NBR - The Thoughts & Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals by Wendy Jones

The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior Funerals by Wendy Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 1.5 days

Blurb From Goodreads

Everyone has to make decisions about love...

Wilfred Price, overcome with emotion and a yellow dress, on a sunny spring day, proposes to a girl he barely knows at a picnic. The girl, Grace, joyfully accepts and rushes to tell her family of Wilfred's intentions. But by this time Wilfred realized his mistake. He does not love Grace.

Wendy Jones' charming first novel is a moving depiction of love and secrecy, set against the rural backdrop of a 1920's Welsh Village, and is beautifully told.

My Review

Wilfred Price is a fairly naive young man with the world at his feet. He has his own business with ideas of building and expanding. Overcome with male emotions on a hot day with a pretty girl in a low cut dress he gets caught up in the moment and proposes. What follows is a cloud of regret, steps to correct his mistake and a budding new love interest but will it all go to plan?

I read a really great review on this and wanted to try it (books set in the early 1920s aren't usually my thing). To be honest I found it pretty slow going for most of the first half, however that said the author made a good job of introducing the characters and creating a real and engaging setting for the drama that follows.

I had a huge dislike for Grace for the first part of the book but as the story starts to take shape and more is revealed I actually felt sorry for her. Wilfred is a bit of a young silly boy led by his emotions and doesn't think before he acts however as the book goes on we see him grow and mature which is a nice journey to follow.

The book deals with a few tough issues but instead of being in your face and over the top like a lot of books are written, it is very subtle and dignified considering what some of the content is. A good novel although I personally like my books more in your face and fast paced but this is definitely worth a look at especially if you like your books a bit demure. 3/5 for me and I would consider this author again, thanks to Newbooks mag for giving me a chance to review this and introduce me to another new author.

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