• Spabreaks.com Home
  • About
  • Contact us


  • Home
  • Spa reviews
    • Spotlights
    • Spa and cancer
    • Accessible spas
    • Celebrity reviews
  • News
    • Headlines
    • Community
      • Who are you talking to?
      • Next big thing
    • Spa Glossary
  • Food
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch and snacks
    • Cocktails
    • Healthy eating
    • Smoothies
    • Sweets and desserts
    • Diets
  • Entertainment
    • Interviews
      • Industry Experts
      • Celebrity
    • Books
    • Gifts
    • Lifestyle
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Top 10
    • Five reasons
    • Golf guide
  • Skincare
    • Spa tips
    • Spa treatments
    • Spa products
    • Make-up
    • Tried and tested
  • Health
    • Coping with cancer
    • Life after spinal injury
    • A day in a life
    • Fitness
      • Yoga
      • Exercise
  • Features
  • Elysium Collection

Breaking

What are the different types of meditation and what are the benefits?

Employee wellbeing and stress-related leave rose by up to 70% in 2020

New to Spabreaks.com: Shangri-La Hotel and London spa

Why we love Marriott Hanbury Manor

The power of aromatherapy and essential oils to try


Oh Dear Silvia

0 Comment
 21 Dec 2012   Posted by BonnieF


It wouldn’t be Christmas without Dawn French, whether it’s re-runs of The Vicar of Dibley, or any one of her catalogue of film appearances, her on-screen presence is a vital part of the festive season.  This year however, her unmistakable tone of voice can be enjoyed on the pages of her latest book – Oh Dear Silvia.

The autumnal release of the novel made for pretty apt timing as far as seasonal reads go, because there is something of the ‘ghosts of Christmas Past’ in this story.  The protagonist, Silvia Schute, is in a coma, after a rather mysterious accident, and it appears she is not the most popular of people.

As her family and friends come to visit and enter into a series of monologues, we discover the trials and tribulations of what initially appears to be a perfectly averagely dysfunctional family – divorced parents, angry kids, mad relatives – descending into a web of the type of dramas and social issues prevalent in the pages of the tabloids and election campaigns … although it does seem rather unfortunate that the whole lot have crash landed on this one family.

At times humorous, at times deeply sad, the book is always easy to read, despite the sometimes heavy subject matter, and is infused with French’s talent for human observation, which stops elements of the book from teetering over the edge into total melodrama, and keeping it engaging throughout.

All in all, at this time of year, when you are curled up on the sofa, happily full-to-bursting with turkey and all the trimmings, it is a far better person than I that wants to delve into the pages of a weighty tome.  So an engaging tale from an author we all kind of wish was a guest at our own dinner table, is just the ticket.  If nothing else, you will have a whole new level of appreciation for your own nearest and dearest – however many arguments may have ensued by the time the last present is unwrapped.

    Share This

Written by BonnieF
A journalist by trade, Bonnie is the Editor for Spabreaks.com. Keen to spread the message on accessible wellbeing and a spa experience for all, she thinks green smoothies are somewhat overrated and her favourite spa treatment is an Elemis Couture Technology facial.


Related Posts


Five ways to feel your best this Christmas and New Year
November 23, 2020

Fast before the feast: why detox is best before Christmas
November 4, 2020

Five surprising ways a spa gift voucher can solve all your present-buying problems
December 20, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Search

  • Recent Posts

    • What are the different types of meditation and what are the benefits?
    • Employee wellbeing and stress-related leave rose by up to 70% in 2020
    • New to Spabreaks.com: Shangri-La Hotel and London spa
    • Why we love Marriott Hanbury Manor
    • The power of aromatherapy and essential oils to try


  • Top 10

    • Top romantic spa hotels for a Valentine's Day gift...
      February 8, 2021
    • The most amazing spa pools for spa staycations
      January 22, 2021
    • Local spas: explore some of our favourite spas in Manchester
      November 18, 2020

  • Spa treatments

    • Spa treatments to fight the winter blues
      December 21, 2020
    • Six ways to beat the January blues with aromatherapy
      December 14, 2020
    • Spas to stave off the winter blues this year
      October 28, 2020


© 2001-2019 Spabreaks.com. All rights reserved.