not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

A waste of time and money, 16 Sep 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews, but my advice is - don't! I'm sorry, because I live in Norfolk and thought it would be a lovely read, but it's completely misrepresented by the review. Halfway through I began to be very irritated by her constant references to 'The Beauty'. By the end I would cheerfully have strangled the foul brat, and this name for the child has convinced me that the child is so ugly, only a mother could love it. I cannot remember any book I've read that is more vapid and more likely to insult the intelligence of a reader than this; which is sad.

Really dull, 29 Aug 2008
I read all the brilliant Amazon reviews before buying this book and felt confident it would be a sure-fire hit, but I was really disappointed. I thought it was a rather tedious aga saga-style novel, whose direction I didn't understand, and whose point I didn't get. The descriptive language is nice at times, and I could relate to all the motherhood issues, but it was so self-consciously upper-middle class that it didn't appeal to me, as a Guardian-reading university lecturer.

Literary equivalent of the Boden catalogue, 17 Aug 2008
Can't think what induced me to pick up this appalling, saccharine tosh but at least it was in the Oxfam shop. It was written by a Country Life columnist which says it all. Smug, self-satisfied, twee, the literary equivalent of a Boden catalogue. Reminds me of a particularly nauseating column called Posh But Poor that ran in the Telegraph, and for all I know it still does, but I cancelled the paper.
Hens are now Dancing their way into my recycling bin.


good but not as good as summertime, 21 Apr 2008
i love barker's style of writing, its completely unique and individual and i lap up what she has written, however although this was a good, comic and painfully real tale, i still preferred Summertime, which i rated highly. My advice would be to read the latter but maybe not bother with this, or is you do, don't feel too bad about giving up in the middle. However i still love her work anyway!

A lovely laugh., 29 Apr 2006
I took Hens Dancing with me on a short trip to the UK and had finished it by the time I reached my hotel. Yes, I was the woman in the plane/ train/ bus who sat and giggled continuously! I was enchanted by the story but strongly recommend that it is read when alone, behind closed curtains and then you do not embarass yourself!

Laura Sale, the star of Raffaella Barker's fifth novel, Green Grass, is pretty fed up. Simply put, Laura has forgotten how to have a good time. "Somewhere on the way to becoming a 38-year-old mother of adolescents, a wife manqué for 14 years, she has left having fun behind." Fun has been overtaken by the preoccupations of work and family. Inigo, her conceptual-artist husband is attractive, but "he's always been demanding and egocentric". Her twins, Dolly and Fred, are mostly loveable--except that Fred is constantly campaigning for a pet and Dolly is behaving "like a temperamental opera diva". There seems no space left for Laura's needs.

Fuelled by nostalgic memories of summer holidays in Norfolk, Laura thinks that country life will solve all her ills, she'll have "space to breathe", she may even ditch Inigo and his outrageous artistic demands for the man she was going to marry 20 years ago. Guy is now a farmer, who has a sideline in natural bath products. It seems like the ultimate rural idyll, and as far away from the arty London scene as you can get.

Raffaella Barker is not afraid to tell the truth about the infuriating nature of relationships with lovers, children, siblings and pets. But she never lets cynicism or bleakness take hold; instead her gaze is clear and hopeful. Laura's wistful dreams are treated with wry, good humour, and some healthy reality. Yes, the countryside is airy, but it is also muddy and wet, and home to rampaging goats and aggressive ferrets. Green Grass is gleeful, irreverent and touchingly wistful, a laugh-out-loud account of getting a life. With a pond and blackberry bushes, natch. --Eithne Farry

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

A waste of time and money, 16 Sep 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews, but my advice is - don't! I'm sorry, because I live in Norfolk and thought it would be a lovely read, but it's completely misrepresented by the review. Halfway through I began to be very irritated by her constant references to 'The Beauty'. By the end I would cheerfully have strangled the foul brat, and this name for the child has convinced me that the child is so ugly, only a mother could love it. I cannot remember any book I've read that is more vapid and more likely to insult the intelligence of a reader than this; which is sad.

Really dull, 29 Aug 2008
I read all the brilliant Amazon reviews before buying this book and felt confident it would be a sure-fire hit, but I was really disappointed. I thought it was a rather tedious aga saga-style novel, whose direction I didn't understand, and whose point I didn't get. The descriptive language is nice at times, and I could relate to all the motherhood issues, but it was so self-consciously upper-middle class that it didn't appeal to me, as a Guardian-reading university lecturer.

Literary equivalent of the Boden catalogue, 17 Aug 2008
Can't think what induced me to pick up this appalling, saccharine tosh but at least it was in the Oxfam shop. It was written by a Country Life columnist which says it all. Smug, self-satisfied, twee, the literary equivalent of a Boden catalogue. Reminds me of a particularly nauseating column called Posh But Poor that ran in the Telegraph, and for all I know it still does, but I cancelled the paper.
Hens are now Dancing their way into my recycling bin.


good but not as good as summertime, 21 Apr 2008
i love barker's style of writing, its completely unique and individual and i lap up what she has written, however although this was a good, comic and painfully real tale, i still preferred Summertime, which i rated highly. My advice would be to read the latter but maybe not bother with this, or is you do, don't feel too bad about giving up in the middle. However i still love her work anyway!

A lovely laugh., 29 Apr 2006
I took Hens Dancing with me on a short trip to the UK and had finished it by the time I reached my hotel. Yes, I was the woman in the plane/ train/ bus who sat and giggled continuously! I was enchanted by the story but strongly recommend that it is read when alone, behind closed curtains and then you do not embarass yourself!

Depressing, 14 Jan 2004
Having read 'Summertime' I looked forward to reading Raffaella Barker's most recent book, 'Green Grass', expecting more lighthearted accounts of rural eccentrics and romance. What a disappointment. This book is totally depressing, both the hero and heroine are unhappily married, the characters are difficult to connect to, and the heroine's artist husband is beyond credibility. The feel of the book is miserable and bleak, a complete opposite to 'Summertime'. Come on Raffaella, there are plenty of gritty writers - stick to the frivolous, please.

A real disappointment, 21 May 2003
This book is just dreadful. Absolutely nothing of note happens until the penultimate chapter. Perhaps the author thinks she creates some sense of Clara's angst and confusion but the character lacks depth and you never really empathise with her. Criminally, this book also fails to convey the charm of rural Norfolk. What a wasted opportunity - shame on you Ms Barker!

A writer who I'll read again, 16 Jan 2003
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing a review in a newspaper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a very true-to-life story of Laura (a 40-something wife and mother) with an irritating husband and two teenagers - the descriptions of Dolly, her daughter, are particularly amusing. She heads off to Norfolk and then meets her erstwhile boyfriend...... I will definitely be reading more of Rafaella Barker's books.

Green Grass, 26 Nov 2002
The charm of this book lies in the way the author develops what might on the surface seem a fairly simple - and romantic - story. Barker leads you into some quite interesting territory, a marriage that is going badly awry. Clara is a woman who is losing her sense of herself in the responsibilities of being a mother,a wife and above all a grown-up. As a result of this she finds herself hankering increasingly for the paths in her life she didn't follow and thinking alot about her old boyfriend Guy who is now an organic farmer in Norfolk. Far from being a bleak landscape of domestic gloom this author makes all her insight witty, recognisable and really really funny. The ending might surprise you.....I love this writer.

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

A waste of time and money, 16 Sep 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews, but my advice is - don't! I'm sorry, because I live in Norfolk and thought it would be a lovely read, but it's completely misrepresented by the review. Halfway through I began to be very irritated by her constant references to 'The Beauty'. By the end I would cheerfully have strangled the foul brat, and this name for the child has convinced me that the child is so ugly, only a mother could love it. I cannot remember any book I've read that is more vapid and more likely to insult the intelligence of a reader than this; which is sad.

Really dull, 29 Aug 2008
I read all the brilliant Amazon reviews before buying this book and felt confident it would be a sure-fire hit, but I was really disappointed. I thought it was a rather tedious aga saga-style novel, whose direction I didn't understand, and whose point I didn't get. The descriptive language is nice at times, and I could relate to all the motherhood issues, but it was so self-consciously upper-middle class that it didn't appeal to me, as a Guardian-reading university lecturer.

Literary equivalent of the Boden catalogue, 17 Aug 2008
Can't think what induced me to pick up this appalling, saccharine tosh but at least it was in the Oxfam shop. It was written by a Country Life columnist which says it all. Smug, self-satisfied, twee, the literary equivalent of a Boden catalogue. Reminds me of a particularly nauseating column called Posh But Poor that ran in the Telegraph, and for all I know it still does, but I cancelled the paper.
Hens are now Dancing their way into my recycling bin.


good but not as good as summertime, 21 Apr 2008
i love barker's style of writing, its completely unique and individual and i lap up what she has written, however although this was a good, comic and painfully real tale, i still preferred Summertime, which i rated highly. My advice would be to read the latter but maybe not bother with this, or is you do, don't feel too bad about giving up in the middle. However i still love her work anyway!

A lovely laugh., 29 Apr 2006
I took Hens Dancing with me on a short trip to the UK and had finished it by the time I reached my hotel. Yes, I was the woman in the plane/ train/ bus who sat and giggled continuously! I was enchanted by the story but strongly recommend that it is read when alone, behind closed curtains and then you do not embarass yourself!

Depressing, 14 Jan 2004
Having read 'Summertime' I looked forward to reading Raffaella Barker's most recent book, 'Green Grass', expecting more lighthearted accounts of rural eccentrics and romance. What a disappointment. This book is totally depressing, both the hero and heroine are unhappily married, the characters are difficult to connect to, and the heroine's artist husband is beyond credibility. The feel of the book is miserable and bleak, a complete opposite to 'Summertime'. Come on Raffaella, there are plenty of gritty writers - stick to the frivolous, please.

A real disappointment, 21 May 2003
This book is just dreadful. Absolutely nothing of note happens until the penultimate chapter. Perhaps the author thinks she creates some sense of Clara's angst and confusion but the character lacks depth and you never really empathise with her. Criminally, this book also fails to convey the charm of rural Norfolk. What a wasted opportunity - shame on you Ms Barker!

A writer who I'll read again, 16 Jan 2003
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing a review in a newspaper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a very true-to-life story of Laura (a 40-something wife and mother) with an irritating husband and two teenagers - the descriptions of Dolly, her daughter, are particularly amusing. She heads off to Norfolk and then meets her erstwhile boyfriend...... I will definitely be reading more of Rafaella Barker's books.

Green Grass, 26 Nov 2002
The charm of this book lies in the way the author develops what might on the surface seem a fairly simple - and romantic - story. Barker leads you into some quite interesting territory, a marriage that is going badly awry. Clara is a woman who is losing her sense of herself in the responsibilities of being a mother,a wife and above all a grown-up. As a result of this she finds herself hankering increasingly for the paths in her life she didn't follow and thinking alot about her old boyfriend Guy who is now an organic farmer in Norfolk. Far from being a bleak landscape of domestic gloom this author makes all her insight witty, recognisable and really really funny. The ending might surprise you.....I love this writer.

Delicately written, atmospheric and gripping, 24 Aug 2001
This is very different from Barker's other books - much grittier and more disturbing. Much of it is based around a fish farm, a setting I found bizarre, spooky, fascinating and plausible. The characters all ring true, and you care passionately about them from very early on and feel you know what it's like to be in their shoes. I loved every minute of this book and wish she would write more like this - in writing a thriller she didn't seem to be trying to do anything very unusual, but she did it perfectly.

Summertime, the sequel to Raffaella Barker's extremely popular Hens Dancing is a six-month snapshot of the life of Venetia Summers and her three children. Deserted by her "tower-of-strength" boyfriend David, Venetia spends the summer waiting for him to return, lonely and hurt that he seems to be taking his time.

Don't be fooled into thinking that she's just going to sit and mope. Although it would be pushing it to describe Summertime as action-packed--too much of the novel takes place on the school run or in the knot garden for that--Venetia's life races along and the months soon skip past. There are three eccentric children to ferry about, the ex-husband and his Internet pet cemetery to contend with and a new neighbour--the elusive Hedley Sale, complete with monobrow and dandruff.

Written in a clipped diary style, Summertime is packed with moments city dwellers only dream about. Afternoons in the garden of a beautiful Norfolk cottage, impulsive trips to hear nightingales, Easter egg hunts and moonlit nights stuffed with stars. Although they're a privileged lot--the children tell jokes about Beethoven--they're endearing and lovers of Katie Fforde, Mavis Cheek and Joanna Trollope should snap this up. Especially if they're partial to a cheeky parrot with a fruity wolf whistle and a mean sense of rhythm.--Jane Honey

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

A waste of time and money, 16 Sep 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews, but my advice is - don't! I'm sorry, because I live in Norfolk and thought it would be a lovely read, but it's completely misrepresented by the review. Halfway through I began to be very irritated by her constant references to 'The Beauty'. By the end I would cheerfully have strangled the foul brat, and this name for the child has convinced me that the child is so ugly, only a mother could love it. I cannot remember any book I've read that is more vapid and more likely to insult the intelligence of a reader than this; which is sad.

Really dull, 29 Aug 2008
I read all the brilliant Amazon reviews before buying this book and felt confident it would be a sure-fire hit, but I was really disappointed. I thought it was a rather tedious aga saga-style novel, whose direction I didn't understand, and whose point I didn't get. The descriptive language is nice at times, and I could relate to all the motherhood issues, but it was so self-consciously upper-middle class that it didn't appeal to me, as a Guardian-reading university lecturer.

Literary equivalent of the Boden catalogue, 17 Aug 2008
Can't think what induced me to pick up this appalling, saccharine tosh but at least it was in the Oxfam shop. It was written by a Country Life columnist which says it all. Smug, self-satisfied, twee, the literary equivalent of a Boden catalogue. Reminds me of a particularly nauseating column called Posh But Poor that ran in the Telegraph, and for all I know it still does, but I cancelled the paper.
Hens are now Dancing their way into my recycling bin.


good but not as good as summertime, 21 Apr 2008
i love barker's style of writing, its completely unique and individual and i lap up what she has written, however although this was a good, comic and painfully real tale, i still preferred Summertime, which i rated highly. My advice would be to read the latter but maybe not bother with this, or is you do, don't feel too bad about giving up in the middle. However i still love her work anyway!

A lovely laugh., 29 Apr 2006
I took Hens Dancing with me on a short trip to the UK and had finished it by the time I reached my hotel. Yes, I was the woman in the plane/ train/ bus who sat and giggled continuously! I was enchanted by the story but strongly recommend that it is read when alone, behind closed curtains and then you do not embarass yourself!

Depressing, 14 Jan 2004
Having read 'Summertime' I looked forward to reading Raffaella Barker's most recent book, 'Green Grass', expecting more lighthearted accounts of rural eccentrics and romance. What a disappointment. This book is totally depressing, both the hero and heroine are unhappily married, the characters are difficult to connect to, and the heroine's artist husband is beyond credibility. The feel of the book is miserable and bleak, a complete opposite to 'Summertime'. Come on Raffaella, there are plenty of gritty writers - stick to the frivolous, please.

A real disappointment, 21 May 2003
This book is just dreadful. Absolutely nothing of note happens until the penultimate chapter. Perhaps the author thinks she creates some sense of Clara's angst and confusion but the character lacks depth and you never really empathise with her. Criminally, this book also fails to convey the charm of rural Norfolk. What a wasted opportunity - shame on you Ms Barker!

A writer who I'll read again, 16 Jan 2003
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing a review in a newspaper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a very true-to-life story of Laura (a 40-something wife and mother) with an irritating husband and two teenagers - the descriptions of Dolly, her daughter, are particularly amusing. She heads off to Norfolk and then meets her erstwhile boyfriend...... I will definitely be reading more of Rafaella Barker's books.

Green Grass, 26 Nov 2002
The charm of this book lies in the way the author develops what might on the surface seem a fairly simple - and romantic - story. Barker leads you into some quite interesting territory, a marriage that is going badly awry. Clara is a woman who is losing her sense of herself in the responsibilities of being a mother,a wife and above all a grown-up. As a result of this she finds herself hankering increasingly for the paths in her life she didn't follow and thinking alot about her old boyfriend Guy who is now an organic farmer in Norfolk. Far from being a bleak landscape of domestic gloom this author makes all her insight witty, recognisable and really really funny. The ending might surprise you.....I love this writer.

Delicately written, atmospheric and gripping, 24 Aug 2001
This is very different from Barker's other books - much grittier and more disturbing. Much of it is based around a fish farm, a setting I found bizarre, spooky, fascinating and plausible. The characters all ring true, and you care passionately about them from very early on and feel you know what it's like to be in their shoes. I loved every minute of this book and wish she would write more like this - in writing a thriller she didn't seem to be trying to do anything very unusual, but she did it perfectly.

Summertime Read, 04 Jul 2007
I had no idea this novel was a sequel until today when I came to write a review for Amazon. I have never read any of her books before, but will probably look out for more now.
It is written in diary form over a period of six months by the heroine, eccentric Venetia whose life appears to be in a state of permanent chaos. She has no control over her three children Giles 11, Felix 9 and The Beauty 3 (yes really). To a great extent the children have learnt to look after themselves, but not without getting into some interesting scrapes! The little girl is precocious but the comments she comes out with will make you laugh I am sure. Some of the incidences are far from funny though, such as the children's behaviour at times and the way the animals get treated. Unless of course you have a warped sense of humour or maybe I am being too prim?
This is a book that will make you laugh at times though I am sure. Perfect read for summertime.


The Funniest Book I Have Ever Read, 27 Feb 2007
I bought this several years ago and re-read it often, it is absolutely hands down the funniest book I have ever read. How anyone could not fall in love with the heroine and her children especially given some of the stuff they get up to is beyond me. The youngest child in the book is called The Beauty (you dont learn her real name), and she is simply a priceless comic creation with wonderful one liners. This is a beautifully written book and one that will lift the dullest day. Give me this and a good glass of wine anyday. Read it you may just agree its one of the funniest books you will ever read.

A tiny bit annoying, 09 Aug 2005
After Hens Dancing I could not wait to get my hands on summertime. The writing is addictive however the character has become extremely annoying. More ideal for Chick Lit than a serious author, Venetia annoyed me intensly, and her children have changed from charming and hysterically funny to completely out of control.
The antics which were dreamy and enviable, become dangerous and that of her mother decidedly doubtful.
Sadly I felt that Rafaella Barkers character of Venetia had become "over the top" and no longer believable.

Nostalgic, 20 Feb 2005
What a fabulous read. I managed to find this book in New York, my first time with this author. I am only sorry I didn't read Hens Dancing first. It is a very true to life story about a divorced housewife struggling with the balance of bringing up children, taking care of pets and starting a new career from home. Venetia is a little eccentric to say the least and charming with it. Her description of the countryside, the flowers, the woods, made me feel so nostalgic. I really love this character and epecially like her mother. It made me laugh out loud.

Worlds most spoilt character!, 19 Apr 2004
I really enjoyed the first book featuring this character and so eagerly looked forward to reading the sequel. Unfortunately the main character Venetia has gone from being loveably eccentric, with only occasional bouts of being infuriating, to being selfish, spoilt, petulant, embarrassing and over emotional. The character has so little control over her children that I find it hard to believe that they have managed to reach the age they have without some major mishap befalling them, the Beauty, a wonderful character originally, is positively brattish whilst the two older children are justifiably embarrassed by their mother’s antics. A couple of the scenes involved the children wrecking havoc with other people’s property whilst their mother laughed hysterically at them, sorry but that is not something I find funny! I’m afraid in this book I ended up sympathising with her ex husband and understood fully why he left her, personally I would have strangled her! I also failed to understand how two men would be prepared to take this woman on.
On the plus side, and the reason I have given the book 4 stars, Barker’s writing is wonderfully evocative and she does draw her characters well (I just don’t like their personality.) She has an eye for detail and can be very funny. If you read Hens Dancing then yes give this one a try, I possibly just have a lower tolerance of annoying people.

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

A waste of time and money, 16 Sep 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews, but my advice is - don't! I'm sorry, because I live in Norfolk and thought it would be a lovely read, but it's completely misrepresented by the review. Halfway through I began to be very irritated by her constant references to 'The Beauty'. By the end I would cheerfully have strangled the foul brat, and this name for the child has convinced me that the child is so ugly, only a mother could love it. I cannot remember any book I've read that is more vapid and more likely to insult the intelligence of a reader than this; which is sad.

Really dull, 29 Aug 2008
I read all the brilliant Amazon reviews before buying this book and felt confident it would be a sure-fire hit, but I was really disappointed. I thought it was a rather tedious aga saga-style novel, whose direction I didn't understand, and whose point I didn't get. The descriptive language is nice at times, and I could relate to all the motherhood issues, but it was so self-consciously upper-middle class that it didn't appeal to me, as a Guardian-reading university lecturer.

Literary equivalent of the Boden catalogue, 17 Aug 2008
Can't think what induced me to pick up this appalling, saccharine tosh but at least it was in the Oxfam shop. It was written by a Country Life columnist which says it all. Smug, self-satisfied, twee, the literary equivalent of a Boden catalogue. Reminds me of a particularly nauseating column called Posh But Poor that ran in the Telegraph, and for all I know it still does, but I cancelled the paper.
Hens are now Dancing their way into my recycling bin.


good but not as good as summertime, 21 Apr 2008
i love barker's style of writing, its completely unique and individual and i lap up what she has written, however although this was a good, comic and painfully real tale, i still preferred Summertime, which i rated highly. My advice would be to read the latter but maybe not bother with this, or is you do, don't feel too bad about giving up in the middle. However i still love her work anyway!

A lovely laugh., 29 Apr 2006
I took Hens Dancing with me on a short trip to the UK and had finished it by the time I reached my hotel. Yes, I was the woman in the plane/ train/ bus who sat and giggled continuously! I was enchanted by the story but strongly recommend that it is read when alone, behind closed curtains and then you do not embarass yourself!

Depressing, 14 Jan 2004
Having read 'Summertime' I looked forward to reading Raffaella Barker's most recent book, 'Green Grass', expecting more lighthearted accounts of rural eccentrics and romance. What a disappointment. This book is totally depressing, both the hero and heroine are unhappily married, the characters are difficult to connect to, and the heroine's artist husband is beyond credibility. The feel of the book is miserable and bleak, a complete opposite to 'Summertime'. Come on Raffaella, there are plenty of gritty writers - stick to the frivolous, please.

A real disappointment, 21 May 2003
This book is just dreadful. Absolutely nothing of note happens until the penultimate chapter. Perhaps the author thinks she creates some sense of Clara's angst and confusion but the character lacks depth and you never really empathise with her. Criminally, this book also fails to convey the charm of rural Norfolk. What a wasted opportunity - shame on you Ms Barker!

A writer who I'll read again, 16 Jan 2003
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing a review in a newspaper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a very true-to-life story of Laura (a 40-something wife and mother) with an irritating husband and two teenagers - the descriptions of Dolly, her daughter, are particularly amusing. She heads off to Norfolk and then meets her erstwhile boyfriend...... I will definitely be reading more of Rafaella Barker's books.

Green Grass, 26 Nov 2002
The charm of this book lies in the way the author develops what might on the surface seem a fairly simple - and romantic - story. Barker leads you into some quite interesting territory, a marriage that is going badly awry. Clara is a woman who is losing her sense of herself in the responsibilities of being a mother,a wife and above all a grown-up. As a result of this she finds herself hankering increasingly for the paths in her life she didn't follow and thinking alot about her old boyfriend Guy who is now an organic farmer in Norfolk. Far from being a bleak landscape of domestic gloom this author makes all her insight witty, recognisable and really really funny. The ending might surprise you.....I love this writer.

Delicately written, atmospheric and gripping, 24 Aug 2001
This is very different from Barker's other books - much grittier and more disturbing. Much of it is based around a fish farm, a setting I found bizarre, spooky, fascinating and plausible. The characters all ring true, and you care passionately about them from very early on and feel you know what it's like to be in their shoes. I loved every minute of this book and wish she would write more like this - in writing a thriller she didn't seem to be trying to do anything very unusual, but she did it perfectly.

Summertime Read, 04 Jul 2007
I had no idea this novel was a sequel until today when I came to write a review for Amazon. I have never read any of her books before, but will probably look out for more now.
It is written in diary form over a period of six months by the heroine, eccentric Venetia whose life appears to be in a state of permanent chaos. She has no control over her three children Giles 11, Felix 9 and The Beauty 3 (yes really). To a great extent the children have learnt to look after themselves, but not without getting into some interesting scrapes! The little girl is precocious but the comments she comes out with will make you laugh I am sure. Some of the incidences are far from funny though, such as the children's behaviour at times and the way the animals get treated. Unless of course you have a warped sense of humour or maybe I am being too prim?
This is a book that will make you laugh at times though I am sure. Perfect read for summertime.


The Funniest Book I Have Ever Read, 27 Feb 2007
I bought this several years ago and re-read it often, it is absolutely hands down the funniest book I have ever read. How anyone could not fall in love with the heroine and her children especially given some of the stuff they get up to is beyond me. The youngest child in the book is called The Beauty (you dont learn her real name), and she is simply a priceless comic creation with wonderful one liners. This is a beautifully written book and one that will lift the dullest day. Give me this and a good glass of wine anyday. Read it you may just agree its one of the funniest books you will ever read.

A tiny bit annoying, 09 Aug 2005
After Hens Dancing I could not wait to get my hands on summertime. The writing is addictive however the character has become extremely annoying. More ideal for Chick Lit than a serious author, Venetia annoyed me intensly, and her children have changed from charming and hysterically funny to completely out of control.
The antics which were dreamy and enviable, become dangerous and that of her mother decidedly doubtful.
Sadly I felt that Rafaella Barkers character of Venetia had become "over the top" and no longer believable.

Nostalgic, 20 Feb 2005
What a fabulous read. I managed to find this book in New York, my first time with this author. I am only sorry I didn't read Hens Dancing first. It is a very true to life story about a divorced housewife struggling with the balance of bringing up children, taking care of pets and starting a new career from home. Venetia is a little eccentric to say the least and charming with it. Her description of the countryside, the flowers, the woods, made me feel so nostalgic. I really love this character and epecially like her mother. It made me laugh out loud.

Worlds most spoilt character!, 19 Apr 2004
I really enjoyed the first book featuring this character and so eagerly looked forward to reading the sequel. Unfortunately the main character Venetia has gone from being loveably eccentric, with only occasional bouts of being infuriating, to being selfish, spoilt, petulant, embarrassing and over emotional. The character has so little control over her children that I find it hard to believe that they have managed to reach the age they have without some major mishap befalling them, the Beauty, a wonderful character originally, is positively brattish whilst the two older children are justifiably embarrassed by their mother’s antics. A couple of the scenes involved the children wrecking havoc with other people’s property whilst their mother laughed hysterically at them, sorry but that is not something I find funny! I’m afraid in this book I ended up sympathising with her ex husband and understood fully why he left her, personally I would have strangled her! I also failed to understand how two men would be prepared to take this woman on.
On the plus side, and the reason I have given the book 4 stars, Barker’s writing is wonderfully evocative and she does draw her characters well (I just don’t like their personality.) She has an eye for detail and can be very funny. If you read Hens Dancing then yes give this one a try, I possibly just have a lower tolerance of annoying people.

Tales of Bohemia, 03 Feb 2007
Since this was Raffaella Barker's first published book, you shouldn't expect the sophisticated storytelling of "Green Grass" or "Hens Dancing". However, her prose is good and her touch is light, and if you like stories of big families living hand to mouth, then this is definitely for you. I would recommend it as an 'Underground' book: the chapters are short and sweet and perfect for the short journeys between stops.

A bit disappointing really, 06 Jun 2003
I really enjoyed Hens Dancing, but this was nowhere near the standard of that.

It felt strangely disjointed, and I couldn't quite grasp the story - it just felt like a collection of memories. I found it hard to stay interested - I kept getting lost and having to retrace to find out who was who and what had happened to them.

Not totally disastrous, as despite the above it was an okay read, but I wouldn't recommend it. Hens Dancing is a different league - a million times better.

Tales from the life of a poet's daughter, 04 Jun 2003
This is beautifully written, imaginative account of growing up, narrated by Gabriella, the daughter of an English poet. It tells of "The myths of my family, favourite fables told again and again, brought out like battered photographs, nostagia-scented and made alive by scrambled memory...fairy-tales, fantasies grown from a seed of truth". Colourful memories of her Norfolk childhood with all her brothers and animals are poured out for us to paint the picture of a wild and bohemian family. At turns both funny and meloncholy, this is a wonderful book that gives us telling glimpses into the real lives of Patrick Barker and his literary family.

Enjoyable and well-written, 15 Jan 2003
Raffaella Barker is an excellent writer and creates an amazing sense of character and place. She has a memory for those seemingly insignificant details that are really so telling, and that weave together to make a recreation of childhood and adolescence. Although frequently funny and sometimes hysterically so, this book seems also to be kind of tinged with sadness too. Worth reading.

Only if warm fuzzies is your thing ....., 29 Nov 2000
I hated it. One of my closest friends said that it was the best book she had read in the summer, that it detailed the cosy and affectionate life of a bohemian family and the daughter Gabriella's struggle to bring some order and conventionality into her life. Instead I was bored to tears. I only managed to finish it because it was 200-odd pages with relatively large line spacing. The characters are vacuous and their lives are dream-like discord, quaint even. There is nothing in Gabriella's life to illicit frustration, sadness, elation. This is a typical scene - father turns up at the last minute and tells Gabriella to get hold of her passport and pack her things. They are going to Rome. He has been invited to read at a poetry festival. The next two pages pack in neo-classical glee, sunset poetry and dinner with a blind hook-nosed poet. All lovely lovely la la la. Well, if you like that sort of thing .....

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

A waste of time and money, 16 Sep 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews, but my advice is - don't! I'm sorry, because I live in Norfolk and thought it would be a lovely read, but it's completely misrepresented by the review. Halfway through I began to be very irritated by her constant references to 'The Beauty'. By the end I would cheerfully have strangled the foul brat, and this name for the child has convinced me that the child is so ugly, only a mother could love it. I cannot remember any book I've read that is more vapid and more likely to insult the intelligence of a reader than this; which is sad.

Really dull, 29 Aug 2008
I read all the brilliant Amazon reviews before buying this book and felt confident it would be a sure-fire hit, but I was really disappointed. I thought it was a rather tedious aga saga-style novel, whose direction I didn't understand, and whose point I didn't get. The descriptive language is nice at times, and I could relate to all the motherhood issues, but it was so self-consciously upper-middle class that it didn't appeal to me, as a Guardian-reading university lecturer.

Literary equivalent of the Boden catalogue, 17 Aug 2008
Can't think what induced me to pick up this appalling, saccharine tosh but at least it was in the Oxfam shop. It was written by a Country Life columnist which says it all. Smug, self-satisfied, twee, the literary equivalent of a Boden catalogue. Reminds me of a particularly nauseating column called Posh But Poor that ran in the Telegraph, and for all I know it still does, but I cancelled the paper.
Hens are now Dancing their way into my recycling bin.


good but not as good as summertime, 21 Apr 2008
i love barker's style of writing, its completely unique and individual and i lap up what she has written, however although this was a good, comic and painfully real tale, i still preferred Summertime, which i rated highly. My advice would be to read the latter but maybe not bother with this, or is you do, don't feel too bad about giving up in the middle. However i still love her work anyway!

A lovely laugh., 29 Apr 2006
I took Hens Dancing with me on a short trip to the UK and had finished it by the time I reached my hotel. Yes, I was the woman in the plane/ train/ bus who sat and giggled continuously! I was enchanted by the story but strongly recommend that it is read when alone, behind closed curtains and then you do not embarass yourself!

Depressing, 14 Jan 2004
Having read 'Summertime' I looked forward to reading Raffaella Barker's most recent book, 'Green Grass', expecting more lighthearted accounts of rural eccentrics and romance. What a disappointment. This book is totally depressing, both the hero and heroine are unhappily married, the characters are difficult to connect to, and the heroine's artist husband is beyond credibility. The feel of the book is miserable and bleak, a complete opposite to 'Summertime'. Come on Raffaella, there are plenty of gritty writers - stick to the frivolous, please.

A real disappointment, 21 May 2003
This book is just dreadful. Absolutely nothing of note happens until the penultimate chapter. Perhaps the author thinks she creates some sense of Clara's angst and confusion but the character lacks depth and you never really empathise with her. Criminally, this book also fails to convey the charm of rural Norfolk. What a wasted opportunity - shame on you Ms Barker!

A writer who I'll read again, 16 Jan 2003
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing a review in a newspaper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a very true-to-life story of Laura (a 40-something wife and mother) with an irritating husband and two teenagers - the descriptions of Dolly, her daughter, are particularly amusing. She heads off to Norfolk and then meets her erstwhile boyfriend...... I will definitely be reading more of Rafaella Barker's books.

Green Grass, 26 Nov 2002
The charm of this book lies in the way the author develops what might on the surface seem a fairly simple - and romantic - story. Barker leads you into some quite interesting territory, a marriage that is going badly awry. Clara is a woman who is losing her sense of herself in the responsibilities of being a mother,a wife and above all a grown-up. As a result of this she finds herself hankering increasingly for the paths in her life she didn't follow and thinking alot about her old boyfriend Guy who is now an organic farmer in Norfolk. Far from being a bleak landscape of domestic gloom this author makes all her insight witty, recognisable and really really funny. The ending might surprise you.....I love this writer.

Delicately written, atmospheric and gripping, 24 Aug 2001
This is very different from Barker's other books - much grittier and more disturbing. Much of it is based around a fish farm, a setting I found bizarre, spooky, fascinating and plausible. The characters all ring true, and you care passionately about them from very early on and feel you know what it's like to be in their shoes. I loved every minute of this book and wish she would write more like this - in writing a thriller she didn't seem to be trying to do anything very unusual, but she did it perfectly.

Summertime Read, 04 Jul 2007
I had no idea this novel was a sequel until today when I came to write a review for Amazon. I have never read any of her books before, but will probably look out for more now.
It is written in diary form over a period of six months by the heroine, eccentric Venetia whose life appears to be in a state of permanent chaos. She has no control over her three children Giles 11, Felix 9 and The Beauty 3 (yes really). To a great extent the children have learnt to look after themselves, but not without getting into some interesting scrapes! The little girl is precocious but the comments she comes out with will make you laugh I am sure. Some of the incidences are far from funny though, such as the children's behaviour at times and the way the animals get treated. Unless of course you have a warped sense of humour or maybe I am being too prim?
This is a book that will make you laugh at times though I am sure. Perfect read for summertime.


The Funniest Book I Have Ever Read, 27 Feb 2007
I bought this several years ago and re-read it often, it is absolutely hands down the funniest book I have ever read. How anyone could not fall in love with the heroine and her children especially given some of the stuff they get up to is beyond me. The youngest child in the book is called The Beauty (you dont learn her real name), and she is simply a priceless comic creation with wonderful one liners. This is a beautifully written book and one that will lift the dullest day. Give me this and a good glass of wine anyday. Read it you may just agree its one of the funniest books you will ever read.

A tiny bit annoying, 09 Aug 2005
After Hens Dancing I could not wait to get my hands on summertime. The writing is addictive however the character has become extremely annoying. More ideal for Chick Lit than a serious author, Venetia annoyed me intensly, and her children have changed from charming and hysterically funny to completely out of control.
The antics which were dreamy and enviable, become dangerous and that of her mother decidedly doubtful.
Sadly I felt that Rafaella Barkers character of Venetia had become "over the top" and no longer believable.

Nostalgic, 20 Feb 2005
What a fabulous read. I managed to find this book in New York, my first time with this author. I am only sorry I didn't read Hens Dancing first. It is a very true to life story about a divorced housewife struggling with the balance of bringing up children, taking care of pets and starting a new career from home. Venetia is a little eccentric to say the least and charming with it. Her description of the countryside, the flowers, the woods, made me feel so nostalgic. I really love this character and epecially like her mother. It made me laugh out loud.

Worlds most spoilt character!, 19 Apr 2004
I really enjoyed the first book featuring this character and so eagerly looked forward to reading the sequel. Unfortunately the main character Venetia has gone from being loveably eccentric, with only occasional bouts of being infuriating, to being selfish, spoilt, petulant, embarrassing and over emotional. The character has so little control over her children that I find it hard to believe that they have managed to reach the age they have without some major mishap befalling them, the Beauty, a wonderful character originally, is positively brattish whilst the two older children are justifiably embarrassed by their mother’s antics. A couple of the scenes involved the children wrecking havoc with other people’s property whilst their mother laughed hysterically at them, sorry but that is not something I find funny! I’m afraid in this book I ended up sympathising with her ex husband and understood fully why he left her, personally I would have strangled her! I also failed to understand how two men would be prepared to take this woman on.
On the plus side, and the reason I have given the book 4 stars, Barker’s writing is wonderfully evocative and she does draw her characters well (I just don’t like their personality.) She has an eye for detail and can be very funny. If you read Hens Dancing then yes give this one a try, I possibly just have a lower tolerance of annoying people.

Tales of Bohemia, 03 Feb 2007
Since this was Raffaella Barker's first published book, you shouldn't expect the sophisticated storytelling of "Green Grass" or "Hens Dancing". However, her prose is good and her touch is light, and if you like stories of big families living hand to mouth, then this is definitely for you. I would recommend it as an 'Underground' book: the chapters are short and sweet and perfect for the short journeys between stops.

A bit disappointing really, 06 Jun 2003
I really enjoyed Hens Dancing, but this was nowhere near the standard of that.

It felt strangely disjointed, and I couldn't quite grasp the story - it just felt like a collection of memories. I found it hard to stay interested - I kept getting lost and having to retrace to find out who was who and what had happened to them.

Not totally disastrous, as despite the above it was an okay read, but I wouldn't recommend it. Hens Dancing is a different league - a million times better.

Tales from the life of a poet's daughter, 04 Jun 2003
This is beautifully written, imaginative account of growing up, narrated by Gabriella, the daughter of an English poet. It tells of "The myths of my family, favourite fables told again and again, brought out like battered photographs, nostagia-scented and made alive by scrambled memory...fairy-tales, fantasies grown from a seed of truth". Colourful memories of her Norfolk childhood with all her brothers and animals are poured out for us to paint the picture of a wild and bohemian family. At turns both funny and meloncholy, this is a wonderful book that gives us telling glimpses into the real lives of Patrick Barker and his literary family.

Enjoyable and well-written, 15 Jan 2003
Raffaella Barker is an excellent writer and creates an amazing sense of character and place. She has a memory for those seemingly insignificant details that are really so telling, and that weave together to make a recreation of childhood and adolescence. Although frequently funny and sometimes hysterically so, this book seems also to be kind of tinged with sadness too. Worth reading.

Only if warm fuzzies is your thing ....., 29 Nov 2000
I hated it. One of my closest friends said that it was the best book she had read in the summer, that it detailed the cosy and affectionate life of a bohemian family and the daughter Gabriella's struggle to bring some order and conventionality into her life. Instead I was bored to tears. I only managed to finish it because it was 200-odd pages with relatively large line spacing. The characters are vacuous and their lives are dream-like discord, quaint even. There is nothing in Gabriella's life to illicit frustration, sadness, elation. This is a typical scene - father turns up at the last minute and tells Gabriella to get hold of her passport and pack her things. They are going to Rome. He has been invited to read at a poetry festival. The next two pages pack in neo-classical glee, sunset poetry and dinner with a blind hook-nosed poet. All lovely lovely la la la. Well, if you like that sort of thing .....

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

Laura Sale, the star of Raffaella Barker's fifth novel, Green Grass, is pretty fed up. Simply put, Laura has forgotten how to have a good time. "Somewhere on the way to becoming a 38-year-old mother of adolescents, a wife manqué for 14 years, she has left having fun behind." Fun has been overtaken by the preoccupations of work and family. Inigo, her conceptual-artist husband is attractive, but "he's always been demanding and egocentric". Her twins, Dolly and Fred, are mostly loveable--except that Fred is constantly campaigning for a pet and Dolly is behaving "like a temperamental opera diva". There seems no space left for Laura's needs.

Fuelled by nostalgic memories of summer holidays in Norfolk, Laura thinks that country life will solve all her ills, she'll have "space to breathe", she may even ditch Inigo and his outrageous artistic demands for the man she was going to marry 20 years ago. Guy is now a farmer, who has a sideline in natural bath products. It seems like the ultimate rural idyll, and as far away from the arty London scene as you can get.

Raffaella Barker is not afraid to tell the truth about the infuriating nature of relationships with lovers, children, siblings and pets. But she never lets cynicism or bleakness take hold; instead her gaze is clear and hopeful. Laura's wistful dreams are treated with wry, good humour, and some healthy reality. Yes, the countryside is airy, but it is also muddy and wet, and home to rampaging goats and aggressive ferrets. Green Grass is gleeful, irreverent and touchingly wistful, a laugh-out-loud account of getting a life. With a pond and blackberry bushes, natch. --Eithne Farry

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

A waste of time and money, 16 Sep 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews, but my advice is - don't! I'm sorry, because I live in Norfolk and thought it would be a lovely read, but it's completely misrepresented by the review. Halfway through I began to be very irritated by her constant references to 'The Beauty'. By the end I would cheerfully have strangled the foul brat, and this name for the child has convinced me that the child is so ugly, only a mother could love it. I cannot remember any book I've read that is more vapid and more likely to insult the intelligence of a reader than this; which is sad.

Really dull, 29 Aug 2008
I read all the brilliant Amazon reviews before buying this book and felt confident it would be a sure-fire hit, but I was really disappointed. I thought it was a rather tedious aga saga-style novel, whose direction I didn't understand, and whose point I didn't get. The descriptive language is nice at times, and I could relate to all the motherhood issues, but it was so self-consciously upper-middle class that it didn't appeal to me, as a Guardian-reading university lecturer.

Literary equivalent of the Boden catalogue, 17 Aug 2008
Can't think what induced me to pick up this appalling, saccharine tosh but at least it was in the Oxfam shop. It was written by a Country Life columnist which says it all. Smug, self-satisfied, twee, the literary equivalent of a Boden catalogue. Reminds me of a particularly nauseating column called Posh But Poor that ran in the Telegraph, and for all I know it still does, but I cancelled the paper.
Hens are now Dancing their way into my recycling bin.


good but not as good as summertime, 21 Apr 2008
i love barker's style of writing, its completely unique and individual and i lap up what she has written, however although this was a good, comic and painfully real tale, i still preferred Summertime, which i rated highly. My advice would be to read the latter but maybe not bother with this, or is you do, don't feel too bad about giving up in the middle. However i still love her work anyway!

A lovely laugh., 29 Apr 2006
I took Hens Dancing with me on a short trip to the UK and had finished it by the time I reached my hotel. Yes, I was the woman in the plane/ train/ bus who sat and giggled continuously! I was enchanted by the story but strongly recommend that it is read when alone, behind closed curtains and then you do not embarass yourself!

Depressing, 14 Jan 2004
Having read 'Summertime' I looked forward to reading Raffaella Barker's most recent book, 'Green Grass', expecting more lighthearted accounts of rural eccentrics and romance. What a disappointment. This book is totally depressing, both the hero and heroine are unhappily married, the characters are difficult to connect to, and the heroine's artist husband is beyond credibility. The feel of the book is miserable and bleak, a complete opposite to 'Summertime'. Come on Raffaella, there are plenty of gritty writers - stick to the frivolous, please.

A real disappointment, 21 May 2003
This book is just dreadful. Absolutely nothing of note happens until the penultimate chapter. Perhaps the author thinks she creates some sense of Clara's angst and confusion but the character lacks depth and you never really empathise with her. Criminally, this book also fails to convey the charm of rural Norfolk. What a wasted opportunity - shame on you Ms Barker!

A writer who I'll read again, 16 Jan 2003
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing a review in a newspaper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a very true-to-life story of Laura (a 40-something wife and mother) with an irritating husband and two teenagers - the descriptions of Dolly, her daughter, are particularly amusing. She heads off to Norfolk and then meets her erstwhile boyfriend...... I will definitely be reading more of Rafaella Barker's books.

Green Grass, 26 Nov 2002
The charm of this book lies in the way the author develops what might on the surface seem a fairly simple - and romantic - story. Barker leads you into some quite interesting territory, a marriage that is going badly awry. Clara is a woman who is losing her sense of herself in the responsibilities of being a mother,a wife and above all a grown-up. As a result of this she finds herself hankering increasingly for the paths in her life she didn't follow and thinking alot about her old boyfriend Guy who is now an organic farmer in Norfolk. Far from being a bleak landscape of domestic gloom this author makes all her insight witty, recognisable and really really funny. The ending might surprise you.....I love this writer.

Delicately written, atmospheric and gripping, 24 Aug 2001
This is very different from Barker's other books - much grittier and more disturbing. Much of it is based around a fish farm, a setting I found bizarre, spooky, fascinating and plausible. The characters all ring true, and you care passionately about them from very early on and feel you know what it's like to be in their shoes. I loved every minute of this book and wish she would write more like this - in writing a thriller she didn't seem to be trying to do anything very unusual, but she did it perfectly.

Summertime Read, 04 Jul 2007
I had no idea this novel was a sequel until today when I came to write a review for Amazon. I have never read any of her books before, but will probably look out for more now.
It is written in diary form over a period of six months by the heroine, eccentric Venetia whose life appears to be in a state of permanent chaos. She has no control over her three children Giles 11, Felix 9 and The Beauty 3 (yes really). To a great extent the children have learnt to look after themselves, but not without getting into some interesting scrapes! The little girl is precocious but the comments she comes out with will make you laugh I am sure. Some of the incidences are far from funny though, such as the children's behaviour at times and the way the animals get treated. Unless of course you have a warped sense of humour or maybe I am being too prim?
This is a book that will make you laugh at times though I am sure. Perfect read for summertime.


The Funniest Book I Have Ever Read, 27 Feb 2007
I bought this several years ago and re-read it often, it is absolutely hands down the funniest book I have ever read. How anyone could not fall in love with the heroine and her children especially given some of the stuff they get up to is beyond me. The youngest child in the book is called The Beauty (you dont learn her real name), and she is simply a priceless comic creation with wonderful one liners. This is a beautifully written book and one that will lift the dullest day. Give me this and a good glass of wine anyday. Read it you may just agree its one of the funniest books you will ever read.

A tiny bit annoying, 09 Aug 2005
After Hens Dancing I could not wait to get my hands on summertime. The writing is addictive however the character has become extremely annoying. More ideal for Chick Lit than a serious author, Venetia annoyed me intensly, and her children have changed from charming and hysterically funny to completely out of control.
The antics which were dreamy and enviable, become dangerous and that of her mother decidedly doubtful.
Sadly I felt that Rafaella Barkers character of Venetia had become "over the top" and no longer believable.

Nostalgic, 20 Feb 2005
What a fabulous read. I managed to find this book in New York, my first time with this author. I am only sorry I didn't read Hens Dancing first. It is a very true to life story about a divorced housewife struggling with the balance of bringing up children, taking care of pets and starting a new career from home. Venetia is a little eccentric to say the least and charming with it. Her description of the countryside, the flowers, the woods, made me feel so nostalgic. I really love this character and epecially like her mother. It made me laugh out loud.

Worlds most spoilt character!, 19 Apr 2004
I really enjoyed the first book featuring this character and so eagerly looked forward to reading the sequel. Unfortunately the main character Venetia has gone from being loveably eccentric, with only occasional bouts of being infuriating, to being selfish, spoilt, petulant, embarrassing and over emotional. The character has so little control over her children that I find it hard to believe that they have managed to reach the age they have without some major mishap befalling them, the Beauty, a wonderful character originally, is positively brattish whilst the two older children are justifiably embarrassed by their mother’s antics. A couple of the scenes involved the children wrecking havoc with other people’s property whilst their mother laughed hysterically at them, sorry but that is not something I find funny! I’m afraid in this book I ended up sympathising with her ex husband and understood fully why he left her, personally I would have strangled her! I also failed to understand how two men would be prepared to take this woman on.
On the plus side, and the reason I have given the book 4 stars, Barker’s writing is wonderfully evocative and she does draw her characters well (I just don’t like their personality.) She has an eye for detail and can be very funny. If you read Hens Dancing then yes give this one a try, I possibly just have a lower tolerance of annoying people.

Tales of Bohemia, 03 Feb 2007
Since this was Raffaella Barker's first published book, you shouldn't expect the sophisticated storytelling of "Green Grass" or "Hens Dancing". However, her prose is good and her touch is light, and if you like stories of big families living hand to mouth, then this is definitely for you. I would recommend it as an 'Underground' book: the chapters are short and sweet and perfect for the short journeys between stops.

A bit disappointing really, 06 Jun 2003
I really enjoyed Hens Dancing, but this was nowhere near the standard of that.

It felt strangely disjointed, and I couldn't quite grasp the story - it just felt like a collection of memories. I found it hard to stay interested - I kept getting lost and having to retrace to find out who was who and what had happened to them.

Not totally disastrous, as despite the above it was an okay read, but I wouldn't recommend it. Hens Dancing is a different league - a million times better.

Tales from the life of a poet's daughter, 04 Jun 2003
This is beautifully written, imaginative account of growing up, narrated by Gabriella, the daughter of an English poet. It tells of "The myths of my family, favourite fables told again and again, brought out like battered photographs, nostagia-scented and made alive by scrambled memory...fairy-tales, fantasies grown from a seed of truth". Colourful memories of her Norfolk childhood with all her brothers and animals are poured out for us to paint the picture of a wild and bohemian family. At turns both funny and meloncholy, this is a wonderful book that gives us telling glimpses into the real lives of Patrick Barker and his literary family.

Enjoyable and well-written, 15 Jan 2003
Raffaella Barker is an excellent writer and creates an amazing sense of character and place. She has a memory for those seemingly insignificant details that are really so telling, and that weave together to make a recreation of childhood and adolescence. Although frequently funny and sometimes hysterically so, this book seems also to be kind of tinged with sadness too. Worth reading.

Only if warm fuzzies is your thing ....., 29 Nov 2000
I hated it. One of my closest friends said that it was the best book she had read in the summer, that it detailed the cosy and affectionate life of a bohemian family and the daughter Gabriella's struggle to bring some order and conventionality into her life. Instead I was bored to tears. I only managed to finish it because it was 200-odd pages with relatively large line spacing. The characters are vacuous and their lives are dream-like discord, quaint even. There is nothing in Gabriella's life to illicit frustration, sadness, elation. This is a typical scene - father turns up at the last minute and tells Gabriella to get hold of her passport and pack her things. They are going to Rome. He has been invited to read at a poetry festival. The next two pages pack in neo-classical glee, sunset poetry and dinner with a blind hook-nosed poet. All lovely lovely la la la. Well, if you like that sort of thing .....

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

Depressing, 14 Jan 2004
Having read 'Summertime' I looked forward to reading Raffaella Barker's most recent book, 'Green Grass', expecting more lighthearted accounts of rural eccentrics and romance. What a disappointment. This book is totally depressing, both the hero and heroine are unhappily married, the characters are difficult to connect to, and the heroine's artist husband is beyond credibility. The feel of the book is miserable and bleak, a complete opposite to 'Summertime'. Come on Raffaella, there are plenty of gritty writers - stick to the frivolous, please.

A real disappointment, 21 May 2003
This book is just dreadful. Absolutely nothing of note happens until the penultimate chapter. Perhaps the author thinks she creates some sense of Clara's angst and confusion but the character lacks depth and you never really empathise with her. Criminally, this book also fails to convey the charm of rural Norfolk. What a wasted opportunity - shame on you Ms Barker!

A writer who I'll read again, 16 Jan 2003
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing a review in a newspaper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a very true-to-life story of Laura (a 40-something wife and mother) with an irritating husband and two teenagers - the descriptions of Dolly, her daughter, are particularly amusing. She heads off to Norfolk and then meets her erstwhile boyfriend...... I will definitely be reading more of Rafaella Barker's books.

Green Grass, 26 Nov 2002
The charm of this book lies in the way the author develops what might on the surface seem a fairly simple - and romantic - story. Barker leads you into some quite interesting territory, a marriage that is going badly awry. Clara is a woman who is losing her sense of herself in the responsibilities of being a mother,a wife and above all a grown-up. As a result of this she finds herself hankering increasingly for the paths in her life she didn't follow and thinking alot about her old boyfriend Guy who is now an organic farmer in Norfolk. Far from being a bleak landscape of domestic gloom this author makes all her insight witty, recognisable and really really funny. The ending might surprise you.....I love this writer.

not as addictive as summertime and hens dancing, 01 Nov 2008
i adore raffaella barkers books, but struggled to get into this one, my 2 favourites however, in the title of this review have been read over and over, this lacked the humour of the others, but still a lovely read.

A perfect book, 24 Jun 2007
I read this book in one sitting, pausing only to make tea and later to open a bottle of wine. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and captured perfectly the ambivalent nature of long term relationships. I was utterly captivated from page one and only wish there were more books as evocative. The ending - which I won't give away - is as uplifting is at is unexpected. Having finished it I immediately ordered all her others.

A very clever, well writen and perceptive novel, 19 May 2006
This is my favourite of Raffaella Barker's novels. It is exceptionally well writen. She has a gift for writing in the style of multi characters, in this case her heroine, a wife and mother named Angel, Angel's husband Nick and son Jem. She has a wonderful understanding of human nature, and here describes with great vividness the disintegration of a marriage. It is a very modern, spare book. recommended.

A waste of time and money, 16 Sep 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews, but my advice is - don't! I'm sorry, because I live in Norfolk and thought it would be a lovely read, but it's completely misrepresented by the review. Halfway through I began to be very irritated by her constant references to 'The Beauty'. By the end I would cheerfully have strangled the foul brat, and this name for the child has convinced me that the child is so ugly, only a mother could love it. I cannot remember any book I've read that is more vapid and more likely to insult the intelligence of a reader than this; which is sad.

Really dull, 29 Aug 2008
I read all the brilliant Amazon reviews before buying this book and felt confident it would be a sure-fire hit, but I was really disappointed. I thought it was a rather tedious aga saga-style novel, whose direction I didn't understand, and whose point I didn't get. The descriptive language is nice at times, and I could relate to all the motherhood issues, but it was so self-consciously upper-middle class that it didn't appeal to me, as a Guardian-reading university lecturer.

Literary equivalent of the Boden catalogue, 17 Aug 2008
Can't think what induced me to pick up this appalling, saccharine tosh but at least it was in the Oxfam shop. It was written by a Country Life columnist which says it all. Smug, self-satisfied, twee, the literary equivalent of a Boden catalogue. Reminds me of a particularly nauseating column called Posh But Poor that ran in the Telegraph, and for all I know it still does, but I cancelled the paper.
Hens are now Dancing their way into my recycling bin.


good but not as good as summertime, 21 Apr 2008
i love barker's style of writing, its completely unique and individual and i lap up what she has written, however although this was a good, comic and painfully real tale, i still preferred Summertime, which i rated highly. My advice would be to read the latter but maybe not bother with this, or is you do, don't feel too bad about giving up in the middle. However i still love her work anyway!

A lovely laugh., 29 Apr 2006
I took Hens Dancing with me on a short trip to the UK and had finished it by the time I reached my hotel. Yes, I was the woman in the plane/ train/ bus who sat and giggled continuously! I was enchanted by the story but strongly recommend that it is read when alone, behind closed curtains and then you do not embarass yourself!

Depressing, 14 Jan 2004
Having read 'Summertime' I looked forward to reading Raffaella Barker's most recent book, 'Green Grass', expecting more lighthearted accounts of rural eccentrics and romance. What a disappointment. This book is totally depressing, both the hero and heroine are unhappily married, the characters are difficult to connect to, and the heroine's artist husband is beyond credibility. The feel of the book is miserable and bleak, a complete opposite to 'Summertime'. Come on Raffaella, there are plenty of gritty writers - stick to the frivolous, please.

A real disappointment, 21 May 2003
This book is just dreadful. Absolutely nothing of note happens until the penultimate chapter. Perhaps the author thinks she creates some sense of Clara's angst and confusion but the character lacks depth and you never really empathise with her. Criminally, this book also fails to convey the charm of rural Norfolk. What a wasted opportunity - shame on you Ms Barker!

A writer who I'll read again, 16 Jan 2003
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing a review in a newspaper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a very true-to-life story of Laura (a 40-something wife and mother) with an irritating husband and two teenagers - the descriptions of Dolly, her daughter, are particularly amusing. She heads off to Norfolk and then meets her erstwhile boyfriend...... I will definitely be reading more of Rafaella Barker's books.

Green Grass, 26 Nov 2002
The charm of this book lies in the way the author develops what might on the surface seem a fairly simple - and romantic - story. Barker leads you into some quite interesting territory, a marriage that is going badly awry. Clara is a woman who is losing her sense of herself in the responsibilities of being a mother,a wife and above all a grown-up. As a result of this she finds herself hankering increasingly for the paths in her life she didn't follow and thinking alot about her old boyfriend Guy who is now an organic farmer in Norfolk. Far from being a bleak landscape of domestic gloom this author makes all her insight witty, recognisable and really really funny. The ending might surprise you.....I love this writer.

Delicately written, atmospheric and gripping, 24 Aug 2001
This is very different from Barker's other books - much grittier and more disturbing. Much of it is based around a fish farm, a setting I found bizarre, spooky, fascinating and plausible. The characters all ring true, and you care passionately about them from very early on and feel you know what it's like to be in their shoes. I loved every minute of this book and wish she would write more like this - in writing a thriller she didn't seem to be trying to do anything very unusual, but she did it perfectly.

Summertime Read, 04 Jul 2007
I had no idea this novel was a sequel until today when I came to write a review for Amazon. I have never read any of her books before, but will probably look out for more now.
It is written in diary form over a period of six months by the heroine, eccentric Venetia whose life appears to be in a state of permanent chaos. She has no control over her three children Giles 11, Felix 9 and The Beauty 3 (yes really). To a great extent the children have learnt to look after themselves, but not without getting into some interesting scrapes! The little girl is precocious but the comments she comes out with will make you laugh I am sure. Some of the incidences are far from funny though, such as the children's behaviour at times and the way the animals get treated. Unless of course you have a warped sense of humour or maybe I am being too prim?
This is a book that will make you laugh at times though