The thoughts and happenings of Wilfred Price, purveyor of superior funerals

235 pages

English language

Published Nov. 7, 2014

ISBN:: 978-1-60945-185-1
OCLC Number:: 852221444

(2 reviews)

Everyone has to make decisions about love. Wilfred Price, overcome with emotion 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 has realised his mistake. He does not love Grace. On the verge of extricating himself, Wilfred's situation suddenly becomes more serious when Grace's father steps in. Up until this point in his life, Wilfred's existence has been blissfully simple, and the young undertaker seems unable to stop the swirling mess that now surrounds him. To add to Wilfred's emotional turmoil, he thinks he may just have met the perfect girl for him. As Wilfred struggles in an increasingly tangled web of expectation and duty, love and lies, Grace reveals a long-held secret that changes everything.

3 editions

Delia reviewed The thoughts and happenings of Wilfred Price, purveyor of superior funerals by Wendy Jones

A likebly unlikable man.

3 stars

First up, needs a different title. The current title gives off an air of whimsy but it really isn’t. (Spoilers to follow). I’m not sure about the value of a book that so severely sidelines the wishes and needs of a woman who has been raped by her brother and may have a child with profound deformities. Its conclusion seems to think with kind thoughts and a fist full of cash she might be alright. Bits were brilliantly written and the plot was well paced, but unfortunately falls under the category (again) of rape as a plot point to create tension. Wouldn’t really recommend :(

lattermild reviewed The thoughts and happenings of Wilfred Price, purveyor of superior funerals by Wendy Jones

Review of 'The thoughts and happenings of Wilfred Price, purveyor of superior funerals' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Well, I'm torn.

I didn't not like it. I certainly read it quickly enough. I root for Wilfred, and for Grace. I care for their fate, as I care for several of the other characters. But something seemed to me to be lacking while I read it. Well, for one, one of the major plotlines is left a little too wide open for my taste. That's one problem I have. The other is less tangible. Because while, as I said, I root for Wilfred and Grace, I somehow fail to be touched very deeply. Several of the events should have been bringing tears to my eyes, but I was left dry-eyed throughout (and that is quite a feat these days, I'm a big sop). I find it hard to pinpoint, but for some reason it felt more as if I was reading a (wordy) plot synopsis rather than an actual …

Well, I'm torn.

I didn't not like it. I certainly read it quickly enough. I root for Wilfred, and for Grace. I care for their fate, as I care for several of the other characters. But something seemed to me to be lacking while I read it. Well, for one, one of the major plotlines is left a little too wide open for my taste. That's one problem I have. The other is less tangible. Because while, as I said, I root for Wilfred and Grace, I somehow fail to be touched very deeply. Several of the events should have been bringing tears to my eyes, but I was left dry-eyed throughout (and that is quite a feat these days, I'm a big sop). I find it hard to pinpoint, but for some reason it felt more as if I was reading a (wordy) plot synopsis rather than an actual novel. Does that make sense?

Maybe it's just me. Anyway, middling to good, I'd say, not brilliant.

Subjects

Fiction
History

Places

Wales