thanks to Netgalley for an electronic copy of this book. #NotAllTartsAreApple

I picked up this book off my shelf randomly and I am quite delighted that I did so. Not All Tarts are Apple by Pip Granger tells the story of Rosie, a young girl in 1950's England whose mother abandoned her when she was born. Although the book involves prostitution, gambling, addiction, and all other aspects of low-life and seediness, I found it to be surprisingly upbeat and angelic. Because the story is told from the point of view of a child, the reader is re-introduced into the innocent mindset that they once had themselves. This view is refreshing, to say the least! You find yourself disliking the lowly and vulgar characters such as wife-beaters and pimps along Rosie's entire neighborhood, rooting for them to get "slaughtered" and "bounced off walls and pavement" (65). Any book that sparks the reader's involuntary reactions so strongly is definitely a great one and a must read.

The family atmosphere created by the characters in the book also forces the reader to love it. Everyone loves and looks after Rosie as if she is his or her own child, and in turn the reader also loves Rosie. How could you not love an innocent child that maintains devotion and sincerity among a world of crooked adults? Rosie draws out the child in every reader regardless of age. In addition, the language used in this book is very enjoyable and fun. You find yourself beginning to think and talk in a British slang after only a few minutes of reading, which I consider another indication of the lasting affects this book has on you. Overall, this book warms your heart and leaves you with no option but to love it. I would recommmend this to anyone and everyone!

I loved this book! Even though I'm not British, the characters were believable and multi-dimensional. They all had their flaws; no one was perfect but they were irresistable all the same! You really couldn't feel sorry for seven year old Rosie who was abandoned by her alcoholic, hooker Mother. She was completely loved and nurtured by so many people! What a fortunate child! You don't expect a book that includes an abandoned child, rape, prostitution, organized crime, substance abuse and kidnapping to be hilarious or sweet. This book was both. Don't miss reading this!

Charming and exciting look at a troubled childhood that reaches a happy conclusion.

Such a charming story. Told thru the eyes of a child post ww2 in west london. Mysteries, friendships and danger. Charming cast of characters.

Charming delightful picture of the not-so-innocent working class pulling together after World War II. I was surprised to learn about the rationing in England long after the war had ended. Americans returned and built suburbs, highways & mega-companies. In this corner of London, they made it through with humor, quick thinking and a lot of looking our for one another.

In 1953, London's alleyways are full of all sorts of shady characters. But seven-year old Rosie has a spot in everyone's heart. She lives with her Uncle Bert and Aunt Maggie, and one day she learns that "The Perfumed Lady" is really Rosie's mother. And there is a plot afoot that Rosie is the target of. She rallies the whole neighborhood to her aid. This was a whimsical book. It had a really British writing style, with a lot of British terms and a sort of British feel to it, which I enjoyed. Also, I loved all the characters: fortune-tellers, card-sharks, crooks, who are all good people in their way, as well as Rosie's family. And Rosie herself was a great character, an indomitable, cheerful, seven-year old who narrates the book throughout, never allowing herself to be beaten down or intimidated.

*You can read all of my reviews on my book review blog, novareviews.blogspot.com*

I checked out this book from the library by chance. Glad to have read it. Uncle Bert and Auntie Maggie's clan definitely comes to life, with their own stories and characters, so that in the end you feel like joining them in the corner of the cafe. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it's not a book that'll blow off your 'knickers' but still a fun read.